Pollock
CautionPlain cooked, deboned pollock is a fine lean fish, but salted dried pollock is one of the saltiest proteins in a household and raw pollock carries thiaminase and parasites.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Increased thirst
- Increased urine volume
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Tremors
- Poor coordination or balance
- Seizures
- Gagging
More about this food
Alaska pollock is the fish behind most American fish sticks and imitation crab, which is exactly why the answer here depends entirely on the form. Plain, fully cooked, unsalted pollock fillet with every pin bone removed is a lean white fish and a reasonable occasional treat. Almost nothing a dog actually gets to eat looks like that.
Salted dried pollock, sold in Korean and Japanese markets as hwangtae, bugeo, or kodari, is cured and dehydrated, which concentrates sodium enormously by weight. Salt toxicosis in dogs becomes a concern around 2 to 3 g/kg of sodium chloride. It opens with heavy drinking and increased urination and progresses to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, incoordination, and seizures, usually within 3 to 24 hours. Shredded dried pollock is also a tough, stringy fiber a dog swallows in long strands, and that kind of foreign body shows up as obstruction over 12 to 72 hours.
Raw pollock adds thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). Fed repeatedly, that causes deficiency: ataxia, a downward-flexed neck posture, and seizures. Raw fish also carries a parasite risk. Fine pin bones can perforate the esophagus or gut.
US households run into the same trap with imitation crab sticks, which are pollock surimi plus salt, starch, and sugar, and with breaded fish sticks fried in oil. Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog eats salted dried fish and then drinks excessively, vomits, trembles, or staggers. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is at (888) 426-4435, 24/7, for a fee. Leave water available in small frequent amounts but do not let a dog gulp a huge volume, because sodium must be corrected slowly to avoid cerebral edema, and do not induce vomiting at home.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate dried shredded pollock. Is that an emergency?
- Treat it as one and call your veterinarian now. Salted dried fish is extremely high in sodium, and the tough strands can also cause an obstruction. Have your dog's weight and an estimate of how much was eaten ready, and offer water in small frequent amounts rather than a large bowl at once.
- Are imitation crab sticks safe for dogs?
- They are pollock surimi with added salt, starch, and sugar, so they are salty processed food rather than plain fish. A stolen bite is unlikely to poison a dog, but they are not a treat to offer, and a dog that eats several should be watched for excessive drinking, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Can I feed raw pollock?
- No. Raw pollock contains thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1, and repeated feeding can cause thiamine deficiency with ataxia, neck flexion, and seizures. Raw fish also carries parasites. Cook it plain, unsalted, and remove every bone.