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    PeterDobias.com / Blog / health knowledge

    Is it safe for you and your dog to eat fish?

    By Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

    Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM has 30 years of experience as a veterinarian. His love of dogs and passion for natural healing and nutrition led him to writing, teaching and helping people create health naturally, without drugs, chemicals and processed food.

    How to navigate the world of toxic oceans and fish


    When I spend time online I often see the level of effort people put into creating delicious and amazing-looking meals for their dogs. From these canine culinary delights, I can see how much people love their dogs, yet, a critical piece of information is getting lost in translation, and that is the safety of feeding fish.

    Including fish in your diet or your dog's diet would have been considered healthy in the past; however, the topic of feeding fish or fish oil is much more contentious now.

    I have written several articles on the toxins present in fish, including mercury, and the issue of radioactive strontium contained in the bones of small fish that are then eaten whole.

    Mercury

    Mercury levels in fish are undoubtedly rising, and I have seen a correlation between increased mercury levels and canine epilepsy, which is a good enough reason not to feed fish. This heavy metal is a known neurotoxin, and my impression is that seizures are not the only problem related to dogs being fed a high fish diet.

    If you have been feeding your dog fish, here is a link to the HairQ Test which will help you establish your dog’s mercury, minerals, and heavy metal levels. 

    Click here to get a HairQ Test.

    Study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1751-0147-53-66

    Strontium

    I know that many of you like to feed sardines and herring, and it was upsetting to see a sharp rise in HairQ Test strontium levels in dogs that ate whole small fish (including fish bones) after the Fukushima disaster.

    I recently had a conversation with a few of my colleagues who suggested that this is no longer the case; however, in the end, we have not found any data indicating that strontium 90 levels are dropping. This is another reason I have made the decision not to feed Pax fish or fish oil. 

    Here are links to the older studies on this topic:

    http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2011/06/14/fukushima-excessive-levels-of-highly-toxic-strontium-detected-in-seawater-and-groundwater-wall-street-journal/

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130611084207.htm

    Prescription drugs

    Prescription medication in oceans and rivers, and consequently in fish, is another big reason I do not feed fish or fish oil. A preliminary study of fish in Florida has shown that human medications are present in fish in significant amounts, and feeding your beloved dogs fish may mean that you are inadvertently exposing them to prescription drugs.

    Studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6097189/

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020321437

    Fish or no fish?
     

    I have chosen not to give my dog, Pax, fish for two reasons. The first one is the issue of overfishing, and the second, in my opinion, is that fish is no longer a healthy food choice.

    No matter what you decide for your dog, I feel obligated to share this vital information.

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    Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM has 30 years of experience as a veterinarian. He graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 in the Czech Republic and obtained the Canadian Certificate of Qualification in 1995. He is currently licensed in the European Union, and his unique approach to healing and nutrition helps holistically minded dog lovers worldwide.

    Dr. Dobias strongly believes that disease prevention, natural nutrition and supplements, the right exercise and a drug free approach to medicine can add years to your dog's life.

    As a formulator of his all-natural vitamin and supplement line and co-inventor of natural, chemical free flea and tick control, FleaHex® and TickHex®, his unique healing system and products currently hold the highest independent five star customer rating. For more information click here.

    Any general recommendations that Dr. Dobias makes are not a substitute for the appropriate veterinary care and are for informational and educational purposes only.

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