Superfoods for Pets: Fish Oil

Fish oil is a common supplement owners add to their pet’s food, and with good reason. In both cats and dogs, fish oil promotes a healthy heart, strong joints, clear skin and a shiny coat. The supplement contains both EPA and DHA, two

omega-3 fatty acids your pet’s body needs to function that also provide plentiful health benefits.

An anti-inflammatory

EPA and DHA come from fish like salmon, albacore tuna, and mackerel. These essential fatty acids are anti-inflammatories that help ease conditions causing inflammation of the heart, joints, kidneys, and skin. Less inflammation means less pain and swelling in your furry friend and a happier, more comfortable life. These fatty acids also lessen inflammation from allergies, reducing itchy skin and dandruff in your cat or dog.

Healthy cognitive and eye development

DHA, in particular, promotes good brain and eye development in puppies, so feeding fish oil to pregnant or nursing dogs can improve the health of their litter.

How to feed fish oil to your pet

You can give your pet fish oil in either a capsule or liquid form. If your pet doesn’t seem to want to eat a capsule (and seems more interested in batting it around his bowl) try puncturing a hole in it and squeezing the oil onto their kibble. The fishy flavor can also help spark your pet’s appetite if they have difficulty eating, and get them more interested in their kibble.

The Petnet team advises you serve one capsule of 1500 mg fish oil for dogs that weigh 20 pounds or more. Smaller pets should receive lower doses. Consult with your veterinarian and decide the right amount to give your specific pet.

There are lots of great fish oil supplement brands to choose from for your pet, like Nordic Naturals. If you’ve already realized the benefits of fish oil forhumansand happen to take supplements yourself, you can give the same kind to Fluffy or Sparky - so long as you give them the right amount. Depending on the dosage, larger dogs can be given a capsule or two of fish oil meant for humans. For smaller dogs and cats, squeeze a little oil from a capsule and take the rest yourself.

Whenever you introduce a new ingredient to your pet’s diet, start slowly. It’s best to try a little of the supplement and work your way up to a higher dosage after observing how your pet reacts to the oil. There is no toxicity in fish oil, but if you give your pet more than they can easily absorb, they may get diarrhea or other unpleasant side effects. You want your pet to reap the benefits of fish oil without upsetting their tummy.

If you're looking for an excellent kibble featuring our spotlighted ingredient, we recommend you try 1st Choice Nutrition All Breeds Sensitive Skin & Coat: Lamb, Fish & Brown Rice. Petnet takes great care to review recipes we think are uber healthy for your pet and share our findings. Take a peek at out our detailed breakdown of the recipe. You deserve to know what’s in your pet’s food, and we care about your pet.