In this buying guide, we will look at some specific fish oil brands that are best for dogs, as well as cover the information that you need to know if you are going to buy fish oil for your pet. That way, you can make the best decision possible.
To begin with, let’s take a look at five of the best fish oil for dogs products currently on the market. These fish oil products are extremely high-quality and were chosen because they provide the best fish oil possible for your pet. There are a lot of low-quality fish oil products on the market, and you want to be aware of these because the wrong kind of fish oil can actually make your dog sick. Let’s take a look at five of the best products.
Best Fish Oils for Dogs
| Image | Fish Oil for Dogs | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats | 99% |
 | 2. Grizzly Pollock Oil Supplement for Dogs | 96% |
 | 3. Finest for Pets 100% Pure Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats | 93% |
 | 4. Grizzly Salmon Oil | 89% |
 | 5. NaturVet Omega-Gold Plus Salmon Oil for Dogs | 85% |
1. Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats
The first salmon oil for dogs that will be looking at is this one from Zesty Paws. This is a natural dietary supplement that comes directly from wild Alaskan salmon and is intended for dogs and cats of all ages. You can even give this fish oil to your puppies.
It features everything that you could want an official supplement including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids including EPA and DHA. This is not the standard, generic fish oil product that you would get off the shelf for your pet; this is an actual salmon oil product that has all of the benefits of the highest quality fish oil.
Features
One of the first things that you will notice about this fish oil product is that it is really great for your dog’s skin and coat. Fish oil is usually a great supplement for your dog’s coat, as is dog food that has oily fish as the main ingredient.
However, there is other stuff that this particular fish oil helps with including helping to promote joint health, making sure that your dog’s heart is working properly and boosting their immune system. There are a lot of good reasons to add this fish oil supplement to your dog’s diet, especially when you consider how easy it is to get them to take it.
Why you should buy
Another great thing about this fish oil is that it doesn’t just provide the benefits that normal fish oil does, it is specifically formulated to provide additional benefits that your dog needs. This was done through a great deal of research and advances in pet nutrition. With everything that is included in this wild Alaskan salmon oil, you’re sure to see a marked difference in your pet and know that they will be healthier for taking it.
2. Grizzly Pollock Oil Supplement for Dogs
Another terrific fish oil product currently on the market is this Pollock oil supplement from Grizzly. Both the omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that your dog needs for skin and coat health as well as various other parts of the body like healthy joints and heart health are all included within this supplement.
This is the perfect supplement for dogs like boxers which can sometimes suffer from heart problems and need stronger joints to support powerful muscles that they build with the protein that you include in their food. This supplement is also beneficial for your dog is nervous system.
Features
You don’t have to worry about where the supplement comes from, because it is sourced from wild Alaskan Pollock – from a sustainable source – and has a terrific ratio of natural fish oils without any chance of toxins getting into your dog system with the Omega fatty acids, EPA and DHA that is included with this supplement; you will see your dog’s health improved dramatically in those areas, most visibly with a shinier, healthier coat and better protection against illness and disease.
Why you should buy
When it comes to choosing the right fish oil for your dog, you definitely want to go with one of the fish that is deemed to be safe and non-toxic. Pollock falls into that category. In fact, Pollock is one of the healthiest fish out there for harvesting fish oil. You get all of the nutrients that come with the highest quality fish oil in this product, including plenty of the right fatty acids and other healthy ingredients, all from one of the primary brands used worldwide for whitefish products.
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3. Finest for Pets 100% Pure Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fish Oil for Dogs
The third product that we will be looking at has a number of benefits for your dog. This fish oil is an advanced formula that works on many different breeds and helps to relieve itching and scratching as well as treat sensitive skin, it also helps to improve your dog’s coat including helping with excessive shedding, prevent inflamed and painful joints or stiffness when standing up and even helps to alleviate dog allergies.
If these are problems that you experience on a regular basis with your pet, then you definitely want to consider adding fish oil to your dog’s diet, and this is one of the best out there.
Features
The first thing you have to understand about OMEGEASE is that it contains not only the standard omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that the other fish oils on the market contain, but it also contains Omega-9 fish oil. This gives some added protection and more benefits for your dog.
That’s why this fish oil can treat so many different problems including joint problems, skin and coat problems and allergies. In addition, fish oil promotes heart health and helps to boost the immune system. There is every reason to give fish oil to your dog and no reason not to.
Why you should buy
But why should you choose this particular fish oil supplement? Fish oil supplements that you will ever find. You get 100 percent pure fish oil in every single bottle. No additives, no extra ingredients or fillers; this fish oil far exceeds wild salmon oil, with a terrific blend of all three of the most important Omega fatty acids for your dog as well as 100 milligrams of EPA and 525 milligrams of DHA for every five milliliter serving. Plus, it is an easy to use liquid that you can add to your dog’s food. They will not even notice that they are consuming it.
4. Grizzly Salmon Oil
This is a really great product when it comes to wild salmon oil, and it comes from Grizzly, a brand that we showcased before because they have such high quality products in this particular area. If you want to give your dog the best possible nutrition, then fish oil definitely needs to be one of the substances that you’re giving them.
Whether your dog suffers from joint damage, a lowered immune system, a rough coat or skin problems, adding fish oil to their diet is definitely the way to solve those problems. Plus, fish oil also helps with other problems that your dog may have. It is one of the healthiest substances that you can give.
Features
There are a lot of things that you can include in your dog’s diet. For example, some people do probiotics for dogs; some add coconut oil for dogs to their food dog bowl, and other issues; essential oil for dog fleas. CBD oil for dogs and other natural remedies can definitely have their benefits, but fish oil for puppies can be more beneficial than just about any other supplement that you give to your dog.
