Why Fish Oil For Dogs Is So Great!
There are some affiliate links below, but they are all products I highly recommend. For more info, view my disclosure here.
We try to be healthy and load up on all kinds of nutrients throughout the day, from our diet to supplements. We try to keep our dogs on healthy diets as well. But our dogs can use some assistance to live long, healthy lives.
One dietary addition that’s vitally important is fish oil for dogs. It’s got a bounty of nutritional perks that can help dogs of all ages. Read on to learn more about the benefits of fish oil for dogs!
What Is Fish Oil?
Fish oil is a liquid made of the oils from cold-water fish such as salmon or mackerel, or from shellfish. It contains two essential Omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Fatty acids are the building blocks for the body and are important for energy storage, mental health, and even fighting diseases.
Is Fish Oil Good For Dogs?
Fish oil is pretty wonderful for many dogs! It has tons of great nutritional benefits. From seeing improved skin and coat to more lubricated joints, it helps many dogs look and feel great!
Is Fish Oil Good For Dog’s Skin?
Fish oil naturally minimizes shedding and improves shine. Fish oil reduces inflammation, itchiness & flakiness.
Not only do the omegas in fish oil nourish the skin to prevent itchiness and inflammation, they also promote a shinier and healthier coat!
It works by replenishing essential vitamins and nutrients, which could result in less dander and even minimize shedding. I mean, dog hair is a great accessory to any outfit, but less of it is always welcome!
Here are more helpful ways to minimize dog shedding and have a cleaner home!
Fight Illness and Strengthen The Immune System with Fish Oil For Dogs
Some studies have concluded that fish oil supplements for dogs are a great way to ensure their immune systems are up to the task of fighting off common colds and illnesses.
I made sure Rico got this regularly starting when he had demodectic mange right after we rescued him off the streets. Keeping his immune system strong has prevented any recurrences.
Now, Rico is the pickiest eater EVER. Since he was a street puppy, you’d think he would eat pretty much anything. NOPE! But due to the fishy taste, he LOVES his fish oil!
Since fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, they’re a powerful anti-inflammatory! That makes it a wonderful addition to help reduce arthritis in dogs.
Plus, it works great when treating dogs with skin problems such as excessive itching, biting, hot spots and flaking.
Fish oil is highly recommended for senior dogs because it’s packed full of antioxidants, giving a natural boost of vitality and energy. Even better, it has the ability to mitigate joint pain and discomfort.
Can Puppies Have Fish Oil?
Absolutely! Puppies can definitely benefit from adding fish oil to their diet. The DHA is a key booster of eye and brain development when added to your puppy’s daily meal!
Are There Any Side Effects of Fish Oil For Dogs?
One question that often comes up is does fish oil have side effects? Also, is fish oil safe for dogs? If you’re wondering about fish oil side effects, not to worry!
The majority of dogs do amazing on it and have no side effects. Some dogs may have allergies to fish, so I recommend starting slow when adding it to your dog’s diet.
This will allow you to determine if your pet has a pre-existing allergy.
Some temporary side effects may occur just from giving your dog the new oil. They may have fishy burps at first. It could also make their stool a little looser than normal. You can minimize this by giving your dog their fish oil with their meals.
After a few days, if they seem to be reacting well to small amounts of fish oil, you can start adding the full recommended amount.
Does Dog Food Contain Fish Oil?
Commercial dog food typically contains omega-6 fatty acids. While still necessary for optimal overall health, omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to increase inflammation.
Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your dog’s diet helps provide balance while acting as a natural anti-inflammatory.
How Much Fish Oil Should I Give My Dog?
Finding the correct fish oil dosage for dogs is very important! To make sure you get the correct fish oil dosage to maximize the fish oil benefits for dogs.
As always, I recommend discussing with your vet first, just to make sure you’re all on the same page and to make sure your dog is getting the ideal dose for their size and health needs.
What Is The Best Fish Oil For Dogs?
We LOVE Welactin Canine omega 3 supplement for dogs as it is specifically formulated for dogs and has a convenient dosing scoop to correctly measure the amounts.
If your dog is suffering from arthritis or other joint pain, your veterinarian may recommend increasing their dosage. Adding omega-3 fatty acids to your dog’s diet helps provide balance while acting as a natural anti-inflammatory.
Can You Give Your Dog Human Fish Oil Capsules?
Fish oil for humans and fish oil for dogs all come from the same source, so it’s perfectly fine to give your dog capsules of fish oil.
I found Roxy & Rico were more likely to avoid the capsule in their food, though.
Pouring the fish oil on top of their meals helps them enjoy the taste of their food even more!
How Should I Store Fish Oil?
The Omega-3 fatty acids are very sensitive to light, which is why many come packaged in thick plastic. To maintain the benefits, store fish oil in a cool, dark place. Putting it in the refrigerator is a great option!
Smell it periodically to ensure it hasn’t gone rancid. It should have a fishy, yet pleasant smell. If something smells “off” then toss it to be safe.
Can I Feed My Dog Fish?
Giving your dog fish is a great way to boost their omega 3 fatty acid intake and help ease inflammation! There are a few things to keep in mind.
Salmon makes a fantastic meal for dogs!
