Just as with humans, dogs can benefit massively from fish oil supplements in their diets. This is because, like us, they need a good balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and Omega-3 can be difficult to get into their diet through their normal food. That’s why it’s a good idea to feed them supplements.
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Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in cold-water fish, and although they can be ingested just through eating these fish, they are found in much higher concentrations in dedicated supplements. This is because they have been extracted and packed, either as oils or tablets, and usually have a range of other vitamins and minerals added to them.
Fish oil is beneficial for dogs of all ages, but is particularly helpful for old dogs and puppies. The benefits of feeding your dog fish oil supplements include:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Anti-inflammatory properties for conditions such as arthritis and allergies
- Improving brain function and eye health
- Strengthening immune systems
- Improving the quality of the coat and skin
- Lowering cholesterol levels and improving heart health and function
Just as with anything you feed your dog, quality is important. For the same reasons that you would avoid products full of additives, you want to avoid these in any supplements you feed to your dog. To help you make the best decision on which supplements would be best, here are some of the top quality fish oil supplements available now.
1. SavvyBeast Premium Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
This fish oil is made purely from salmon, whereas others contain a mix from different kinds of fish. If nothing else, this gives you an indication of the purity of the product. The oil is mostly odorless, and unlike some other brands it shouldn’t give your dog a bad tummy. It’s designed for daily use and can be squirted directly onto your dog’s food. The oil is processed in a particular way to remove any toxins that may have been present in the fish, and is pure salmon oil that is rich in Omega-3.
The product is specifically designed to promote joint and coat health, and also improve cognitive function. It’s also ideal for dogs that have dry skin, and claims to be able to solve this problem quickly. The fish oil comes in 16oz and 32oz bottles, and has a squirty top to help with exact measurements. The bottle also has feeding guidelines for different sized dogs.
2. Doggy Naturals Fish Oil Capsules
Rather than a bottle of fish oil, Doggy Naturals have instead opted for gel capsules. These are more similar in design to human fish oil supplements. Also, these supplements come from a range of different fish, including anchovy and sardine. The gel capsules mean you can’t squirt the oil directly onto your dog’s food, but there shouldn’t be any issues with just putting a capsule in with their kibble. However, if you think your dog will have issues eating the capsules, then it might be worth buying a bottle of oil instead.
The capsules are free from preservatives, additives, gluten, and chemicals, and are non-GMO. They are made in the USA in an FDA-regulated facility, and so you know they’re going to be good quality. A bottle contains 250 gel capsules, and there are different sizes available for different dogs. Capsules for larger dogs will be much bigger, so make sure you look into this when buying to ensure you get the right size.
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Ask a Vet Live Now3. Petipet Omega DHA bars
The supplements made by Petipet come in the form of small bars that can be added to your dog’s kibble, and have a very similar consistency. These would be a good choice if you’ve have problems giving your dog supplements before because they will hardly be noticeable. The bars are made with high quality salmon oil, along with other antioxidant ingredients such as ginger, sweet potato, apple, and DHA.
These supplements are ideal for helping with shedding and inflammation problems in particular because of the other ingredients they contain. Each pack has 180 bars, which is a big supply, even for large dogs. All of the ingredients are human-grade following a strict manufacturing process, so you can be sure these supplements will be the best quality.
If you’ve had problems with other types of supplements in the past it will definitely be worth giving these a go
4. Fur Pet’s Sake Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs
Fur Pet’s Sake have produced this fish oil supplement using a range of natural ingredients, including fish oil and added Omega-3 oils. The oil is packaged without any additives and is GMO free, and still contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals you’d need from a supplement. It comes in a 16oz pump bottle, although this pump can become a bit messy after regular use.
This supplement is ideal for improving coat quality and heart health due to its high concentration of Omega-3, and the added minerals. This makes it particularly suitable for older dogs, but you can still use it regardless of their age. The fish oil comes naturally from wild caught fish, and is then processed to remove any possible toxins and harmful chemicals. This means you can be confident in the quality of the product, and know it’ll do a good job.
5. Mighty Petz Fish Oil Chews for Dogs
These supplements come in the form of chews, rather than a product you can add to your dog’s kibble. This means they would be a good choice for those who have had problems feeding their dogs supplements in the past, but it does mean you have to remember to give your dog one daily. The treats are low calorie and have a very low sodium content, meaning you can give them one every day without concern for their health. Also, giving your dog supplements in the form of a chew means you won’t have to deal with the awful fishy smell that comes from using pure oil.
