Guide
Sardine heads or whole sardines for your pet
Updated
Sardine heads vs whole sardines comes down to the experience, not the label. The printed numbers are identical. Our Fish Trio page calls the heads the crunchiest, and whole sardines are the bigger piece to break into rewards. Both are one ingredient, freeze-dried raw in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish.
What is the difference between sardine heads and whole sardines?
Heads are just the heads, with the bones and the eyes still in them. Whole sardines are the full fish, sold with head, tail and bones on. Both go into the freeze dryer raw, and nothing is added to either.
The listing calls the whole sardines small to medium fish. The heads vary more: no two match, and a bag holds a mix of larger and smaller ones.
| Feature | Sardine heads | Whole sardines |
|---|---|---|
| What is in the bag | Heads with bones and eyes | The whole fish, head, tail and bones on |
| Crunch, our scorecard | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Training value, our scorecard | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Crude protein | min 52% | min 52% |
| Crude fat | min 13% | min 13% |
| Crude fiber | max 5% | max 5% |
| Moisture | max 14% | max 14% |
| Energy, as printed | about 94.9 kcal/oz | about 94.9 kcal/oz |
| Bag sizes | One size | 1.5, 3 and 6 oz |
The scorecard is our own rating, not a measurement of any animal. The guaranteed analysis is the one printed on each package.
Which is crunchier, heads or whole sardines?
On our scorecard they tie at 4 of 5. The Fish Trio page gives its own plain verdict: the heads are the crunchiest of the three fish in that box. Both are brittle and dry, so judge by feel.
Heads are compact pieces, and a whole sardine is the full fish from head to tail, so it gives you more to break.
Do heads and whole sardines have the same label numbers?
Yes. The protein, fat, fiber and moisture figures, and the energy figure of 3,347 kcal ME/kg, or about 94.9 kcal per ounce, are identical as printed. So any treat math you do for one works for the other.
That makes a label comparison a dead heat, which is why the choice is about the pet and the piece. The whole sardine listing's FAQ says to hold a dog's treats to about 10 percent of the day's calories. That share covers both bags, not each one. For a cat, ask your vet what share fits.
Neither listing gives a piece count, so your vet or a kitchen scale is the right tool for amounts.
Which one breaks into reward pieces more easily?
Whole sardines. They are the largest of the fish in the Fish Trio, and the listing says to break them into smaller pieces for rewards or crumble them as a topper. For a small dog, break one in half. A sardine gives you several rewards from one fish.
Heads are chunkier and more uneven. Some are the size of a nice reward. Others are larger, and you can snap them. The heads listing calls them a crunchy reward or a crumbled topper, and says their aroma makes them a pick for training.
Both are freeze-dried raw, so wash your hands after handling either one. Supervise while your pet eats, and size each piece to the pet.
Which one suits a cat, and which a big dog?
Both bags are for adult dogs of all sizes and for cats. For a cat, our Fish Trio page says the heads are "the one cats tend to claim first." That is the page's observation, not a rule about cats, and a cat may pick the other one.
For a big dog, a whole sardine is easy to hand over as a snack, and a head is a compact crunchy reward. A very big dog may swallow either quickly, so watch.
For a small dog or a small cat, break pieces down. Both keep their bones, and we make no claim about them: if you are unsure about your own pet and fish bones, ask your veterinarian.
Read the full listings on the sardine heads page and the whole sardines page, or open the guides hub for more comparisons.
Questions
Do the heads smell stronger than whole sardines?
The heads listing says their aroma makes them a pick for training. The whole sardine listing makes no smell statement, so we cannot compare the two. Smell is easy to check, because you can open the bag and find out.
Can I mix heads and whole sardines in one day's treats?
Yes, as long as the day's treats stay within your pet's share. For a dog, the sardine listing puts all treats at about 10 percent of daily calories, and for a cat, your vet sets the share. The labels match, so a head or a piece of sardine counts the same way.
Which one should a dog new to fish try?
Whole sardines break into small pieces most easily, so they are an easy start for a dog new to fish. Offer a small piece, supervise, and ask your veterinarian if you are unsure how your dog handles fish.
Is there a box with both?
The Fish Trio holds whole sardines, anchovies and sardine heads in one box. Each bag is a single ingredient, and the box is suitable for dogs and cats. The three single pages hold the label details.
Do both come in more than one size?
Whole sardines come in three bag sizes, 1.5, 3 and 6 ounces. Sardine heads come in one size. We do not state the heads bag weight here, so check the printed bag when it arrives.
Are both freeze-dried raw?
Yes. Both go into the freeze dryer raw, in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania, from imported fish. The heads listing says to wash your hands after handling it, and the same goes for whole sardines.