You may have heard of the health benefits of fish oil and wondered, “Can I give my dog fish oil?” The short answer is, of course, yes. However, you need to be careful.
Make sure that the amount you give them is appropriate for your dog’s weight and size, and talk to your vet before you make any changes to your dog’s diet or supplement regimen.
Here are a few things you should know about giving fish oil to dogs.
How Is Fish Oil Good For Dogs?
Fish oil is full of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which your dog might be missing if they’re eating a lot of high-grain foods. Ask your vet how much you should be giving your dog before adding this supplement, however.
Your vet may also be able to tell you which of the three fish oil types (natural triglyceride, ethyl ester oil, or synthetic triglyceride) would also be best suited to your dog with the appropriate dietary information. This will be equally important if you end up needing to supplement Vitamin E or Omega-6 into their diets down the line.
Fish oil is great for many things in dogs — and people. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help with coats and skin health, and it reduces shedding. It can also be beneficial to brain and eye development in puppies and works for pregnant dogs and cats to improve the health of their offspring.
Can Fish Oil Be Bad For Dogs?
The thing with fish oils is that, like all things, too much can be a bad thing — hence, our emphasis on speaking with a vet before giving this supplement to your dog.
The oil’s anti-inflammatory aspects can alter platelet function. This can interfere with wound healing and the formation of blood clots, which will obviously be dangerous in the event a pet is ever injured.
Since these things will interfere with the transference of white blood cells, it also means that the body may have issues fighting off things like infections. These are vital functions in anyone, be they person or animal, so ensuring that you’re not putting your dog in danger when you include supplements in their diet is very important.
I can also attest to a personal experience where fish oil might make your dogs excrement a bit messier, and if you have a long-haired dog, that can end up being a real pain in the you-know-what. But if this is the only issue you have, stocking up on some extra bath items and having a special “dog only” towel will be worth it in the long run.
Have you ever given your dog fish oil? Did you see improvements in their health? Would you recommend it for other dog parents? Let us know in the comments below!
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