The science-backed benefits of fish oil for dogs of all ages:

Supplementing improves skin, behaviour, brain and heart health; makes puppies smarter; and reduces inflammation and epilepsy.

Dogs need Omega 3 and Omega 6 which can be found in fish oil to make essential fatty acids (EFAs) to maintain healthy cells. Essential fatty acids must be consumed through diet.

The trouble is the heat used to process many dog foods inactivates the delicate beneficial compounds such as resolvins, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the EFAs.

Even if a food contains omegas, the remaining ones can easily break down once the bag is open!

That’s why we supplement our dogs; the oil we choose to stock is extracted from Scottish Salmon and micro-filtered to provide high levels of EPA and DHA; produced using a centrifuge method which means it is gently extracted and doesn’t damage the oil structure. The oil is then micro-filtered and the container is sealed with the addition of vitamin E as an antioxidant. (When giving fish oil, it is important to be sure the product contains antioxidants (typically vitamin E) to protect the lipids from oxidation).

Why supplement your dog with fish oil supplements for Omega 3 Fatty acids? (At any age)

We all want to raise healthy and happy canine companions.

Adding a dose* to their diet can unlock incredible health benefits for your dog.

✔️ Maintain muscle mass, improve muscle strength and endurance, and enhance the effects of physical training.

✔️ Block inflammation from occurring and reduce/resolve existing inflammation.

✔️ Decrease inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.

✔️ Natural source of Omega 3 fatty acids These essential fatty acids also play a big role in promoting healthy skin and coat condition

✔️ Loved by fussy eaters

*Canine Arthritis Resources and Education recommend dosing at 100 mg/kg

Use our dogs as an example:

The maximum daily dose is 310 x (BW in kg)0.75 so we’d be safe to round those numbers up to the nearest measurement on the cap of the salmon oil bottle (e.g. 5 & 7.5ml) 

Take a look at CARE's handy dosages by bodyweight charts here: https://caninearthritis.org/article/overview-of-omega-3-fatty-acids-for-oa/

Feeding advice

Store in the fridge once open

References:

Rodney Habib & Dr Karen Shaw Becker with Khristin Loberg. (2021). The Forever Dog.Harper Collins Publishers.

Bauer JE. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231:1657-1661.

Bauer JE. Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011;239:1441-1451.

Lenox CE. An overview of fatty acids in companion animal medicine. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015;246:1198-1202.

Roush JK, Cross AR, Renberg WC, et al. Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236:67-73. 

Roush JK, Dodd CE, Fritsch DA, et al. Multicenter veterinary practice assessment of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoarthritis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236:59-66.

Fritsch DA, Allen TA, Dodd CE, et al. A multicenter study of the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;236:535-539.

Mazaki-Tovi M, Abood SK, Schenck PA. Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and body condition on serum concentrations of adipokines in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res 2012;73:1273-1281. 

Moreau M, Troncy E, del Castillo JRE, et al. Effects of feeding a high omega-3 fatty acids diet in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. J An Physiol An Nutrition 2013;97:830-837.

Lenox CE, Bauer JE. Potential adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med 2013;27:217-226.