We often walk around town with dog, and at each stop we make, it is always the same: people want to pet him while we get a drink, make a call, or sit down to enjoy a snack.
And we get it—there is no doubt that he looks great, and today in this review post we are going to share some of the products we use to make him look so pettable.
But if you are also looking to boost your dog’s heart and brain performance, then you are reading the right post today.
The 6 Best Fish Oils for Dogs
1. Amazing Omega for Dogs – Dog Fish Oil
This fish oil is in the form of great-tasting (or so they say), chewable pills that my dog seems to love whenever we serve them to him. This product promotes brain health, joint health, and transform a dull coat into a shiny one. Best of all, it’s made from 100% safe and natural ingredients.
Amazing Omega also passes most of the health and standardization policies that govern the manufacture of dog medicinal products; it is also highly recommended by veterinarians. Ask your vet for a recommendation for the best fish oil for dogs, and they will likely mention this product.
Key Features:
- Odorless
- Allergen-free
- Money-back guarantee
If your dog is an allergy-prone pup, this product is still suitable because the ingredients used are not known to cause any allergies to dogs.
For people that have used fish oil products for dogs before, they will find that this particular chewable contains less EPA (18%) and DHA (12%) per serving than regular products.
2. Omegease Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fish Oil for Dogs
One of the most painful things to watch is when your beloved family pet suffers from itchy skin or some other similar condition. But not anymore—you now have a way to help them get through all that misery with the Omegease 100% Pure Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fish Oil for Dogs.
This enriching fish oil for dogs and cats does a great job at making your pet’s coat look healthy, shiny, and thus more appealing to the eye.
Additionally, the presence of omega 3, 6, and 9 helps to avoid allergy issues that may be problematic to your dog.
Key Features:
- Convenient packaging
- Easy to administer
- 100% pure
The rich, naturally formulated fish oil helps to relieve your pet’s joint pain and reduce inflammation as well.
What we didn’t like about the product is that the bottle, though convenient, tends to leak if not closed properly.
3. Nutri-Vet Fish Oil Dog Softgels
If you have been around dogs for long enough, it is most likely that you do know a thing or two about the shedding process. What you might not know, however, is that this process can be slower more difficult for some breeds of dogs.
Nutri-Vet Fish Oil Dog Softgels help your dog to shed without any difficulty and additionally helps to promote a smooth, shiny coat.
Key Features:
- Easy to administer soft gels
- Vet-approved
- Helps promote normal shedding
This product comes as a package containing 100 soft gels made with omega 3 fatty acids, and contain antioxidants for maximum effectiveness.
Formulated with the help of some of the country’s leading veterinarians, you need not look any further for the finest fish oil for dogs. Note that this particular bottle of soft gels may not be sufficient for use on big dogs.
4. Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs
A fish oil for dogs product that can support not only the regeneration of the coat but also a healthy immune system and heart? Sounds like a winner to me!
After using the Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs, you will find this to be true, as we did as well. This fish oil contains omega 3, 6, and 9 in its composition, which makes for a great addition to your dog’s diet.
The oil comes in an easy-release bottle that makes the application process quite a breeze. If you’d love a non-messy method for giving your dog supplements, then this is the product that you should choose. It will only take a couple of minutes out of your day—quickly mix it with the dog’s food, and you are good to go.
Key Features:
- Easy to administer
- Supports a healthy immune system and heart
- The oil is tasty to the dogs
On a side note, check the state of the pump after unwrapping it before starting to use the product; they are relatively delicate and could become damaged in transit.
5. Grizzly Salmon Oil Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This product easily ranks as among the best because of its omega 3 formula derived from wild-caught Alaskan salmon.
The company that makes Grizzly Salmon Oil Omega-3 Fatty acids ensured that the product was tested repeatedly before being released to the market. The benefit of this is an effective product that helps boost the health of your dog.
The medical-grade pump on each bottle helps you precisely measure each amount before serving it to your dog. Additionally, serving the oil is easy enough—just sprinkle over the dog’s meal.
