Fish Oil for Dogs

Many breeders and professionals in the canine industry recommend that fish oil is good for dogs' health. However, some nutritionists warn about the half-truths in these claims, alerting to possible health problems its use can cause.

This brings us to the eternal debate over whether feeding a dog a salmon oil supplement or another fish rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids is beneficial.

As with everything in life, balance is the secret so something as beneficial as Omega fatty acids brings health benefits to our dog rather than seriously harming it. We'll explain in detail everything you need to know about using this type of oil in canine nutrition.

Can I Give Fish Oil to My Dog?

Anyone can give fish oil to their dog as long as it has no specific allergy to this product. However, just because you can give fish oil to your dog doesn't mean it's beneficial for its health.

Industrial dog food, known as kibble in Spain, balanced feed in Mexico, or croquetas/kibble in many other countries.... already normally includes an appropriate amount of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. So actually, adding this type of supplement to its diet isn't necessary.

However, not every food manufacturer adds this type of beneficial fat to the kibble. Omega acids are very sensitive to heat, and if added before extrusion (the process that shapes the pellet), they lose all their nutritional value. However, if added afterward, avoiding the extrusion process, they'll give the dog all their nutritional value.

Before giving your dog a fish oil (usually salmon) supplement, check whether its food already includes them. Since an excess of this type of acid is just as harmful as a deficiency.

Some natural foods like fish or canned sardines (the same as for humans) already contain a large dose of omega fatty acids. So if you usually give your dog fresh fish, canned sardines, or fish-based industrial food, using more supplements isn't necessary.

Benefits of Fish Oil

There are many types of oils suitable for animal consumption, however only a few are beneficial, or in other words, provide benefits to a dog's health. What's known as polyunsaturated fat provides the greatest benefits to the body.

Rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6, they're recommended in a dog's diet, always in the right amount. EPA and DHA are possibly the main Omega 3 acids the body needs, and their functions are extremely important, providing benefits to:

• Formation of the eye retina
• Formation and stimulation of brain neurons
• Muscle relaxation
• Blood clotting
• Digestive processes
• Cell division

And a long list of others... which we can add to this fatty acid's many benefits, present in fish oil, mainly in salmon oil.

GLA, DGLA, or AA are the best-known or essential Omega 6 acids for the proper function of a dog's body. They also provide numerous benefits such as:

• Control of the dog's immune system
• Hormone formation and control
• Regulation of inflammatory processes
• Formation of the eye retina (together with Omega 3)
• Cardiovascular protection

And once again a long list of others... so we can say that, at the right dose, fish oil is very beneficial for both dogs and humans. However, it's not good to use Omega-3-rich oils meant for humans on dogs, since the dose needed is very different.

What Daily Dose of Fish Oil Does a Dog Need?

It depends on several factors such as the quality of the oil we're going to use, since not all of them have the same amount of omega acids.

It also depends on whether the food we're giving our dog already contains the optimal amount of omega acids. If so, it makes no sense to give the dog extra fish oil.

Assuming we have a healthy dog that doesn't get fish oil (Omega acids) in its diet and we're going to use pure salmon oil specific for dogs, the generally recommended dose is:

• Dogs over 30 kilos: one milliliter twice a week.
• Dogs under 30 kilos: half a milliliter twice a week.
• Dogs under 10 kilos: abstain.

These fish oil doses are for reference only, and it should always be a vet who recommends the right dose for your dog, since depending on its lifestyle, age, and being overweight, they can vary a lot.