When it comes to choosing the right protein source for your dog’s diet, two top contenders are salmon and lamb. But which one is ultimately better for your furry friend? There are good arguments on both sides. Here is a comprehensive look at the pros and cons of salmon versus lamb for dogs
Salmon – The Benefits
Salmon has become an increasingly popular protein source in high-quality dog foods. There are some very good reasons for this trend:
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Rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is loaded with beneficial omega-3s like EPA and DHA. These can reduce inflammation boost immunity improve skin/coat health, enhance brain function, and more.
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Promotes a shiny coat. The omega-3s in salmon can make your dog’s coat silky, glossy, and healthy. This is especially helpful for breeds prone to dry, flaky skin.
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Easily digestible protein. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, salmon tends to be gentler on the gut than red meats. The protein is nicely broken down and absorbed.
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Low in saturated fat. Compared to red meat, salmon is lower in saturated fat, which can be hard for dogs to digest. Excess saturated fat can also lead to pancreatitis.
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Antioxidants and vitamins. Salmon contains antioxidants like astaxanthin along with vitamins like B12, B6, niacin, and selenium. This supports overall health.
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Pure protein source. When the label says “salmon” on a dog food, it’s referring to actual salmon meat or meal. There are no by-products or additives.
Lamb – The Benefits
On the other hand, lamb has its own virtues as a quality protein for canines. Here’s what makes lamb a good choice:
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Gentle on sensitive stomachs. Like salmon, lamb is highly digestible and less likely to trigger food allergies or cause upset stomachs.
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Rich in iron and zinc. Lamb provides important minerals like iron and zinc, which help transport oxygen in the blood and strengthen the immune system.
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Lower in fat than other red meats. Lamb tends to be leaner compared to beef or pork, so it’s less likely to cause pancreatitis or weight gain.
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Rich in B vitamins. Lamb contains high levels of energizing B vitamins like B12, niacin, and riboflavin. This gives dogs healthy skin, coat, nerves, and metabolism.
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Palatable taste. Most dogs find lamb quite tasty and appealing. This can encourage picky eaters to eat.
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No common allergens. Lamb doesn’t contain ingredients like corn, wheat, or chicken that often cause allergic reactions in dogs. It’s a hypoallergenic option.
Comparing Salmon and Lamb
So how do salmon and lamb actually compare for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies? Here are some key considerations:
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For dogs with upset stomachs, salmon may be slightly gentler since fish tends to be more easily digested. But lamb is a close second in being stomach-friendly.
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Lamb contains more iron, zinc, and B vitamins than salmon. But salmon provides more omega-3 fatty acids. It depends which nutrients you want to prioritize.
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Allergy-wise they are equal – both salmon and lamb are unlikely to trigger allergic reactions in dogs. They avoid common allergens.
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Salmon provides a pure single-protein source, while lamb-based dog foods often contain other meat meals like turkey or chicken. This makes salmon simpler.
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Cost-wise salmon is usually more expensive than lamb. But for the high omega-3 content, the cost may be justified.
So in the end, whether salmon or lamb is “better” really comes down the individual dog and its needs.
When to Choose Salmon
Here are some situations where salmon may be the better choice:
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Your dog has dry, itchy skin. Salmon omega-3s can help soothe and heal skin.
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Your dog has digestive issues. Salmon is extremely gentle on sensitive stomachs.
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Your dog needs joint support. Salmon omega-3s reduce inflammation and arthritis.
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Your dog has heart disease. The omega-3s in salmon support cardiovascular health.
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You want a limited ingredient diet. Salmon provides a single, pure protein and oil source.
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Your dog needs extra brain boost. Salmon omega-3s enhance cognitive function an memory.
When to Choose Lamb
Here are some instances where lamb may be preferable:
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Your dog has chronic diarrhea or IBS. Lamb is highly digestible and soothes intestines.
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Your dog needs more iron in the diet. Lamb is higher in bioavailable iron than salmon.
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Your dog doesn’t like fishy flavors. The lamb taste may be more palatable.
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You want to limit fat intake. Lamb tends to be leaner with less saturated fat than salmon.
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Your dog has a chicken allergy. Lamb avoids chicken ingredients found in some salmon foods.
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Your dog needs more zinc. Lamb provides abundant zinc for stronger immunity.
