Valuable fish oil as a vitamin bomb for your dog

Facts on the table: Dogs love food! And fishy notes trigger a pleasurable click of the tongue in many four-legged friends within seconds. However, fish oil - often obtained from salmon - is not only convincing with its maritime taste. The many positive properties also make this dietary supplement an absolute must-have for the health of your pet. We tell you how the fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 have brought fish oil worldwide fame.

Fish oil for your four-legged friend: Superfood from the sea

You want to provide your pelt with all the important nutrients - naturally! As experts in dog food, we can assure you: Commercially available complete foods are good - an additional dietary supplement is better! In order to provide your four-legged friend with all the nutrients he needs, high-quality fish oil should not be missing from your dog's cupboard.[1]

Fish oil - especially the valuable salmon oil - is full of omega-3 and omega-6, polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for your pet's health. If you add this high-dose oil to your pet's daily food, you will also improve the supply of vitamins A, D, E and K. The highly digestible vitamin bomb also stimulates the metabolism, has an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthens the immune system. In addition, fish oil helps with joint problems, cell structure, blood circulation and brain development.[2]

Can it get any better? Absolutely! Besides the improved nutrient supply, fish oil also has a positive effect on the skin and coat of your four-legged friend. So say goodbye once and for all to superficial skin problems, dandruff and the resulting itching.[3]

Convinced? What you should look for when buying fish oil

The market is full of nutritional supplements for dogs and new products cross the counter every day. Of course you want to get hold of only the best supplements for your four-legged friend. As is so often the case, the well-known rule also applies when choosing the ideal fish oil: quality before quantity. Therefore, make sure that the oil of your choice is cold-pressed and has been extracted from the whole fish. Fish residues have no place in a high-quality food supplement.[4]

Whether you choose an oil from wild fish or one from aquaculture is up to you. While the quality from the sea is higher, aquaculture is the more sustainable form of fishing. What should be out of the question, however, is the amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) it contains. This is the omega-3 fatty acid that is polyunsaturated and makes fish oil so valuable for your dog. At least 15 to 20 percent EPA should be contained in the fish oil of your choice. So the rule of thumb here is: the more, the better![5]

Delicious fish oil! - How to feed correctly

As a general rule, 0.3 grams of fish oil per 10 kilograms of body weight will keep your dog fit and supply him with essential fatty acids. A daily portion of the tasty fish is therefore always a good idea. To ensure that you do not over-supply your dog with omega-3 and omega-6, it is always advisable to consult your vet if you are unsure. This is especially true for puppies, as special puppy foods already contain sufficient fatty acids. Additional supplementation is therefore not usually necessary. Grey-nosed seniors who often suffer from joint problems, on the other hand, benefit all the more from high-quality fish oil.[6]

Pssst, secret tip: always put the fish oil high up in the cupboard, because your cold snout won't be able to get enough of the new "treat"....


[1] Lenox, C. E., Bauer, J. E: (2013): Potential adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats

[2] Fritsch, D. A., Allen, T. A., Dodd C. E. et al. (2010): A multicenter study of the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis

[3] Lenox, C. E., Bauer, J. E: (2013): Potential adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs and cats

[4] Norddeutscher Rundfunk (2022: https://www.ndr.de/ratgeber/gesundheit/Omega-3-Fettsaeuren-Warum-sie-gesund-sind,fettsaeuren100.html

[5] Norddeutscher Rundfunk (2022): https://www.ndr.de/ratgeber/gesundheit/Omega-3-Fettsaeuren-Warum-sie-gesund-sind,fettsaeuren100.html

[6] Fritsch, D. A., Allen, T. A., Dodd C. E. et al. (2010): A multicenter study of the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis

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