Can Dogs Eat Flounder?

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Is Flounder an ideal fish to feed your dog? ¹

When looking at ways to improve or maintain your dog’s health and well-being it may have occurred to you to start adding a fish such as Flounder to your pet’s diet.

And why not?

These fish have various benefits when added to a human’s diet. 

But do the same rules apply when it comes to feeding the fish to your pet?

And what size portion should you serve them?

What is the best way to prepare the fish and are there any health risks involved?

To learn the answer to these and other frequently asked questions about Flounder fish and your dog’s diet, read our article below. 

What type of fish is flounder?

Flounders are a healthy, saltwater flat fish that can be found in estuaries and at the bottom of the oceans all over the world.

The fish is known both for its health benefits and great taste.

Flounders can be purchased either whole or in fillets and prepared in a variety of ways. 

Five ways that flounder is good for dogs?

Flounder fish contain a lot of natural vitamins and protein which can benefit your dog when introduced into their diet. Some of these benefits are listed below:

Flounder is a Great Source of Protein for Dogs

A 100g serving for Flounder contains 12g of protein, which is an important part of a balanced diet for dogs and is the most essential nutrient for a dog in terms of their health. 

Protein contains amino acids that play an essential part in the healthy bodily processes of your canine, such as repairing and maintaining healthy cells, organs, and tissues including bone, hair, and muscle.

They also assist the immune system with the production of antibodies, hormones, and enzymes.

Protein will also help as a fuel for your dog’s energy levels and help to keep them healthy and strong. 

Your dog needs 22 amino acids in their diet to remain healthy and they are naturally capable of producing 12 but to function healthily they will also need 10 more essential amino acids which must come from their diet. 

These proteins can only come from meat food sources such as eggs, poultry, and fish which contain all 12. 

Flounder Fish Contains Helpful Omega Oils

100g of Flounder Fish contains 0.27g of Omega-3 Oils which have many health benefits for your dog.

Omega-3 Oils are fatty acids that work to reduce inflammation in your dog’s body and also help to convert Omega-6 oils to an anti-inflammatory state.

There are 3 components to Omega-3 oils which have various benefits for your pet. These are:

Alpha-Linolenic Acid

ALA is an essential fatty acid for your dog which cannot be manufactured naturally so needs to be part of his diet.

It helps to reduce inflammation and keep your dog’s heart healthy.

There are two other Omega-3 oils that will assist ALA in its function, these are DHA and EPA.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid

EPA is another essential fatty acid that helps your dog as an anti-inflammatory and also plays an important part in your pet’s immune system. 

Docosahexaenoic Acid

DHA is an important diet of your dog’s diet as it supports the health of their nervous system, eye, brain, and fetal development. 

Flounder Fish is Vitamin B12 rich

A 100g serving of Flounder Fish contains 1.13mcg of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) which supports various parts of your dog’s health.

It is a crucial part of the healthy functioning of your dog’s brain function and nervous system and helps to support the forming of healthy blood cells.

It will also support your dog’s digestion and the healthy functioning of its intestines. 

A lack of the B12 vitamin in your dog’s diet can have several adverse health effects which you should look out for including lack of energy, loss of appetite, weight loss, and loss of muscle mass. 

You can find Vitamin D in Flounder Fish

100g of Flounder has 2.8 mcg of Vitamin D which will help your dog to balance and keep its phosphorus and calcium levels at a healthy level.

It is stored in the fatty tissues of your pet and will help with muscle, nerve control, and bone health. 

However, too much of this vitamin in your dog’s diet can negatively affect their kidney health.

Choline is found in Flounder Fish

Choline will help the development of the brain in younger dogs and support liver health, working to combat liver disorders such as hepatic lipidosis.

The vitamin also helps to prevent dehydration by preventing water loss through your dog’s skin. 

Three reasons why flounder is bad for dogs

Flounder is not bad for dogs in and of itself, but the way you prepare it can affect whether it is safe to serve it to your dog.

As the fish contains very small bones you will need to be careful to remove them when you are preparing the fish, so they do not become choking hazards.

Serving the fish to your dog raw can also be a problem as it could result in listeria or salmonella poisoning. 

You should make sure to cook it thoroughly but plainly, as if you add seasoning and oil this could harm your dog’s stomach and make them feel ill. 

How much flounder should I feed to my dog?

When you add flounder and other fish to your dog’s diet you should make sure to do so in moderation as part of a healthy and controlled food schedule.

Too much fish can result in your dog gaining weight, which may have its own negative health results.

The American Kennel Club recommends that you should aim for about 10% of your dog’s diet to be made up of fish. 

Can dogs eat fried flounder?

Fried food is not good for dogs, and this extends to fried fish.

You should instead bake, steam or grill the fish to serve its benefits and nutrients healthily.

If you do serve fried fish to your dog there will be an increased chance of gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. 

Can dogs eat breaded flounder?

Cooking and serving your dog breaded fish is not recommended.

The recipe may have seasonings and oils which can disrupt the gastrointestinal health of your pet and make them ill.

Adding fried, breaded food into the mix is also not a good choice if you are looking to provide your pet with a healthy diet. 

Can dogs eat frozen flounder?

There are some pros and cons to serving your dog frozen flounder.

On the benefits side, it may help to slow down your dog’s eating which can contribute to a healthier digestive process.

However, there will be parasites in the fish which can have a negative effect on the health of your pet if it has a weak or compromised immune system. 

When adding frozen fish to your pet’s diet you should follow the FDA’s frozen fish guidelines which state that you should freeze the fish seven days before serving it with a gradual thawing process. 

If you feed your dog frozen fish and find that your pet is having problems with worms or any other poor health symptoms, you may want to consider removing the frozen food from your pet’s diet. 

Can dogs eat raw flounder?

Both the American Kennel Club and The American Veterinary Association state that it is not advisable to feed your dog raw fish such as Flounder.

Raw fish can have parasites such as listeria and salmonella which can make your pet ill and can make family members sick also.

This can be a particular issue if you have small children in the house who may pick up the harmful parasites if they encounter your dog’s salvia.

It is possible to serve your pet raw fish if they have a strong immune system.

If you do serve your pets raw fish you need to be incredibly careful in the preparation, serving, and clean-up.

Make sure to disinfect the surfaces you used to prepare the fish, and the dog bowl you used to serve it, and thoroughly wash your own hands to avoid harmful contamination. 

Can dogs eat baked flounder?

Cooking your dog’s flounder portion is the safest way to ensure that it enjoys all the beneficial protein and vitamins the fish provides while reducing the chances of health issues related to pesticides such as listeria or salmonella.

You should however make sure to cook it as plainly as possible without adding any seasoning or oils which may prove disruptive to your dog’s digestive system and could result in diarrhea and vomiting. 

Can puppies eat flounder?

Fish such as flounders can have beneficial effects on a growing dog such as helping with brain development, supporting the immune system, supporting muscle mass, and maintaining energy levels.

But you should make sure to serve this in moderation, the AKA recommends that no more than 10% of your pet’s diet should contain fish, any more could result in an unhealthy weight gain for your pup.

If you have any queries about meal portions in relation to your dog’s size you should contact your vet for professional advice. 

Photo credits

¹ Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash

James Grayston

My name is James and I love dogs. have owned four Golden Retrievers in the past 15 years. Currently I own two "Goldies"- a five year old and a seven month old. The photo shows me with our youngest when she was about 7 weeks old!