---
title: "Can dogs and cats eat raw fish?"
description: "Raw fish and pets: risky — depends on amount or preparation. What it does, whether the dose matters, and how dogs, cats, rabbits and birds differ."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/raw-fish/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can pets eat raw fish?

**Raw fish: Risky — depends on amount or preparation**

Dogs: Risky · Cats: Risky

## By animal

| Animal | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dogs | Risky | Same thiaminase issue, plus parasite risk in raw salmon from the Pacific north-west. |
| Cats | Risky | Some raw fish contains thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1 and can cause neurological disease. |

## What it actually does

Several fish species — carp, herring and others — contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine. A cat fed largely on raw fish can develop thiamine deficiency, which causes neurological signs and is well documented. Cooking destroys the enzyme. Separately, raw salmon and trout from the Pacific north-west can carry a fluke that transmits Neorickettsia, causing salmon poisoning disease in dogs, which is often fatal untreated.

No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.

> Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.

## Meat, fish and eggs

| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cooked bones | Not safe | Not safe | Not safe |
| Tuna | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Bacon, ham and fatty meat | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Raw egg | Risky | Risky | Risky |

## Common questions

### Can dogs eat raw fish?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Same thiaminase issue, plus parasite risk in raw salmon from the Pacific north-west.

### Can cats eat raw fish?

Risky — depends on amount or preparation. Some raw fish contains thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1 and can cause neurological disease.

### What does raw fish actually do?

Several fish species — carp, herring and others — contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine. A cat fed largely on raw fish can develop thiamine deficiency, which causes neurological signs and is well documented. Cooking destroys the enzyme. Separately, raw salmon and trout from the Pacific north-west can carry a fluke that transmits Neorickettsia, causing salmon poisoning disease in dogs, which is often fatal untreated.

## Related pages

- [Can pets eat cooked bones?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cooked-bones/)
- [Can pets eat tuna?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/tuna/)
- [Can pets eat bacon, ham and fatty meat?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/bacon/)
- [Can pets eat raw egg?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/raw-egg/)
- [Can pets eat chocolate?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/chocolate/)
- [Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/grapes/)
- [Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/onion-garlic/)
- [Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar?](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/xylitol/)
- [Everything, for dogs](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/dog/)
- [Everything, for cats](https://atoneplace.net/can-pets-eat/cat/)

## Sources

- MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual — Merck & Co. (https://www.merckvetmanual.com/)