Often I am asked about the safety and value in giving seafood to pets.  In general, seafood is a nice alternative protein and the best source of Omega 3 fatty acids for animals.  I usually feed my dogs seafood 2-3 meals per week.  Here is some helpful information to use as a guide when making a selection for your animals.  This by no means is complete!

Best sources of omega 3 fatty acids: salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, lake trout, Alaskan halibut, sardines, and herring.

Highest in protein per serving: tuna, salmon, snapper, swordfish.

Highest vitamin B-12 content: clams, mackerel, herring, blue fin tuna, rainbow trout, and salmon.

Highest in iron: clams, shrimp, mackerel, and swordfish.

Lowest in iron: orange roughy, snapper, and sea bass.

Highest in zinc: crab, lobster, swordfish, and clams.

Highest in calcium: canned salmon with bones.

Highest in total fat, saturated fats, and calories: mackerel.

Lowest in total fat and saturated fat: lobster, and orange roughy.

Most risky fish for pollutants: wild catfish, shrimp, lake trout (warm-water fish and those in lakes from agrochemical run-off).

Least risky fish for pollutants: deep-water ocean fish, salmon and tuna.