Giving your furry friend a fish oil supplement is an excellent idea.
Fish oil does a lot of things for your furry friend–it improves coat quality, nourishes skin, supports his heart, improves allergies, and relieves joint pain. It helps strengthen their immune system and fight infection.
But, not all fish oil supplements are good for your dog!
There are a lot of things that can go wrong! Some companies sell rancid supplements deemed unfit for human consumption, while others come from questionable sources. In some cases, they do more harm than good.
So, it’s crucial to choose the best, high-quality supplements.
In this blog post, we will go through three of the best dog fish oil supplements available on the market, along with a detailed buying guide.
Let’s get started!
Dogs Fish Oil Supplements: Here’s Why They’re Great for Your Furry Friend!
In this section of the blog post, we’ll go through a few health benefits dog fish oil supplements have to offer.
Take a look.
Fish oil supplements come highly recommended as they improve your dog’s heart health and protect it from atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat. Since fish oil has anticoagulant properties, it helps prevent blood clots and is excellent for dogs with heart diseases.
Has your dog been feeling itchy lately?
Allergies aren’t fun. Fish oil supplement helps your dog fight allergies and reduce itching as well as flaky, dry skin. It works by reducing the number of cytokines produced by your dog’s body that stimulate inflammation.
It’s a good choice for dogs with IBD.
When a dog’s kidneys are failing, the blood pressure goes up. Fish oil supplement helps by lowering the blood pressure as well as the protein content in urine. On top of that, it also reduces the inflammation that aggravates kidneys.
Dogs with arthritis have increased amounts of prostaglandins that cause inflammation. Fish oil helps reduce their number. Dogs that take fish oil have a better quality of life than those who don’t.
In a 2019 study conducted by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, it was found that DHA supplements are extremely beneficial to puppies. Puppies who receive DHA supplements tend to do better, retain skills, and learn tasks compared to those who don’t.
Older dogs, too, can benefit from this. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction tend to do better when on DHA supplements.
Triglycerides are linked to inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and heart disease. Fish oil supplements help decrease their levels, ensuring your pet’s health. The best fish oils for dogs help with this.
Fish Oil 101: Here’s What it Contains
Without boring you, I’d like to explain some technical stuff.
There are four types of fats that you get from the food you eat:
- Polyunsaturated fats
- Monounsaturated fats
- Saturated fats
- Trans fats
Simple enough, right?
Polyunsaturated fats contain omega fatty acids that make important hormones, including those that regulate inflammation and blood flow. You can’t find these naturally in yours or your dog’s body.
You must have come across the term “omega-3 fatty acids” when choosing dog foods. They are found in flaxseed, cold-water fish, plant and nut oils, and shellfish. Your furry friend needs them in his diet to balance the omega-6 fatty acids found in grains and processed foods (like your dog’s kibble).
Most dog foods on the market contain ingredients rich in omega-6, meaning that your dog’s body has loads of it.
This leaves his body in a state of imbalance and has several health consequences. Fish oil helps counter that by injecting your dog’s body with the omega-3 fatty acids he needs.
What Is the Best Fish Oil for Dogs?
You’ll find three main types of fish oils on the market.
Let’s take a look at these.
- Ethyl ester oil: this semi-natural oil is distilled and concentrated to remove impurities and is a rich source of omega-3 including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- Synthetic triglyceride oil: our dog’s body does not easily absorb the synthetic oil
- Natural triglyceride oil: found in nature and easy to absorb by your dog’s system. If it isn’t purified, it may contain harmful contaminants
The right type of fish oil for your dog depends on various factors such as size, breed, overall health, and weight. Always consult your vet before making any changes to his diet.
Here’s What Bad-Quality Fish Oil Supplements Can Do
One of the biggest reasons why you need to steer clear of low-quality fish oils on the market is that they aren’t good for your dog’s health. Your furry friend would be better off on no supplements at all.
It’s no joke that our oceans are not what they used to be. As time passes, they’re becoming more polluted than ever.
Thanks to our modern industrial lifestyle, our oceans are poisoned with heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. They aren’t easy to break down and find their way into the environment. You can find trace amounts in fish oil and fish.
Heavy metal poisoning can lead to:
- Irreversible kidney and liver damage
- Cancers
- Nervous system dysfunction
- Blindness
- Death (in extreme cases)
That’s not all, though.