You want to make sure the fish is unseasoned, because many seasonings aren’t safe for dogs.
Make sure to cook the fish first. Raw fish can contain bacteria like listeria or salmonella, which can be harmful. It can also contain worms, so cooking it will kill any parasites.
Mackerel and sardines are also great options when given in moderation. Stay away from fish packaged in oil and stick with ones packaged in water.
The fish oil in the skin is plenty for your dog, so there’s no need to add extra to their diet.
In addition, make sure there are no bones your dog could choke on.
Also keep in mind that this is a good source of extra calories, so make sure to adjust your dog’s meal portions accordingly.
Do Fish Skins Make A Good Dog Treat?
Fish skins are an awesome snack for most dogs! These Dried fish skins are nice and crunchy, so they work well for keeping your dog’s teeth clean. Plus, they’re packed full of all the omega-3 fatty acids!
They do have a bit of a smell to them, so they’re a perfect snack to eat outside when the weather is cooperating.
I find the smell doesn’t linger too long after they eat it, but it may not be the best snack to give your dog when you’re expecting company!
Tips For Giving Dogs Fish Oil
Giving fish oil to dogs doesn’t have to be complicated! Most dogs love the taste, so you can simply mix it into their food and they’ll happily eat it. You could also add it to a bit of rice as a special treat!
Does Fish Oil Help Dogs?
As you can see from all the amazing benefits mentioned above, yes, fish oil does help dogs to live a healthier, happier life! You can use fish oil for itchy dogs, use fish oil for arthritis in dogs, and even puppies can benefit from fish oil!
I used to give Ryder fish oil over his kibble. I stopped when we founderstand out about his food allergies. But the vet said that I can still use it. I’m not sure why I hadn’t started again. Thanks for all the facts. I didn’t know about fish oil being good for their inure system. Too cool. 🙂
I feel like sometimes we get bogged down with all the things we “should” do as pet parents, and it can get overwhelming at times! Luckily this one is such an easy addition, and with Rico it helps him decide to actually eat all his food when it’s got fish oil on top.
I use fish oil in Layla’s food which I cook for her plus I add organic raw honey too, she is one healthy senior dog. Good luck with your first give away
Oooh I love the idea of adding honey! We sometimes sprinkle local bee pollen onto Roxy’s food when she starts to have seasonal allergies, so I’ll have to give honey a shot and see if that helps too!
My dog’s food has fish oil in it but I do think she needs more! She has so much flakiness and itchiness, poor thing! I will get some fish oil supplement for sure! Thanks for the tip!
Happy to help!
Fish oil is indeed great for dogs and humans, I should definitely use it more often.
I keep meaning to take it regularly myself and keep forgetting!
I think there are times when it might not need to be added, depending on the diet. For most dogs, though, it is. We use it regularly as well.
Definitely! I try to load Roxy & Rico up on fish after successful fishing trips, so I taper off the supplements a bit while they’re chowing down on fresh stuff.
When I added fish oil to my dog’s food, his skin became less itchy and his coat was glossier and smoother.
That’s awesome!!
Congrats, Lori! You’re the giveaway winner! I sent you an email to claim your prize 🙂
Fish oil worked well for our dogs as well! We definitely noticed a difference in their coats. Thanks for sharing!
I love the stories of how it helped. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t use oils but my cats eat fresh fish every day. My chihuahua scooby seems to be allergic to fish. Weird but true. I have tried him on all types of omegas and even fresh fish but he starts scratching like a mad man or his face swells up.
Aww bless his heart. Allergies can be tough to manage!
I give Gusto a 5* IFOS rated liquid fish oil to help make him smarter…not sure I want him to be any smarter though since he is already outsmarting me…lol
Hahaha! Love it!
I know that fish oil can be really important for dogs’ health. I’m entering the giveaway because I’ll be needing some fish oil for my dogs pretty soon.
Good luck!
I need to tell my mom about using fish oil with her dog. He has such terrible allergies.
His food has fish oil in it. Any additional fish oil doesn’t seem to agree with him though. He gets probiotics.
I agree that fish oil has some amazing benefits for our pets, especially cold water salmon. There can be some minor side effects from using it, fish breathe, and a lot of smelly gas. But the benefits to joints, skin, and coat cannot be denied. I’m definitely entering your giveaway!
I used to give my springer fish oil to make her coat shiny, especially over the winter. I stopped doing it at some point (mostly because the oil was smelly). But I should start doing it again. Capsules would be good. I’ll look into that.
I’m really surprised at all the benefits for dogs. I take it just for my high cholesterol! But Dolly, its a no no as she has to have a low fat diet for pancreatitis. But for Taffy I should probably start her on it! Sandra and Dolly
Sampson gets Treatibles (Hemp Oil), Nupro, and Devcor all for his joint issues.
I haven’t tried this yet with my Bassets – but I think I will now.
I take fish oil capsules for myself to help with my cholesterol. I never imagined it would be great for my Yorkie as well! These benefits seem great – he seems to have dry skin this time of year! Thanks for the information!
I need to start doing this for my dog Ebony. She currently takes prednisone for dry skin & itchiness but I’d love to find a more natural solution.
Just want to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity in your post is simply nice and i could assume
you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.