This supplement is particularly good for joint and coat issues, although you might have a difficult time getting older dogs to chew them. However, the treats are quite soft, so it would be worth trying. The supplements are made in the USA in an FDA-regulated factory, and none of the ingredients are heavily processed or chemically altered. The product is then also sent to an independent third party for regular testing to ensure the quality is maintained. These supplements would be a great choice if you’ve had problems in the past trying to feed your dog pure fish oil or tablets.
6. NHV Omega-3 Fish Oil for Dogs
NHV use human-grade fish oil in their supplements, so you know it’s the best quality around. They also don’t use any chemical additives or preservatives, so the product is about as natural as it can possibly be. However, this does mean that it can smell a bit fishy at times, and might give your dog bad breath. It’s made from a combination of cod liver, anchovies, and sardines, all of which are natural sources of vitamins A and D. The product also contains vitamin E, which can be hard to fit into your dog’s diet.
Because the supplement uses human-grade fish oils it contains much higher concentrations of Omega-3 than some other supplements on this list. This means it would be ideal if your dog has more serious joint and coat issues, although it can be worth checking with your vet before overloading your dog with supplements.
This product doesn’t have a pump cap, so make sure to be careful when measuring out the right dosage for your dog
7. Pet Supplements Fish Oil for Dogs
These supplements come in the form of gel capsules, which you can either hide in your dog’s kibble or give on their own. However, some dogs might not like to take capsules, so it can be worth avoiding these if you know this will be a problem. The oils come from a range of sources, including wild anchovy, mackerel, and sardines. Like with many other supplements, these oils are processed first to remove any possible toxins and chemicals. There are also added vitamins and minerals, including EPA, which helps to promote healthy coats.
This pack contains two bottles of capsules, totaling 360, which is quite a big supply for the price. There are feeding instructions included to make sure you give the right dosage, and the pack recommends breaking the capsules up if you have a smaller dog. These supplements are good for all-round health, but if you have a specific issue you want to fix then look for a more specialized fish oil supplement.
8. Golden Trail Supplies Wild Alaskan Salmon Fish Oil
This fish oil comes purely from wild salmon, and so is a much higher quality than some other supplements on this list. The product contains no additives, preservatives, or harmful chemicals, and so you know it’ll be a good quality supplement. The recipe is also gluten free, non-GMO, and dairy and soy free. It comes in a pump bottle, meaning you can apply it directly to your dog’s food.
This supplement is good for heath skin and coats, and because it’s sourced purely from salmon it has a very high concentration of natural Omega-3. Unlike some other supplements, this one isn’t completely odorless, but it does promise to have a discrete scent. This means that it might begin to smell a bit fishy, and might give your dog bad breath. However, this is a small sacrifice to pay for such a good quality fish oil supplement. The bottle comes in 16oz and 32oz versions, and both come with dosage instructions.
9. Aolvo Fish Oil Powder
Aolvo have produced a supplement in the form of a powder, making it one of the easiest for slipping into your dog’s diet. All you need to do is sprinkle a serving of the powder on your dog’s kibble, and it will be very hard for them to notice once it’s mixed in. This makes it a great choice if you’ve had problems feeding your dog supplements in the past. Along with fish oil, this supplement contains added protein, vitamins, and minerals.
This supplement is suitable for dogs of every age, and its composition makes it specifically useful for healthy coats and skin. The product has been designed to improve skin condition, fix any flaky and itchy skin issues, and promote hair growth. This makes it a good choice if your dog has skin issues, or if you just want to improve the quality of their coat. However, if you want to focus more on heart and organ improvement, it would be best to look at different supplements.
10. Active Chews Pure Omega Fish Oil for Dogs
These supplements from Active Chews are another good choice if you’ve had problems with supplements in the past. They come in the form of small chewy treats, and contain fish oil derived from sardine, herring, mackerel, and anchovy. The chews are chicken flavored, and luckily this covers up the fishy smell that you would expect from a chew. This added chicken flavor makes them ideal as a treat, and means there hopefully shouldn’t be any issues with your dog enjoying them.
Along with a high concentration of fish oil, these supplements also contain a range of active vitamins and minerals to promote healthy skin and organs. The treats aren’t baked, and so there’s no loss of potency with the ingredients. They are made in the USA in an FDA registered factory, meaning they adhere to strict quality guidelines. The treats are suitable for dogs of all sizes, and there is a dosage guide included. There are 120 chews in a bottle, and so you should get a good supply regardless of the size of your dog.
Related Sources: NIH.Gov VetNutrition TUFTS.Edu
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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