Trying Limited Ingredient Diets
For dogs with multiple food sensitivities, limited ingredient diets with either salmon or lamb may be helpful. Here’s how to implement a limited ingredient trial:
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Select a dog food with either salmon or lamb as the sole animal protein source, without other meat meals.
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Make sure the food has a limited number of total ingredients (under 10 is ideal).
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Find a single animal fat source like salmon oil or lamb fat rather than a blend.
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Avoid all common allergens – wheat, corn, dairy, chicken, beef, pork.
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Feed the limited ingredient diet exclusively for 8-12 weeks.
Carefully observe your dog’s symptoms during this time to see if their skin, coat, digestion, etc. improve on the simplified diet. Then you can determine if that protein works well.
Trying Novel Proteins
If your dog still struggles on salmon and lamb, you may need to try more “novel” protein sources that are less commonly found in dog foods:
- Kangaroo – very lean and gentle protein
- Duck – rich in iron and fatty acids
- Venison – low fat and highly digestible
- Rabbit – mild in flavor and easy to digest
- Goat – lean meat with lower fat
- Quail – rich in nutrients like choline and iron
Transitioning to a truly novel protein may help identify foods that your dog can properly process. Just introduce one new protein at a time while keeping the diet limited.
Consulting Your Veterinarian
Every dog has specific nutritional requirements based on their health, breed, age, and issues. So make sure to consult your vet before switching up your dog’s diet or protein sources.
They can help you select the right dog food with the optimal ingredients to match your dog’s needs – whether that’s salmon, lamb, or another specialty protein.
With so many excellent dog food options today featuring premium proteins like salmon and lamb, you’re sure to find the perfect formula to keep your dog happy and healthy. Listen to your dog’s needs and feed the protein that provides the right nutrition fit.
Any special needs or diet we should be aware of? (optional)
If the condition you are looking for is not found or listed, it may go by another name, not be traditionally managed with nutrition, and/or we do not have a recipe for the condition as specifically noted below. If you need assistance knowing which condition(s) to select or manage nutritionally, please speak with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist® that offers individualized consultations.
There are currently no specific nutritional management strategies for this less common canine endocrinopathy. The higher blood potassium concentration (hyperkalemia) and lower blood sodium concentration (hyponatremia), that can be seen with this hormonal disease, are not treated through the feeding of a lower dietary concentration of potassium and/or a higher dietary sodium concentration. Rather, hormone replacement therapy (i.e., mineralocorticoids (and glucocorticoids)) needs to be instituted to restore the blood concentrations of these essential nutrients/electrolytes.
We do not currently have any homemade recipes for the nutritional management of cancer. This area of treatment is quite controversial with some popular strategies like lower dietary carbohydrate level being unproven or called into question due to potential data falsification by a former veterinary school researcher. Some veterinarians may recommend diets that have lower n-6 to long-chain n-3 fatty acid ratios which are available on the site with their recommendation and approval. Overall, we suggest that an individualized consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist® be pursued if a non-healthy adult recipe isn’t appropriate or you or your veterinarian are unsure how best to address a particular patient.
We do not currently have any homemade recipes formulated specifically for the nutritional management of silica urolithiasis. This condition is so rare that we suggest that a board-certified veterinary nutritionist® that offers individualized consultations be contacted for assistance. They typically will advise avoiding cereal grains that can be richer in silica and adding water to the meal (to achieve a stew or soup like consistency) to increase water intake and dilute urine (typically a urine specific gravity of 1.020 or less). They will also discuss the likelihood of recurrence which is reported to be low in many cases.
We do not currently have any homemade recipes for the dissolution of struvite stones or uroliths in the dog (or cat). We also do not have any homemade recipes for the prevention of struvite crystals or stones in the dog as the management is now focused on antibiotics (see http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.14559/full for ACVIM Consensus Statement Recommendation 3.2) not first or primarily diet unlike in the cat. The need for antibiotics is related to the abnormal bacteria that can hide within the urinary tract and produce a special enzyme that breaks down urine and releases one of the struvite precursors. There doesn’t appear to be any cases of sterile struvite urolithiasis in the dog that would dictate a change in diet to prevent recurrence. We suggest that an individualized consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist® be pursued if a non-healthy adult recipe isn’t appropriate for a particular patient.
