Why you give your dog fish oil
Fish oil for dogs is a supplement that delivers omega-3 fatty acids, primarily EPA and DHA. These are the two fatty acids that benefit the dog the most, and they are hard to get enough of through ordinary dry food alone. People typically give fish oil for three reasons: to improve dry, flaky skin and a dull coat, to ease itching and skin irritation, and to support joints and mobility in older dogs or dogs that are stiff. Omega-3 has an anti-inflammatory effect in the body, and that is the mechanism behind both the visible improvements in the coat and the relief many experience in the joints.
At the omega 3 oil, the oil is intended as a daily supplement that you pour over the food. If the supplement should also be targeted specifically at joints, there is the mobility blend, which combines omega-3 with ingredients aimed at the musculoskeletal system.
Healthy skin, a glossy coat and less itching
The effect most people notice first is in the skin and coat. A dog lacking omega-3 may have dry, flaky skin, a coat that looks dull and lifeless, and a tendency to scratch without an obvious cause. EPA and DHA are part of the skin's fatty layer and help retain moisture, while the anti-inflammatory effect can reduce the itching and redness that come with irritated skin.
Improvements to skin and coat do not happen overnight. The skin and hair follicles need time to renew themselves, and that takes time. Many experience a visible difference in the coat's shine and in the amount of dandruff after a few weeks to a couple of months of daily use, but it varies from dog to dog and depends, among other things, on what else may be wrong. If the dog itches severely or has obvious skin changes, fish oil is a supplement, not a replacement for an examination at the vet.
Fish oil for older dogs and stiff joints
Omega-3 is one of the supplements most often used for older dogs and dogs with stiff or sore joints. The anti-inflammatory effect can help make movement easier, and that is why fish oil is often part of caring for dogs with osteoarthritis. It does not heal worn joints, but it can be part of an overall plan alongside exercise, weight control and any treatment from the vet.
If the supplement should make a difference precisely here, it is worth looking at the mobility blend, which is formulated with the joints in mind, rather than a pure omega-3 supplement. If you regularly feed an older dog, it may also make sense to consider a food that is already adapted to its age, such as the range under Older Kibble or the complete senior collection.
How much fish oil should the dog have per day?
The amount depends on the dog's weight and on how concentrated the oil is, that is, how many milligrams of EPA and DHA there are per milliliter. That is why you cannot give one figure that fits all products and all dogs. A small dog of a few kilos needs markedly less than a large dog of 40 kilos.
The safest approach is to follow the dosing instructions on the specific product you choose, as they are calculated based on exactly that oil's content. If you are in doubt, or if the dog has an illness or takes medication, agree on the amount with your vet. This applies especially if you are considering a higher dose to ease joint or skin problems, because more is not automatically better. It is better to start cautiously and increase gradually, so the stomach has time to get used to it.
How quickly does fish oil work on a dog?
Fish oil does not work acutely. It builds up its level in the body over time, and the effect appears gradually. As a rule of thumb, you should expect weeks, not days. Improvements to coat and skin typically come after a few weeks to a couple of months, and the effect on stiff joints is also something that builds up over time rather than kicking in immediately.
This means two things in practice. First, you have to give it daily and consistently, not only when you remember it. Second, you should not give up after a week if nothing happens. Give it time, and keep an eye on the signs you wanted to improve, that is, the coat's shine, the amount of dandruff, the itching or the mobility.
What fish oil is made of
Fish oil is extracted from oily fish, and the quality is linked to which fish are used and how the oil is processed and stored. The key thing is the content of the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are the ones the dog benefits from directly. An oil may well contain omega-3 without having a high content of EPA and DHA specifically, so it is worth looking out for that when you compare products.
Omega-3 are delicate and go rancid if exposed to light, air and heat. That is why storage matters: keep the bottle closed, cool and dark, and use it within a reasonable time after opening. A rancid oil does not taste good and has lost part of its value. If the dog suddenly will not touch food with oil on it, that can be a sign that the oil is getting too old.
Choose between 500 ml and 1 liter
The difference between the bottle sizes is mostly about how long the oil lasts for your dog. A small dog takes a long time to empty a one-liter bottle, and here THE OMEGA 3 OIL 500ML makes more sense, so the oil is used up while it is still fresh. For a large dog or several dogs in the household, a one-liter bottle like THE OMEGA 3 OIL 1L lasts longer per krone without freshness becoming a problem.
If you give the oil regularly all year round, it may be worth considering THE OMEGA 3 OIL, 1L x 3, so you do not run out in the middle of a period. The rule of thumb is simple: buy the size the dog can use up while the oil stays fresh, rather than the largest bottle at any price.
