Can dogs eat anchovies?

Can dogs eat anchovies? It depends on which anchovies. The salted, oil-packed fillets in a tin and a plain freeze-dried anchovy made as a pet treat are very different things. We sell the second kind, so we have a stake here, and we make no health claims. Has your dog reacted to fish or seafood before? Then talk to your veterinarian before offering any anchovy.

Tinned anchovies

Kitchen anchovies are often salted and packed in oil, so check the tin; salt and oil are the two things our sources warn about. The ASPCA warns that too much salt can bring on heavy thirst and urination and can throw off blood electrolytes, with more serious signs at higher amounts (ASPCA, People Foods to Avoid, opened 2026-10-16). The AKC says fish with too much oil can upset a dog's stomach and may even lead to pancreatitis, and it cautions against seasonings like garlic (AKC, Can Dogs Eat Fish, opened 2026-10-16). Neither source gives a safe number of tinned anchovies, so we do not either. Ask your veterinarian before sharing one.

Plain freeze-dried anchovies

Ours are Stolephorus chinensis and nothing else: no salt or oil added, and no grains, fillers or dyes. Each is a whole small fish, so bones come with it, and the AKC's warning that fish bones are small, brittle and dangerous applies. Stay with your dog while it eats, and break anchovies into bits for a small dog.

Our anchovies are raw before freeze-drying, not cooked. VCA urges caution with freeze-dried or dehydrated raw treats because of the risk of bacterial contamination (VCA, Dog Treats, opened 2026-10-16). Handle them with the hygiene the FDA asks for with raw pet food: wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more after handling and clean the bowl (FDA, Get the Facts, opened 2026-10-16).

The smell

Anchovies smell strongly of fish, and we lean into it: it is what makes a dog work for them in training. They are also smaller and drier than our sardines, and they vary in size, shape and color. Our own scorecard puts the crunch at 4 of 5 and training use at 3 of 5.

How many

Our label prints about 83.1 kcal per ounce (2,930 kcal ME/kg) and no count of fish. VCA's guidance is that treats should make up no more than about 10 percent of a dog's daily calories, with new treats added one at a time, beginning with a small piece (VCA, Dog Treats, opened 2026-10-16). The anchovy page has a calculator that does that arithmetic from your dog's daily calories; your veterinarian can give you the starting number.

Cats and anchovies

Our anchovies are listed for cats too, offered whole or crumbled over food. VCA gives cats the same 10 percent treat share and the same advice to go slowly (VCA, Cat Treats, opened 2026-10-16). We found no public veterinary source on anchovies for cats specifically, so ask your veterinarian whether fish treats suit your cat, start with a small piece and supervise.

Anchovies or sardines?

We do not rank one fish over the other for your pet. The practical differences from our own labels: anchovies print 67% minimum crude protein and 5% minimum crude fat, our sardines 52% and 13%; anchovies come in one 2 oz bag with no recurring plan, sardines in three sizes. The sardines for dogs guide covers the sardine side, and the Fish Trio puts both in one box with the sardine heads.

What we do not claim

No benefits, no nutrient promises, nothing about where the fish are caught, and no promise that anchovies suit every dog or cat.