Tuna

895 foods contain this ingredient

Protein Fish allergen group

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About Tuna

Tuna is an oily saltwater fish added to pet foods and treats mainly for its strong palatability and omega-3 content.

Tuna is commonly used in pet foods as a highly palatable animal protein and flavor enhancer, providing readily digestible protein and omega‑3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) along with B vitamins for both dogs and cats. While nutritionally beneficial, tuna can be high in mercury or sodium (especially canned), and feeding it exclusively or frequently may cause nutrient imbalances (including risks for thiamine or taurine issues in cats), so it should be offered in moderation as part of a complete, balanced diet.

Related ingredients

Skipjack Atlantic Tuna Natural Tuna Flavor Tuna Bone Tuna Broth Tuna By-Product Tuna Fillet Tuna Flavor Tuna Flavored Broth Tuna Loin Tuna Natural Flavor Tuna Oil Tuna Roe Yellowfin Tuna

Derived from: saltwater fish, often canned or meal form
Primary role: palatability enhancer and protein source

Why it's used

Cats and dogs are frequently drawn to tuna's strong smell and flavor, which is why it shows up as a topper, flavoring, or primary protein in wet foods and treats even in small quantities. It also contributes readily digestible protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Common concerns

Thiamine breakdown from raw fish The Merck Veterinary Manual states that raw fish contain thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys dietary thiamine, and that this is a documented cause of thiamine deficiency in cats causing neurological signs; cooking or canning destroys thiaminase.
Steatitis (yellow fat disease) A diet heavy in unsaturated fat from fish such as tuna, combined with insufficient vitamin E, has been documented as a cause of steatitis, a painful inflammation of body fat in cats.
Mercury accumulation Tuna is a larger predatory fish species associated with higher mercury accumulation than smaller fish, which is why veterinary sources generally recommend it not become a frequent or exclusive part of a cat's diet.
Sodium in canned forms Canned tuna packed in brine or seasoned for human consumption can carry added sodium not present in tuna formulated specifically for pet food.

Also relevant

Commercial cat foods that include tuna are formulated to also supply taurine and vitamin E, nutrients that plain tuna alone does not reliably provide in adequate amounts.

2 sources cited