from the dog health hub
Can Dogs Eat Anchovies? Yes, but the Cure and the Salt Decide It
It depends on the tin. Fresh or plainly prepared anchovies are a brilliant little fish for dogs: small, low in mercury and dense with omega-3. The salt-cured fillets sold for pizzas and Caesar dressing are a different matter, as they are extraordinarily salty, and anchovy paste and dressings usually add garlic too.
Why the caveats matter
As a tiny fish at the bottom of the food chain, the anchovy itself is close to ideal: rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fats, good protein, and about as low in mercury as fish gets. The bones are so small and soft that whole anchovies are generally safe to feed, which is why dried and freeze-dried anchovies are sold as dog treats in their own right.
The catch is the cure. Traditional tinned or jarred anchovy fillets are preserved in salt, and a few fillets can carry more sodium than a small dog should see in a day. Very salty foods cause thirst and stomach upset at minimum, and genuinely large amounts risk salt toxicity. Anchovy paste, tapenade and Caesar dressing add garlic, which is toxic to dogs in its own right, so those stay off the menu entirely.
How to serve it safely
- Best options: dried or freeze-dried anchovies sold as dog treats, fresh anchovies cooked plain, or fillets tinned in oil that you have rinsed well and fed very sparingly.
- Portion guide: one or two small anchovies for a small dog, up to four or five for a large dog, a few times a week at most.
- If using salt-cured fillets, rinse thoroughly, keep it to an occasional single fillet for a medium or large dog, and skip them entirely for small dogs.
- Never share anchovy paste, Gentleman's Relish, tapenade or Caesar dressing. The garlic and salt rule them out.
- Whole small anchovies, bones and all, are fine. The bones are soft enough to be safe.
When to ring the vet
ring your vet if
Marked thirst and extra weeing after salty fillets · Vomiting or diarrhoea in the hours after eating · Wobbliness, tremors or unusual behaviour after a large salty raid, which needs a vet immediately · Itching or ear flare-ups if fish becomes a regular feature
Frequently Asked Questions
My dog ate anchovies off a pizza. Should I worry?
A fillet or two is mostly a salt hit and most dogs will just be thirsty. Offer water and keep an eye out for vomiting. Ring your vet if it was a small dog, a lot of fillets, or the pizza also involved onion or garlic.
Are anchovies good for dogs' skin and coat?
They are one of the richest natural sources of omega-3 fats, which support skin and coat condition, so plain or dried anchovies are a genuinely useful treat. It is the cured, salted versions that undo the good.
Are sardines or anchovies better for dogs?
Both are excellent small oily fish. Sardines in spring water are easier to buy in a dog-friendly form, while anchovies are usually salt-cured, so sardines tend to be the more practical choice unless you buy dried anchovy treats.
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See the multipack →This article is for information, not diagnosis. If your dog has eaten something worrying, ring your vet or, out of hours, an emergency vet. Every dog is different, and your vet knows yours.