Several other toxic compounds find their way into fish. These include Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs. These can cause issues such as nervous system disorders, skin problems, bronchitis, and muscle spasms.
The best fish oils for dogs use fish from cleaner waters.
The nuclear power plant in Fukushima was damaged by the 2011 tsunami, causing its reactor to meltdown and radioactive water to find its way into the Pacific Ocean.
The radiation still haunts the West Coast and has found its way into marine life.
Low-quality fish oil supplements may test positive for Strontium-90 and Cesium-137. Make sure that the fish oil supplement you bought for your dog isn’t sourced from Pacific fish.
So, what is the best fish oil for dogs? Let’s find out.
I hope that you’ve understood the importance of choosing the best dog fish oil supplement by now. There are many things you need to keep in mind when picking one out–I recommend you do some research on them before buying it.
So, what kind of fish oil is best for dogs?
That’s exactly what you’re going to find out in this section of the blog post as we list and review the best supplements.
Let’s begin.
Best Dog Fish Oil Supplement | Here’s Why You Should Get It | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Paw Nutrition Pure Alaskan Salmon Oil | Contains EPA and DHA that help reduce inflammation, An excellent source of omega-6 fatty acids to balance out the excessive omega-3, Fresh, Alaskan Salmon is the only ingredient–no additives, Excellent for your dog’s youthful appearance | 4.8 Stars | Check now |
Iceland Pure Unscented Pharmaceutical Grade Salmon Oil For Dogs | Contains a single ingredient, Uses plastic-free bottles, avoiding plastic contamination, Filtered to reduce the foul smell of fish oil, Comes with an easy to use and convenient pump | 4.7 Stars | Check now |
Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet Fish Oil Liquid | Made from Wild Anchovy and Sardine, Third-party purity tested to ensure it’s of the best quality, Improves heart, joint, bone, and skin health, Doesn’t have a foul odor | 4.7 Stars | Check now |
Now, let’s take a look at each of these individually, shall we?
Best Paw Nutrition is a holistic, natural, and eco-friendly brand. The small company creates high-quality products for your furry friend, helping him live a happy, active, and long life.
Helps Improve Fur
The supplement is excellent for maintaining your dog’s coat and fur health and can help liven up the dullest coat! It helps with skin problems such as dandruff, dry skin, and skin irritation–all caused due to a lack of nutrients in your pooch’s diet. The oil has strong, anti-inflammatory properties.
Helps Soothe Symptoms of Allergies
Seasonal allergies will be a thing of the past if you start using this fish oil supplement! The fish oil works as an excellent holistic allergy treatment for your furbaby and helps reduce excessive licking.
You’ll be able to notice changes in your dog’s condition within a week of using the oil and notice a healthy coat and paws.
Relief from Joint-Pain and Arthritis
The fish oil is extremely effective in relieving joint pain and arthritis, improving mobility. Taking the supplement every day will show improvements in mood, energy, and playfulness, making this one of the best fish oils for dogs.
Pure Oil
The oil uses wild and sustainably caught salmon from clean Alaskan waters. It’s not been altered to change the consistency, flavor, smell, and shelf-life. There aren’t any preservatives and additives included, which is excellent for dogs with allergies.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a quick peek:
PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
✔ Enriched with antioxidants and potassium | ✖Minor issues with the pump |
✔Contains vitamin D3, B complex, selenium | |
✔Helps resolve stomach issues | |
✔Excellent customer service |
Iceland Pure was founded in 2005 and is a small company that produces fresh, safe, and effective omega fish oils in eco-friendly containers. The products originate from Norway and Iceland.
Single Ingredient Formula
The fish oil doesn’t contain any questionable ingredients or additives–just put, unadulterated salmon oil. The high-potency formula is an excellent source of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
Additionally, it helps reduce inflammation and relieves dry and itchy skin by nourishing it from the inside out.
Improves Overall Wellbeing
The high-quality formula helps improve your dog’s skin, coat, and joints. The DHA and EPA promote heart health for a healthy and active pet!
Filtered
The fish oil is filtered to remove impurities, reducing the characteristic foul fishy smell. You can add some on top of your dog’s kibble, and he won’t even mind it! The easy to use non-toxic and eco-friendly bottle comes with a handy pump.
Pros and Cons
So, here’s the deal.
PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
✔ Pure and unscented pharmaceutical-grade fish oil | ✖Instructions for using the pump aren’t clear |
✔Contains a mild aroma and flavor | |
✔Helps resolve overgrooming issues | |
✔Well-containered |
Nordic Naturals has been around the block since 1995 and produces effective, safe, and high-quality pet supplements to promote overall health and wellbeing.
Award-winning Formula
This fish oil has won several awards as it has been backed by research and tested rigorously to ensure its quality. It’s proven to be effective on dogs and gives your furry friends all the nutrients he needs for a healthy, happy life.
The Highest Standards
This oil is naturally-sourced and distilled to ensure purity–there’s no fishy smell, either. It’s fresh and pure and passes the World Health Organization and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
Safe to Use
The formula contains EPA+DHA to support your pet’s active lifestyle. It doesn’t use fish from the polluted Pacific ocean, and the stringent testing helps ensure there aren’t any trace hard metals.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons.
PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
✔ No foul smell | ✖Needs better dispenser |
✔Helps improve skin issues within days | |
✔Easy to use | |
✔High-quality |
In this section of the blog post, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions we came across.
Take a look!
1. Help! What’s the right dose!?
To figure out the right dose, multiply your dog’s current weight (in lbs) by 20 mg/lb.
For example, if your dog currently weighs 30 lbs, you multiply it by 20 and get a target of 600 mg of EPA. The target dose for a dog that weighs 40 would be 800 mg of EPA and so on. The DHA dose your dog needs is the same as the EPA dose.
2. Does the EPA:DHA ratio matter?
While there haven’t been any formal studies done on the EPA:DHA ratio, experts believe that you should purchase fish oil that contains more EPA than DHA as it offers better anti-inflammatory effects.
So, higher EPA is better for dogs with skin, joint, and digestive issues.
3. How long until I start seeing some results?
You’ll start seeing signs of improvements after three weeks of giving your dog his target dose. The signs include:
- Improved digestion
- Better skin health–no dry, flaky skin, itchiness, and irritation
- Improvement in the symptoms of arthritis
Contact your vet if you haven’t noticed any improvements to see what’s going on.
4. Can a dog overdose on fish oil?
No, you cannot overdose on fish oil. If you give your dog too much fish oil, he’ll probably get diarrhea or vomit. If that happens, reduce the dose.
5. Should I give my dog the fish oil I’m taking myself?
If you’ve got a small dog who only weighs less than 10 lbs, human fish oil capsules will work well for him. However, they don’t tend to do well for dogs that weigh more than that as they need higher doses.
There’s no point in giving your dog fish oil if he isn’t getting it in the right dose. So, even the best human fish oil wouldn’t work for him. For larger dogs, you’ll have to end up giving him 10-12 pills to get the same effects. So, you’ll keep running out of fish oil pills.
Since these pills are made for humans, they may contain artificial flavors and preservatives that can be toxic to dogs.
Bonus: I already give my dog fish oil, and I see no improvements at all!
The problem lies in the amount of fish oil you’re giving your dog. Most people give their dog a teaspoon of fish oil and hope to see improvements–it doesn’t work like that! You need to make sure that you’re giving your dog the target dose so that his body can meet his EPA and DHA needs.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll see results within three weeks.
Giving your dog a high-quality and effective fish oil supplement is excellent for his overall health and wellbeing.
But, there are a few things you need to know about storing fish oil.
- You need to protect it from heat and light. Keeping it in the refrigerator is an excellent idea as it increases its shelf life
- Fresh fish oil can get rancid pretty quickly if stored outside the fridge. It’s best to throw away the supplement if it starts smelling “off”
To best results, make sure your dog is getting enough of the supplement by giving him the right dose.
Dr. Veronica Heller
Born and brought up in Grand Marais, Minnesota, ever since she was a little girl, Dr. Veronica Heller dreamed of becoming a vet thanks to Sruffy, her family pet. She graduated from College of Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota and began her veterinary career in Larpenteur Animal Hospital in St. Paul as an emergency Veterinarian. Since then, she has worked with Minnesota Veterinary Hospital, Small Animal Hospital, and Blue Pearl Pet Hospital. Her interests in the field include preventive medicine, internal medicine, nutrition, and surgery. She’s also a loving pet mother to two cats and a Golden Retriever.
