Fish oil is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that has been shown to have numerous health benefits for both people and pets.
Recent studies have found that fish oil can help improve cognitive function, reduce inflammation, and promote a healthy coat in dogs.
While fish oil is generally considered to be safe for both people and pets, there are a few potential side effects that you should be aware of. These include an increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal upset, and allergic reactions.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most mind-blowing benefits of fish oil for dogs. Keep reading to learn more.
13. Brain Development
DHA in fish oils has been shown to play a vital role in the development of the nervous system. This includes both physical and molecular changes that optimize the development and future functioning of the brain.
This makes it particularly useful for the growing pup to allow them to achieve their brain’s full potential. Therefore, you should start pregnant and lactating dogs as well as weaned pups on these supplements or fish oil-infused foods as soon as possible.
12. Improved Day To Day Cognitive Function
One of the most important benefits of fish oils is improved cognitive function. This comes in particularly handy with older dogs that may be suffering from age-related cognitive deterioration. In this case, including fish oil supplements in their diet regimen will help improve everything from their sleep patterns to attention levels and memory of learned skills.
This could also come in handy with younger pups for the same reasons to help improve your dog’s intelligence, concentration, and overall behavior.
11. Boosts Immunity
Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in fish oil play different roles in the dog’s immune system. They improve functionality at a molecular level for more successful mounting of defense responses for sickly dogs.
They also have been shown to help regulate the immune system to avoid harmful over-reaction as well as self-attack as is the case with autoimmune diseases in dogs including autoimmune hypothyroidism, immune-mediated skin, and claw disease, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
10. Lower Triglyceride Levels In The Blood
Triglycerides are a type of potentially harmful fatty acids that accumulate in the blood of overweight or obese dogs. These often cause all sorts of issues including heart disease.
Fish oil helps a lot in this case by reducing the levels of these triglycerides as well as bad cholesterol circulating in your pooch’s system. It also has been shown to improve the levels of good cholesterol for overall metabolic health in the dog.
9. Promotes Development Of Bones And Joints
Fish oils have a lot to offer dog fetuses and growing pups. While they may not play as major roles as other compounds like minerals and supplements like glucosamine and MSM, fish oils do help with the development of healthy joints and bones.
Therefore, if you have a dog at risk of bone issues like dysplasia and general weakness, it definitely will not hurt to include fish oils in their diet as they grow up.
8. Reduces Allergic Reactions
Dogs suffer from a lot of allergies from food intolerance to respiratory reactions to particulate matter. These could be very debilitating and for the sake of their quality of life, lasting solutions are worth looking into.
Fish oils have a lot to offer in this case. First off, they will help reduce the sensitivity levels, therefore, reducing the incidences of reactions. They also reduce the intensity of some allergies by improving overall immune function to prevent over-reaction.
7. Relieves Joint Inflammation
Fish oils have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Omega-3, in particular, has been shown to increase the levels of specific anti-inflammatory compounds in the dog’s body.
One place this effect comes in very handy is when dealing with joint issues like arthritis. Adding these supplements to the mix with other options bone and joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin will definitely help put your little furry buddy out of a lot of misery.
6. Reduce Skin Itchiness And Irritation
If your dog has been suffering from skin irritation, fish oils have a lot to offer in terms of relief. It doesn’t matter whether it is skin allergies or pest infestations.
The oils promote healing while also reducing irritation with their anti-inflammatory effects.
For this, we recommend PetHonesty Salmon Fish Oil. In addition to fish oils like Omega-3, this supplement has vitamin E which is another very powerful compound when it comes to promoting skin restoration and health.
5. Reduced Risk Of Heart Disease
Contrary to popular beliefs, not all oils cause obesity and heart disease. Fish oils are a fantastic example of exactly how beneficial healthy essential fatty acids can be to your furry best friend’s heart health.
They have been shown to reduce the risk of heart diseases in many ways. One is by promoting weight loss when combined with other efforts like exercise and healthier dog food diets. They also reduce the amount of harmful fatty acids as already alluded to.
4. Eye Development And Function
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are both very useful in the development of the eyesight of the puppy, especially during the fetal period. Fish oils should therefore be included in the diets of pregnant dogs, especially with breeds and variations at risk of developing eye problems.
In addition to the actual development of structures, these oils help to improve the overall functioning and health of puppies and older dogs for good eyesight in general.
3. Promotes Overall Coat Health
Fish oils contain Omega-6 which is a type of polyunsaturated fat. Among its many other benefits, this essential fatty acid has been shown to stimulate skin and hair growth. This is especially important to dogs as it helps improve coat health.
It will come in very handy if your pooch has suffered issues like increased shedding. Here, you will notice the restoration of thickness and shine for a truly beautiful coat.
2. Improved Energy Levels
Fatty acids are arguably the most powerful sources of energy compared to protein and carbohydrates despite being the slowest to burn through. Including fish oils in your dog’s diet either through food or supplements will definitely yield improved energy levels.
This comes in handy with older or sickly dogs who need as much of a boost as possible. The best part is that with consistent use, this is one of the fastest results to manifest.
1. Improved Renal Health
Renal disease can be very debilitating and fatal to dogs at any age. Fish oils help a lot by reducing the rate of progression to complications like an end-stage renal disease. When combined with other treatments, your pooch should be able to recover promptly or at the very least enjoy a better quality of life than they had before.
So whether it is kidney stones or renal failure, make sure to include fish oil in the dog’s diet.
Related Questions
Can You Give Your Dog Human Fish Oil Capsules?
You can actually give your dog fish oil capsules meant for humans. However, you have to make sure to read the constituent’s label to ensure that you are giving the dog the right amount of fish oils for their weight. It would also be wise to consult a vet for advice.
How Much Fish Oil Should I Give My Dog?
A dog should consume about 75 to 100 mg/kg of body weight. This loosely translates to about 1 teaspoon for dogs less than 30 lbs and 1 tablespoon for your gentle giant breed. You can give this every day or on alternate days for the numerous health benefits to the dog.
How Long Does It Take Fish Oil To Work?
On average, it takes about 3 months for the dog’s cells to be saturated with the essential fatty acids in fish oil. After this, you will start to notice obvious changes in things like their coat and behavior. However, there are changes that start as early as 6 weeks including improved energy levels and cognitive function.