There are currently no specific nutritional management strategies for this common canine endocrinopathy. It has been suggested that lower energy density foods (i.e., less calories per unit of volume) can help with satiety or the sense of fullness. This can be achieved by using lower fat foods or increasing the content of safe vegetables and fruits in a recipe. Care should be taken if the patient is concurrently diabetic as decreasing energy density can increase the amount of dietary carbohydrate. Or if calcium oxalate urolithiasis (i.e., crystals/stones) is a concern, vegetables and fruits may need to be selected carefully as many can be rich in oxalate.
There are no current specific nutritional management strategies for elevated liver enzymes, though if it persists/progresses and a specific diagnosis is made, we do have strategies for copper hepatopathy, liver vascular anomaly, and/or hepatic encephalopathy nutritional management. A consultation with one’s veterinarian and/or an internist and/or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist® is recommended in cases of elevated liver enzymes. They can review your animal companion’s medical records and diet history to come up with the best medical/surgical diagnostics & treatment and/or nutritional management approach(es).
We do not have any recipe options specifically listed for the nutritional management of EPI. With pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, patients with EPI can eat and do well on regular growth and maintenance foods. If clinical signs such as loose or voluminous stools or ongoing underweightedness exist, then the dose of pancreatic enzymes typically needs to be increased under the guidance of one’s veterinarian. At times, a lower fat diet may be suggested to reduce the amount of pancreatic enzymes needed, as the fat digesting enzyme, lipase, is usually limiting, and this medication can be expensive. This is not to say that all EPI patients need dietary fat reduction or restriction and helps explain why there are no EPI specific recipes on the site currently.
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Can Dogs Eat Salmon? | Health Benefits of Salmon for Dogs!
FAQ
Is lamb better for dogs than salmon?
Salmon: Perfect for skin health and reducing inflammation. Lamb: Excellent for sensitive stomachs and high-energy dogs. Turkey: A lean, versatile option for most dogs. Duck: Suitable for picky eaters and allergy-prone pups.
What is the healthiest meat for dogs?
What is the healthiest fish for dogs?
- Wild caught salmon. Wild caught Salmon is safe. Super high in omega 3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation , B12, selenium and low in heavy metals. …
- Sardines. Sardines. Low in heavy metals and high in omega 3’s, selenium and copper.
- Mussels. Mussel.
Is salmon the best food for dogs?
The short answer is yes. Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which support the immune system, may decrease inflammation, and can keep your dog’s coat looking shiny and healthy.
Is salmon a good ingredient in dog food?
However, salmon is generally only found as an ingredient in expensive dog food. Dog food manufacturers have their fans and their critics, so we’ve taken a look at customers’ opinions on lamb, chicken, and salmon foods overall. Fans of chicken-based meals appreciate the low cost and convenience.
Is lamb dog food good for dogs?
Lamb dog food generally receives positive reviews, again with variations among brands. Several customers mentioned that even picky dogs seemed to enjoy the taste of lamb meals. Others found that lamb food did help with their dog’s potential food sensitivities.
Can dogs eat salmon?
Besides the recipes designed for canines with allergies, you’ll also see salmon commonly used in sensitive skin and stomach formulas. The naturally high omega-3 fatty acid content of salmon makes it an easy choice as an ingredient to support skin health in particular. Of the three dog foods, salmon diets will likely be the least accessible.
Can dogs eat lamb vs chicken?
When it comes to lamb vs chicken for dogs, it all boils down to which option is more suitable for your dog. Overweight or less active dogs might benefit from a protein that’s not as fatty. Pups with food sensitivities might not be able to eat chicken, but lamb instead. Or they just prefer one taste over another. Is Salmon Dog Food Bad For Dogs?
Which dog food is best for your pet?
For instance, chicken has a much smaller ecological footprint than lamb. In fact, lamb has the greatest impact on our environment, passing even beef production. (Source) When it comes to choosing between lamb vs salmon vs chicken dog food, the winner is the one that is most suitable for your pet!
Is lamb dog food good for dogs with allergies?
For many years, lamb dog food was considered the go-to choice for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. Now, because it’s been available as an ingredient for so long, several dogs have been exposed to it, and lamb is not considered a true “novel (new) protein” for those dogs.