{"id":1869,"date":"2021-04-11T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T10:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging2.kipandtwiggys.com\/?p=1869"},"modified":"2022-09-18T12:51:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T12:51:09","slug":"sprats-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kipandtwiggys.com\/sprats-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Sprats for Dogs (by Jo the Vet)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you looking for a healthy and natural treat for your dog? Maybe you’d like something versatile which can be used in many different ways? Or maybe you’d like a treat with added health benefits? Well, sprats might be an option for you and your dog! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what are sprats? Where do they come from? And what are their benefits? These are some of the questions you might be searching for answers for, which we will discuss within this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Key facts<\/span><\/h2>

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Give sprats a go if you’re looking for a natural, healthy treat for your dog<\/p>

Try to source them from a supplier with high standards, where the fish were sustainably caught and handled hygienically<\/p>

Use them as a food topper, training treat, exploring game or simply as a daily snack<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What are Sprats for Dogs?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sprats are small fish (6 to 8cm long) which have been prepared for your dog to eat. They can be fished in many different places in the world, however the Baltic Sea is a common source for European produced sprats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are available in a variety of forms to suit your needs, such as frozen, air-dried and minced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air-Dried Sprats <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Possibly the most popular form of sprats for dogs. They are gently dried without heat to create a crunchy, crumbly treat for your dog. They are easy to break through and one sprat can be easily broken into four little sections to use as a training treat. You can also sprinkle some broken up sprats across your garden as a fun, mind challenging game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen Sprats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are an excellent option to add to your dog’s raw food diet, or as a completely unprocessed treat (as long as your dog eats it quickly, otherwise you have a defrosted whole fish on your living room floor!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minced Sprats <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These can also be used as a complement to meals, and you can sprinkle them over your dog’s raw or commercial food to ensure he gets the added health benefits from having them in his diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Benefits of Sprats for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sprats have a wealth of health benefits for your dog which include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Boosting and maintaining heart function.<\/li>
  • Improving the glossiness of the coat.<\/li>
  • Decreasing itchiness and dryness of the skin.<\/li>
  • Decrease inflammatory processes such as allergies.<\/li>
  • Improve joint health and provide arthritic pain relief.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    All of these benefits can be attributed to their high omega-3 content. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid, which dogs cannot make and must obtain from their food. It is vital for many bodily functions, and a key nutrient for your dog’s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sprats are nutritionally made up of more than Omega-3 though. Their nutritional constitution varies depending on the type of sprats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Nutrition<\/h3><\/div>
    Dried<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Protein<\/div><\/div>
    44%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Fat<\/div><\/div>
    27%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Moisture<\/div><\/div>
    9%<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Fresh<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Protein<\/div><\/div>
    13%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Fat<\/div><\/div>
    5%<\/div><\/div><\/div>
    Moisture<\/div><\/div>
    76%<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    This means that you are giving your dog far more moisture (water) if you feed frozen sprats, and will need to feed many more to feed the same amount of protein and fat as if you were giving dried sprats. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as even though the nutrients are more concentrated in dried sprats, you might want a low-fat option, in which case, frozen sprats are ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are no specific guidelines about how many sprats your dog can have in one day, but generally dogs can have more frozen sprats than dried sprats. Two to three dried sprats per day as a treat is often enough, or a little more if you’re feeding them frozen. However the best way to feed sprats as a treat is simply not excessively. That amount will vary from dog to dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Disadvantages & Risks of Sprats for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    A Very Safe Treat<\/h3>

    It’s important sprats are processed in a hygienic way but sprats themselves pose no inherent risk to dogs. Due to the high fat content, they aren’t really suitable for overweight dogs or dogs with a bowel condition.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    As with any raw food, the risk of contamination and subsequent food poisoning is higher than when a processed food is consumed. Much like you should be careful about where you buy raw fish to eat yourself, so should you be careful about where you buy your frozen sprats from. This ensures they have been handled in a hygienic environment. If you wish to be extra careful, washing your fresh frozen sprats before giving them to your dog might help reduce the risk. Of course, use cold water otherwise the sprats will quickly defrost! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Luckily, the drying process reduces the chance of harbouring bacteria, so contamination shouldn’t be a problem for dried sprats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Avoid Giving to Overweight Dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There are few instances which contraindicate giving your dog dried sprats. Dried sprats have a relatively high fat content, so if you have a dog which is overweight or has a condition which is worsened by fat, such as pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease, you might want to consider a different treat or avoiding dried sprats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/span>Sprats for Puppies<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
    <\/div>

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    Puppies can have sprats from 12 weeks old. They are an excellent, high-reward training treat when the dried sprats are broken into small pieces. <\/p>

    As with all treats, they should be given in moderation, and the bulk of your puppy’s diet should consist of a balanced and nutritionally complete commercial puppy food.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Alternatives to Sprats for Dogs<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Like the idea of sprats but not quite sold on them yet? Here are some great alternatives which you might want to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n