Key Features:
- Fast delivery
- Works to strengthen the entire body
- Dogs love the taste
The product contains a careful blend of omega 3 EPA and DHA, alongside other vitamins and antioxidants to help your dog reach peak health.
When you receive your shipment of the product, however, ensure you check the contents carefully, as we have observed some errors in their delivery several times.
6. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels
With instances of increasing sea pollution hitting our headlines each day, having a salmon fish oil product that is both high in omega 3-content and sourced from the cleanest and safest waters is a blessing.
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 works not only on the skin and coat of the dog but also to improve its overall health. Joint pain, cellular health, and even heart health—this product lives up to its claim as one of the top rated fish oil for dogs; the triglyceride soft gels ensure that there is optimum absorption into the dog’s body.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-administer soft gels
- Triglyceride form for quick absorption
- Has a positive effect on the overall health of the dog
The 90 soft gels come in an easy-to-administer bottle, ensuring that no mess is left behind after you serve your dog the supplements.
These gels might not be as effective for larger dogs and are more suited to puppies or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds.
What are fish oils?
Fish oil refers to oils that are derived from fish products and are used in the manufacture of medicinal products or supplements. These can be targeted at humans or animals. Fish oils do a lot to improve the dog’s immunity and the appearance of its coat and skin.
What kind of fish oil is good for dogs?
Salmon is the main type of fish from which the oils are extracted for dog products. Wild salmon provide the best quality fish oil when compared to farm-bred salmon. This is because wild salmon have better access to natural food sources, which increases the quality of the oil that they produce.
Fish gel tablets and liquid fish oil are the most common forms in which you will find this product in many of the retail stores. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. For the most part, soft gels will be easier to handle because they are chewable and have a pleasant taste to dogs, thus making the dog more willing to consume them.
The liquid version of the fish oil can be messier because of issues such as pump leaks and spillage. However, when it comes to administering, this can be done by spreading the product over the dog’s food. Note, however, that this method will only be successful and neat if the pump works well, and if you can use it without any spillage whatsoever.
My guess is that you will not like the experience—trust me, we have been there a few times with my dog. Liquid versions of the product also have the disadvantage of having an after-fish stench. If you happen to get nauseated by strong smells, this is not the best option, and the soft gels are recommended instead.
What to Consider Before Buying Fish Oil for Dog
Now that you understand what fish oils are, you should learn a thing or two about what to look for in the fish oil for dogs, and how to find one that meets your dog’s needs.
The following tips will give you a general idea of what product you should buy.
1. Vet’s recommendation
For our healthcare products, many of us are guilty of making purchases without a doctor’s prescription or input. However, this kind of ignorance should not be carried forward into considering your dog’s health.
Whether you are looking to buy a supplement or medicinal product, it is crucial to pass the matter by your dog’s vet to get their input on it.
They will tell you what you should expect with the continued use of a particular product on your dog.
2. Preferences
When it comes to preferences, you need to consider the dog’s first, but at the same time, also consider yours.
For example, it is essential that you study your pet to determine whether it prefers one particular taste over another or soft gels over the liquid version of the fish oil you intend to purchase. Again, visiting a vet will come in handy in extracting such information.
When it comes to your preferences, it is important to factor in the smell of the product that you are buying your dog. Remember—you’ll be dealing with that fish breath afterward!
Make sure you determine whether or not they leave your dog’s mouth smelling of the fish oil. Not pleasant.
3. Method of administering
The method of delivering the fish oil will ultimately boil down to the type that you are buying. Soft gels require that you entice your dog to chew the pills. In some cases, they may become hesitant, and you will, therefore, have to shove them in its mouth gently.
Soft gels, however, do not leave you with a mess after you have fed them to your dog.
For liquid fish oil varieties, you will have an easier time administering it to the dog. These products are contained in bottles that make it easy for you to apply the fish oil over the dog’s meal, thus serving it without any hassle at all.
The one downside about these types of fish oil is that they typically leave a mess behind—and requires that you take even more time to clean up. Most of these problems are caused by a faulty pump on the bottle that leads to leakage.
