Freeze-Dried Whole Sardines: Fish Treats for Dogs & Cats

Freeze-dried sardines for dogs and cats, sold whole with the head, tail and bones still on. The only ingredient is sardines. They go into the freeze dryer raw, in small batches, and nothing is added.

What comes out is a small to medium fish that scores 4 of 5 for crunch on our scorecard. The bones are small and soft, and freeze-drying keeps them brittle, so the fish gets eaten bones and all.

Whole, broken or crumbled

Hand over a whole sardine as a snack. For quick rewards, break one into smaller pieces first. We give sardines 3 of 5 for training value, a middle mark. Crumbled over kibble or a raw meal, one sardine is a topper. We list them for adult dogs of all sizes.

Sardine dog treats in three bag sizes

The bags run 1.5 ounces, 3 ounces and 6 ounces. The 1.5 ounce bag answers whether your dog or your cat is a fish eater. Dogs and cats can share these, and that is the argument for the 6 ounce bag.

Sniff and Shift makes these sardines and ships them from Malvern, Pennsylvania. When the 6 ounce bag keeps running out on the same week, a recurring order saves the reordering.

Guaranteed analysis

As printed on the package label:

• Crude Protein (min): 52%
• Crude Fat (min): 13%
• Crude Fiber (max): 5%
• Moisture (max): 14%
• Metabolizable Energy: 3,347 kcal ME/kg (approximately 94.9 kcal/oz)

Feeding and storage

Feed as a treat or meal topper. Not a complete diet. Provide fresh water at all times. Supervise pets while feeding. No refrigerator needed. Press the bag closed after opening and keep it somewhere cool and dry.

Questions

Can dogs eat the bones in whole sardines?

The bones stay in, because the fish is sold whole. They are small and soft, and freeze-drying keeps them brittle. The label says to supervise while feeding, and with any whole fish we would.

Are freeze-dried sardines for cats as well?

Yes. One bag covers both animals. For a cat, break a sardine into smaller pieces or crumble it over food.

How many sardines can a dog have?

They are rich, about 94.9 kcal per ounce. Scale portions to your dog's size and hold all treats to about 10 percent of the day's calories. There is more in our sardine guide.

Is anything added to the sardines?

No. Whole sardines are the only ingredient, with no additives or preservatives.