Is Salmon a Novel Protein? Exploring the Benefits for Your Dog’s Health

In this series of posts, we’re continuing to explore the range of novel proteins we offer here at B&T Pets. This time, we’re highlighting Salmon—an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential fatty acids. At B&T Pets, we source our wild-caught salmon from Canadian waters, primarily from the Pacific coast, with a focus on sustainability and responsible harvesting practices.

Let’s take a closer look at why salmon is a powerhouse protein, the specific benefits it brings to your pet’s health, and how it can be incorporated into a balanced, nourishing diet.

In this article, we will focus on:

A quick review of novel proteins
Why salmon
The benefits of salmon for your pet
How to incorporate salmon into your pet's diet
Final Thoughts

A Quick Review of Novel Proteins

Novel proteins are uncommon in traditional pet foods and are often used in limited-ingredient diets to help manage food sensitivities and allergies. They offer unique nutritional profiles that can contribute to your pet's overall health and well-being.

To read more details about novel proteins, check out our blog post - here.

Why Salmon?

Omega-3 Rich: Excellent for skin, coat, and heart health.
Highly Digestible: Ideal for sensitive stomachs.
Promotes Brain Health: Supports cognitive development.

The Benefits of Salmon for Your Pet

Enhances Coat Health: Omega-3 improves shine and softness.
Supports Joint Mobility: Reduces inflammation for active pets.
Improves Cognitive Function: Essential fatty acids support brain development.

How to Incorporate Salmon into Your Pet’s Diet

Introduce this novel protein gradually to your pet's diet. Start with small portions and observe for any reactions. Choose high-quality, natural products with minimal processing, and consider rotating with other proteins to maintain nutritional balance.

Fish, being a highly sought after protein, especially for dogs, and loved by cats, salmon is the most commonly used in pet products. Our salmon skins come to us as the skin from the entire side of the fish, they are then simply dried and packaged. Our Salmon Noggins, as split salmon head halves which are then dried; without splitting them in half they would not dry fully. These are a very tasty treat for lucky larger sized dogs. We also carry a brand of Salmon Oil, which is manufactured in Canada from Alaskan Salmon, which are wild-caught. We are looking at adding in Salmon Clouds (freeze dried salmon meat) in the near future (summer 2025).