Yellow: with caution
Yes, if they are cooked and unseasoned. The American Kennel Club (AKC) even describes sardines as particularly suitable: their bones are soft and digestible and provide calcium.
Why sardines are marked yellow
The issue is not the fish itself, but how it is prepared. According to the AKC, fish with a lot of oil can upset the stomach and even trigger pancreatitis. Seasonings such as garlic are toxic to dogs. Raw fish can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria, which also pose a risk to people in the household. Then there is salt: according to the ASPCA, too much causes intense thirst and, in severe cases, can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures. Sardines are therefore suitable, but only in a particular form.
How to serve sardines safely
- Cooked: Cook fresh sardines thoroughly, without oil or seasoning.
- Tinned: Only in their own juices or water, without added salt. Leave sardines in oil, tomato sauce or chilli on the shelf.
- Check the bones: According to the AKC, sardine bones are soft. All bones must be removed from other fish.
- As an addition: One or two sardines over food are enough and count towards the daily allowance.
What if your dog has eaten sardines in oil?
A tin of sardines in oil disagrees with many dogs. Diarrhoea or vomiting can be expected. Put out water and keep the next meal plain or small. If your dog vomits repeatedly, has abdominal pain or seems lethargic, call your vet. If the sauce contained garlic or onions, mention this when you call.
If you suspect poisoning, take your dog to a vet or an emergency veterinary service immediately.
Snacks count towards the daily food allowance. Our free food calculator works out how much your dog needs, and you can find a complete feeding plan with guidelines for treats in our book “Hundeernährung und Futterplan” (book in German). New to life with a puppy? Our free Puppy Starter Pack can help. And if you would love to see your dog on your living room wall, explore our dog portraits from your own photo, available as a framed portrait or digital file.
Further reading
- Calculating your dog’s food allowance: how much your dog really needs
- Adding rice and potatoes to dog food: how to account for extras
- Is my dog overweight? How to check body shape and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: American Kennel Club, Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat (Fish) and Can Dogs Eat Fish?; ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets (Salt/Excessively Salty Foods).
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
