Should You Add Raw Smelt to Your Dog's Diet?

During a recent online shopping trip for Oz’s next raw food order, I happened into the Raw Paws Pet Food Whole Prey section (affiliate link) of their website where they sell raw fish, specifically Mackerel and Smelt.  Until this recent purchase, I had not ordered fish for Oz because, though I know he loves fish, I wasn’t sure I could trust him to chew the fish well enough before swallowing it.  *Cue visions of my dog choking on his food*  But, I did end up ordering one three-pound bag of Smelt and I was proven wrong on how well Oz can chew.

However, I had not fully researched feeding raw Smelt to a dog until the order arrived at my home.  Probably not the smartest way to go about it but at least I now know the good and the bad of feeding raw Smelt to a dog as well as how to avoid the bad altogether, which is easy to do if you are a seasoned or well-informed raw feeder.

Smelt – The Good

In researching Smelt for its nutritional value, I found that these little fish are jam-packed with essential fatty acids and a variety of vitamins and minerals that provide great health benefits to dogs and humans.  (Incidentally, I came across a lot of recipes for Smelt but after handling them for Oz, I don’t think I could ever eat one.)  So what good stuff is in Smelt?

Several of the B family of vitamins including Vitamin B12 (necessary for the bone marrow to produce red blood cells), Thiamin and Riboflavin (essential for growth, muscle development and function, and healthy coat), Vitamin B6 (essential for utilization of amino acids in the body) and Niacin (necessary for proper enzyme function in the body);

Potassium, an electrolyte which is necessary for proper functioning of enzymes, muscles and nerves;

Calcium, another electrolyte that helps build strong bones and muscles as well as helps support heart muscle contraction; and

Omega-3 Fatty Acids which help reduce inflammation, improve skin and coat, prevent certain heart problems and maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Smelt – The Bad

Smelt is one of several fish that contain Thiaminase.  It is an enzyme that splits Thiamin, or Vitamin B1, in the body and renders that vitamin inactive.  Thiamin is an important B family vitamin that converts glucose (sugar) into energy which is necessary for normal function of both muscles and nerves.  So, for an enzyme to come and basically destroy that vitamin in the body is not a good thing.

It should be noted that in veterinary medicine, a thiamin deficiency is associated with pets that are fed a large amount of raw fish.  Along with Smelt, Herring and Catfish contain Thiaminase as well.  Of course, if you cook the fish, it will destroy the Thiaminase so there is nothing to worry about.  But what if you are feeding the fish raw?

Though it contains Thiaminase, it is still possible for a dog to eat raw Smelt so long as it is not the bulk of the dog’s diet.  Since many raw feeders alternate their proteins anyway, one or two meals a week of raw Smelt will provide the dog with all the health benefits of the fish but will not cause a Thiamin deficiency.

I have been giving Oz one or two meals a week of raw Smelt and he is still his normal self.  I will not make Smelt his main protein source.  You may be wondering why feed Smelt at all and I can relate to that however, I have a big bag of Smelt I already purchased so I will keep feeding it…for now. 

Next time, I may purchase the Mackerel and give those a try as I have not seen anything about Mackerel containing Thiaminase.  Of course, they are bigger fish which brings me right back to square one with Oz and his ability to chew it well before swallowing.

What are your thoughts about adding raw fish into your dog’s diet?