Dog owner's experience with fish oils

by Kathy Gornik
(Lexington, Kentucky)

After adding 4 capsules of fish oil per day (400 EPA 200 DHA), two in the morning and two in the evening, my dog's coat improved greatly as did his morning stiffness. But I think it might be upsetting his stomach. Does anyone have a similar experience? Do you have another way of getting Omega 3s in my dog's diet? I'm trying to avoid grains of any type, so I don't want to add ground flax seed. But what about flax seed oil?

Reply:You could look at using lower amounts of fish oil to see if there's any reduction in his gastrointestinal symptoms. You could also try using a different brand of fish oils to see if there is any change in your dog's stomach problems. If you're not using a highly-purified fish oil there's a possibility of exposure to rancid fish oils which may contribute to stomach problems; these same problems are found in humans that ingest rancid fish oils.

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil Dog & Cat Supplement is a pretty reputable brand for fish oil supplements. You could also try using a non-grain dog food supplement that contains high amounts of fish for omega 3 fatty acids.
Honest Kitchen Zeal Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is specifically made for sensitive dogs. It doesn’t contain corn, soy, rice, beet pulp or wheat. It is also grain-free, gluten-free and free of flaxseed and white potatoes.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory properties for humans and dogs. Including these health fats in your dog's diet can help maintain and fortify your dog's nutritional health.