Pet Food Allergen
Fish Allergy in Dogs and Cats
Fish allergy is less common than chicken or beef in dogs but is a leading allergen in cats. Cross-reactivity between fish species is unusually high — parvalbumin proteins shared across most fish mean a pet allergic to salmon typically also reacts to tuna, whitefish, and herring.
Prevalence
5-7% of food-allergic dogs react to fish (Mueller 2016). In cats, fish is tied with chicken as the most-reported allergen at ~20-25% of confirmed feline food allergies.
Label names that contain fish
Any of these on an ingredient list means fish is present.
Ingredient pages
Cross-reactivity
A pet allergic to fish may also react to: most fish species (70-80% cross-reactivity via parvalbumin). Cross-reactivity is not guaranteed, but it is common enough that it should inform an elimination diet.
Symptoms that point to fish
In-depth guides
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Food Finder pre-filtered to exclude it →
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Scanner pre-checking for fish →
Factual reference based on AAFCO ingredient definitions, FDA guidance, and peer-reviewed veterinary literature cited above. Not medical or veterinary advice. Consult a veterinarian for decisions about your pet's diet.