Canned Salmon Dog Food Recipe

Canned salmon is an easy, affordable fish for homemade dog food. It adds omega-3 fats that support skin and coat, and it is already cooked.

Choose salmon canned in water with no salt added, and remove the larger bones. Homemade meals need a vet-approved supplement for long-term feeding.

Why your dog will love this

• Omega-3s for skin and coat
• Uses pantry canned salmon
• No raw fish handling

Ingredient notes

• Salmon in water, no salt added (14.75 oz each) Safe

  Drain and remove the larger spine bones.

  Cooked or canned in water, boneless, no salt added. Never raw.

• Brown rice, uncooked Safe

  Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.

• Sweet potato, diced Safe

  Serve cooked and plain. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest.

• Green beans, chopped Safe

  Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.

• Eggs Safe

  Serve fully cooked.

See every ingredient in the safety guide

How to make Canned Salmon Dog Food

Canned Salmon Dog Food takes about 45 minutes from start to finish and makes 8 cups. It is an easy recipe. You will need a large pot. Read through every step once before you start, and set out all the ingredients so nothing is missed.

Ingredients and why they are here

You need 6 ingredients. Each one is checked against the ingredient safety guide for dogs.

• 2 cans salmon in water, no salt added (14.75 oz each): Drain and remove the larger spine bones. Cooked or canned in water, boneless, no salt added. Never raw.
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice, uncooked: Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.
• 1 large sweet potato, diced: Serve cooked and plain. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest.
• 1 cup green beans, chopped: Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.
• 2 large eggs: Serve fully cooked.
• 4 cups water

Step-by-step instructions

1. Simmer the rice and sweet potato in the water until the rice is soft. Allow about 25 minutes.
2. Add the green beans for the last 5 minutes. Allow about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the beaten eggs and cook until set.
4. Flake in the drained salmon off the heat and mix well.
5. Cool and portion into containers.

Tips for success

• Mash the soft salmon bones with a fork or remove them; the small ones are soft enough to eat.
• Add the salmon last so it stays in flakes.
• Freeze in daily portions since fish meals spoil faster than meat ones.

How to store it

Let everything cool completely before you pack it away, since trapped steam causes sogginess and mold. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Fish-based food keeps 3 days in the fridge. If anything smells off or shows mold, throw it out.

How much to serve

Use the portion calculator for a daily amount. Switch over 7 days. Each cup has about 290 calories. Switch from your current food over 7 days, mixing in a little more of the new food each day, and weigh your dog every two weeks to adjust the amount.

Swaps and variations

No salmon in water? Use sardines in water. No brown rice? Use white rice. No sweet potato? Use butternut squash. No green beans? Use peas. Change one ingredient at a time so you can tell how each swap affects the texture.

Why dogs love it

Omega-3s for skin and coat. Uses pantry canned salmon. No raw fish handling.

Feeding tips for dogs

Introduce any new food slowly, starting with a small piece, and wait a day to see how your dog’s stomach handles it. Dogs with allergies, pancreatitis, kidney disease or diabetes may need changes, so check with your vet first. Keep fresh water out, especially with dry or salty-tasting treats, and count every treat toward the daily allowance so meals stay balanced.

Safety notes

Homemade meals fed long term need a vet-approved vitamin and mineral supplement to be complete and balanced. Never add onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol or salt, and check the safety guide before trying a new ingredient with your dog. This recipe is general information, not veterinary advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is canned salmon good for dogs?

Yes, when it is canned in water with no salt added. Never feed raw salmon.

How often can dogs eat salmon?

A few times a week is fine for most dogs.

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