how to cook salmon for dogs

Salmon chalk drawing on slate outlining a salmon fillet surrounded by lemons, herbs and spices, and a fishing rod.

Cooking salmon for dogs is a pretty straightforward process. The most important thing to remember is that salmon has to be cooked to 145 degrees to make salmon safe for dogs to eat, otherwise it can be dangerous for dogs to consume.

That makes thoroughly cooked fresh or frozen salmon great to fix for dogs as well as canned salmon.

I've got 5 recipes for you that will show you exactly how to cook salmon for dogs!

Cooking Salmon for Dogs

The basic rule of thumb here is that as long as you are using dog safe ingredient (no garlic or onion) and cook the salmon to an internal temperature of 145 degrees, then you cook salmon for dogs mostly like you cook salmon for humans.

Typically, you won't use as many spices, but other than that they methods are quite similar.

TIP: Any time you are making homemade dog food, check the recipe with your vet. Vets will often recommend a nutritional dog supplement (like these from Amazon) to make sure your pup is getting enough vitamins and minerals as well as other nutrients.

Homemade Salmon Dog Food

overhead view of 3 metal bowls containing raw vegetables, raw salmon pieces, and white rice on wooden table

This dog food recipe features good high quality, fresh ingredients in a well balanced approach.

Ingredients

1 lb. salmon WITH skin
1 tbsp. coconut oil (you can substitute olive oil or other cooking oil)
1 head of broccoli
3 sweet potatoes
2 carrots
1 squash

Directions

First, you'll need to cook the salmon in a skillet using the coconut oil to prevent sticking.

Chop the squash, carrots and broccoli, and steam them until they are tender. Boil the sweet potatoes until tender as well. I leave the skin on the potatoes, as there are beneficial nutrients (like fiber and potassium) in the skin. When the potatoes are tender, mash them.

Once all your prep work is done, it's time to combine the ingredients to make Salmon and Broccoli Dog Food. Shred the salmon in a large mixing bowl. Now, add the broccoli, squash and carrots. Mix thoroughly.

Finally, add the sweet potatoes and mix until everything is completely combined. Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your pet.

The serving size for this recipe is about 1/2 cup per 25 pounds of weight. Keep in mind that it is difficult to recommend serving sizes when it comes to homemade dog food. It is best to consult with your veterinarian to learn about your pet's specific nutritional needs.

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. As I mentioned above, you can also freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for storage of about 2-3 months.

Thank you to topdogtips.com for this recipe.

Salmon Dog Food Recipe

Raw vegetables and breads spilling from brown paper shopping bag onto black surface with salmon steak on butcher paper

I like that this recipe uses quinoa a super grain that is good for both people and dogs. It also has pumpkin in it, which most dogs absolutely love.

Ingredients

2 lbs. salmon
1 cup quinoa
1 zucchini
1 small squash
1 large carrot
1 can (15-ounce) pumpkin
2 ounces melted coconut oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 375˚ F.

Bake the salmon for 15 minutes. While the salmon is in the oven, cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package.

Shred the zucchini, squash and carrot in a food processor. When the salmon and quinoa have finished cooking, mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Once cooled, you can feed this homemade dog food to your pet.

Thank you to topdogtips for this recipe.

Salmon and Sweet Potato Dog Food Recipe

overhead view of Salmon steak with sweet potato and assorted vegetables on white plate on black table

This limited ingredient recipe is incredibly easy to put together and serves both dogs and humans. It even includes people variations!

Ingredients

1 fillet Tasmanian Salmon per person/dog (small dogs, feed 1/4-1/2), skin on
1 head broccoli
1 large sweet potato
1 tspcoconut oil

Directions

For the sweet potato mash, if serving raw, chop sweet potato and place in a food processor or high powered blender. Blitz until smooth. If cooking, place in a saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes, or until tender. Then mash (you can of course add milk and butter for your human selves, after you've portion out approx 2 tbsp for your dog).

If serving raw, finely chop the broccoli and portion out 1 tbsp for your dog. For humans, drizzle with a little buttermilk. If cooking, steam for 10 minutes then serve.

If serving raw, dice the salmon into 2cm cubes and place 4 for a small dog and 6 for a large dog onto the sweet potato and broccoli. Drizzle with melted coconut oil.

If cooking, heat coconut oil in a pan over medium-high heat and cook salmon whole or chopped for 3-6 minutes until cooked to your liking. Place 4 pieces for a small dog and 6 pieces for a large dog onto the sweet potato and broccoli. Humans, add a knob of garlic or saffron butter and enjoy!

Thank you to furfresh.com for this recipe.

Salmon and Rice Dog Food Recipe

rice, salmon, and veggies mixed on white rectangle plate on woven place mat.

This recipe combines whitefish, salmon and rice for a tasty meal your dog will love. It's easy on their stomachs and full of high quality protien.

Ingredients:

2 pounds of frozen whitefish fillets — Frozen is fine.
1 or 2 cans of pink salmon
3 whole eggs, raw or cooked
3 cups of diced vegetables — Some great choices include cabbage, cooked squash or pumpkin, peas, green beans and kale. You can use two or more.
1 cup of cooked rice (white or brown) — If your dog tolerates it well. Otherwise try cooked oatmeal, quinoa or lentils.

Directions:

Again, you can grind or dice the fish then cook it. Mix the chosen vegetables into a pot of water, bring to a boil and then simmer for about 5 minutes before adding the other ingredients. Mix and let cool. Keep in refrigerator in well sealed container for up to three days, or freeze.

Thank you to heavy.com for this recipe.

Baked Salmon for Dogs

overhead view of baked salmon on rectangle white plate on brown wooden surface.

I make salmon for my dogs the same way I make salmon for myself. I coat it with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake until the center is done.

Remember that for dogs it MUST reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees or it can be dangerous.

The Bottom Line on Cooking Salmon for Dogs

Salmon is good for dogs as long as it's cooked to a temperature of at least 145 degrees. You can fix salmon for a dog just like you would for a human, but make sure to omit onions and garlic from recipes for dogs because these ingredients are toxic to dogs.

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