Freeze-dried minnows for cats and dogs
Updated
What is in the bag
Marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata, and nothing else: no additives and no preservatives. Each fish stays in one piece. It is never cut into fillets, ground down or molded, so the raw fish that goes into the freeze dryer is what comes out.
Expect variety. One bag mixes large and small fish, pale ones and dark ones. A new bag can look unlike the last one, and that is normal for a whole fish.
The listing prints no guaranteed analysis or calorie figure for the minnows, so we do not offer one here, and there is no treat calculator on this page. Sniff and Shift freeze-dries and ships them from Malvern, Pennsylvania. We make no claim about where the fish are caught or raised.
Serving freeze-dried minnows
Offer a minnow as it is, or crush one over the bowl as a topper. The fit chart on the listing names adult dogs of every size, and cats share the same bag. Our own scorecard gives the crunch 4 of 5 and training use 3 of 5; those are our ratings of the treat, not facts about any pet.
- A treat or topper only, never a complete diet
- Fresh water within reach the whole time
- Stay close while your pet eats, and match the amount to its size, activity and calorie needs
- VCA puts treats at about 10 percent of daily calories for dogs and for cats (both opened 2026-10-16), and suggests trying one small piece of any new treat first
- If your pet has reacted to fish before, skip these and ask your veterinarian
The listing gives no piece count, so we give no daily number of minnows. Whole fish, bones and handling are covered in can dogs and cats eat minnows?
Raw fish and clean hands
These minnows are raw when they go into the freeze dryer; they are not cooked. VCA advises caution with freeze-dried or dehydrated raw treats because they can carry bacteria that may affect the pet eating them, other animals and people in the home (VCA, Dog Treats; VCA, Cat Treats, both opened 2026-10-16). The FDA's raw pet food advice is to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more after touching the treats, clean bowls and surfaces the food touched, and keep your pet from licking your face after a raw meal (FDA, Get the Facts, opened 2026-10-16). The AKC notes the concern is greater around small children and people with weakened immune systems; if that describes your home, talk to your veterinarian first.
Storage
Seal the bag again each time you open it, and keep it somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sun. There is no shelf life on the listing, so use the date printed on your bag.
Other whole fish
Each is a single fish in its own bag, listed for dogs and cats.
Sardines come in three sizes, sardine heads give the most crunch, and anchovies are smaller and drier than sardines. The Fish Trio puts three of them in one box.
Questions about freeze-dried minnows
Can the dog and the cat share a bag?
Yes. The listing names adult dogs of all sizes and cats, so one bag can do both. A cat may take a whole minnow or prefer it crumbled over food.
Which species is in the bag?
Marble goby, Oxyeleotris marmorata, kept whole. It is the only ingredient.
Are the minnows raw?
Yes. They are raw before freeze-drying, not cooked, so handle them as raw pet food and wash your hands afterward. The section above has what VCA and the FDA say.
Why don't the fish match?
Each piece is a separate whole fish rather than a formed treat, so size and color change from one to the next.
Can I order when the box says Sold out, back soon?
No. That label means the minnows are out of stock. We take no advance orders and start no recurring orders until they are back, and the button switches on by itself then.
How should I store them?
Reseal the bag and keep it cool, dry and out of direct sun.
How long do they last?
The listing does not state a shelf life. Go by the date on the bag.