Additionally, with such a product, the fish oil stench is also stronger…and should the packaging be faulty, with the ensuing leakages, it will be worse.
4. Ingredients used
At all times, the best fish oil supplement for dogs will be the ones that contain the safest ingredients. However, in recent times, there have been increased releases of products that are made from artificial ingredients.
These can have a negative effect on the health of your dog, and therefore, it is advisable if you steer clear of such products. Alternatively, go for natural or herbal-based fish oils that use safe, natural ingredients.
And although it may take a bit more time to restore your dog to peak health, these products will be more efficient and beneficial in the long run.
5. The extent of the problem to be addressed
The severity of your dog’s medical issue will determine the type of fish oil you should purchase. Again, for you to make the right decision on which is the best fish oil for your dog in such a scenario, it is vital that you check in with your dog’s vet for the right advice.
Different dogs will have different needs for any particular problem, and generalizing is not the best way to go if you have your dog’s best interest at heart.
Benefits of fish oil to a dog
There is no doubt that fish oil is essential to dogs, but exactly what type of benefits can be derived from the continued use of fish oil?
This section will enlighten you on the benefits that your dog gets from being given fish oil regularly.
1. Healthier coat
The condition of a dog’s coat is the ultimate determiner in whether people will find the dog attractive and want to pet it.
Omega 3, 6, and 9—contained in the best fish oil for dogs—is essential for improving the appearance of a dog’s coat. And if your dog’s skin looks rough or has previously been damaged because of the presence of fleas and ticks, the best way to repair it is by use of fish oil supplements.
It will only take a short while to see positive changes if the product is effective, and with the continued administering of fish oil to your dog, its skin will look glossier and more attractive.
2. Healthier joints
Much like humans, as dogs advance in age, they are prone to having joint pain issues. These issues can also be caused by injuries incurred during play or through accidents. It is very painful and disheartening to see your dog suffer—watching their misery makes you feel helpless.
With fish oil products, however, you can do something that will help your dog with joint pain for the long-term. Fish oil is effective in helping dogs handle joint pain arising from both injuries and accidents alike.
3. Boosting the performance of the heart
Dogs require a strong heart that will keep pumping blood to fuel their energetic lifestyles. The ordinary diet that you feed your dog may not be sufficient enough to handle all the circulation requirements of a dog’s body.
It is, therefore, a great idea to supplement your dog’s diet with some fish oil to help it boost heart performance.
4. Better memory
Have you observed that your dog is exhibiting forgetfulness more and more? This type of behavior could be an indicator of memory loss that needs to be addressed immediately.
Fish oil products are known to be very useful in helping restore dogs’ memory. Omega 6 contributes positively to brain cell regeneration, thus helping your dog improve their memory.
5. Boost fertility
If your dog is having fertility issues, the use of fish oil as a supplement to its diet is an excellent way of helping it have a better chance at reproducing. Fish oil has been known to be effective in boosting fertility in animals for a long time.
Check on the ingredients that have been used in the manufacture of the product, however, as some products contain ingredients that lower the chances of dog reproducing. Your dog’s vet can help advise you on this.
How much fish oil should your dog take?
The exact amount of fish oil that should be given to a dog will vary depending on a lot of issues.
Much of this will have to do with the extent of the damage that you intend to address with the fish oil. Additionally, the variety of fish oil will also determine how much should be given to your dog. And note that soft gels and liquid fish oil cannot be served in similar amounts.
To get the general idea of how much fish oil you can serve to your dog, consult with your vet, and also consider the exact instructions that are given on the product.
Fish oil is highly beneficial to dogs in many ways. It can help improve heart health, memory, fertility, and the appearance of your pet’s coat, among other things.
It is therefore imperative that you consider all the topics discussed above to pick out the best fish oil for dogs to offer to your four-legged best friend.
Always get the professional advice of your dog’s vet; by doing so, you can rest assured that you are giving the right amount to your dog, and have chosen the perfect product for your all of your pet’s health issues and daily needs.