That said, you have to choose the right kind of fish oil. There fish oil supplements being sold out there that are poor quality and may even make your dog sick. That’s why it is important to choose a fish oil supplement that you know is high quality and beneficial for your puppy.
Why you should buy
This salmon oil is so effective because it is completely natural with no additives whatsoever. It is independently tested for purity and quality, and it is better for your dog and wild salmon oil. It contains more EPA and DHA then both wild and farmed salmon oil, and is simply one of the best products on the market forgiving fish oil to your dog.
5. NaturVet Omega-Gold Plus Salmon Oil for Dogs
This NaturVet fish oil is one of the top choices when it comes to fish oil products. This is one of the best you can get if you are concerned about skin health and coat health for your dog. This fish oil product promotes an extremely healthy coat that is glossy and shiny and will remain so for weeks.
It helps your dog to retain moisture on the skin and avoid drying out, as well as being a great source of vitamins and minerals that your dog’s coat in skin need to stay as healthy as possible. This isn’t the most comprehensive fish oil on the market, but the price is pretty amazing and it does everything that fish oil is supposed to do.
Features
Another great thing about this supplement is that it comes and easy to use choose that your dog will love. When you feed your dog this fish oil supplement, it will be just like feeding them a treat. You will have no problem whatsoever getting them to take this supplement.
Plus, it will last forever because it is 180-count with the recommendation to use 2 to 3 choose per day. Plus, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, EPA and all of the other nutrients that your dog needs.
Why you should buy
The bottom line is that this is a veterinary approved formula that is one of the best fish oil formulas on the market. It is completely wheat free and easy to feed to your dog with all of the fatty acids that you could want as well as being manufactured in the USA. When it comes to fish oil supplements, this one should definitely top your list.
Fish Oil for Dogs Buying Guide
Knowing how to choose fish oil supplements is important. That’s why this buying guide will walk you through the process of choosing the right fish supplement for your dog. That includes information on why you should be giving your dog fish oil, as well as how to choose the right fish oil based upon ingredients, quality and other factors.
What is Fish Oil?
There are a lot of ways that you can keep your dog healthy, including getting them a dog house and dog bed or an outdoor dog kennel so they can get exercise. But fish oil is also a beneficial way to care for your dog. However, the first thing that you should understand is exactly what fish oil is. Many people wonder is fish oil good for dogs, and the truth is yes, but to understand that fully, you have to understand where it comes from.
Fish oil is taken from the tissues of oily fish. The fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, and sometimes other fatty acids. In particular, fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. These have a number of benefits for your dog. Fish oil is not actually produced by the fish themselves, but it accumulates when they consume microalgae or other fish that have accumulated omega-3 fatty acids.
However, one of the things that you have to keep in mind is that there are some predatory fish that should not be used to harvest fish oil because the buildup of mercury within them can be toxic. This includes albacore tuna, king mackerel, tile fish and sharks.
Fish Oil Benefits for Dogs
Fish oil has enormous benefits for your dog. There are a lot of things that you can do to promote your dog’s health including giving them an OTC dog flea treatment or buying them a flea collar when they have fleas, giving them a dog joint supplement as they get older, giving them certain medications for dogs such as dewormers for dogs and performing a dog DNA test that will tell you more about what sort of medical care they need.
You have a few choices to when it comes to fish oil supplements for dogs. For example, you can go with salmon oil for dogs, Pollock oil for dogs or various other specific types of fish. But what sorts of benefits do these fish oil supplement for dogs provide?
There are number of benefits that have been demonstrated in scientific tests including an anti-inflammatory response within your dog that can help with the heart, kidneys, joints and even skin conditions.
Fish supplements also provide a nice, healthy coat that is shinier and sheds less. You can give fish oil to both dogs and cats, and it is especially effective for dogs that have allergies. If your dog has allergies that result in itching, hives and dandruff, then fish oil may be able to help.
But you don’t have to start your dog on fish oil after he or she has become an adult. In fact, the omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil is also important in brain and eye development if you give it to your dog as a puppy. Giving fish oil to pets that are pregnant or nursing can also be helpful for the babies. There have even been studies that show that fish oil slows the growth of some cancers.
The bottom line is that fish oil is extremely effective, and you can give it to your dog in their food in liquid form, or you can use capsules or treats given to your dog. If you have trouble getting them to eat then you can always put them in a dog crate or dog playpen first and then feed it to them.
How Fish Oil Works
You might be wondering just how a single supplement can do so much for your dog. The way that fish oil works is pretty amazing. It is because EPA and DHA are extremely important components in the cell membranes of humans, dogs and cats. These fatty acids signal cells to decrease inflammation. Inflammation is a problem that causes so many things in the human body, then anytime you can reduce that inflammation is a good thing. Let’s inflammation means less pain, less joint discomfort and stiffness and less swelling in the skin. Anti-inflammatory medications are useful, but you usually only take them when you have a headache. Taking a fish oil supplement everyday can be beneficial for both you and your dog to reduce inflammation regularly.
How to Choose Fish Oil for Dogs
So, how do you choose the right fish oil for dogs? That’s exactly what we are going to be looking at with these factors listed below. These are factors that you should keep in mind when you’re buying fish oil for your dog. Each one of these factors is important to selecting quality fish oil that is going to give you all the benefits of the best fish oil for dogs possible.
Type and Size of Fish
The type and size of the fish that you are harvesting oil from is one of the most important factors to selecting the proper fish oil. You will find that the best brands out there actually identify the type of fish that the oil has been harvested from. For example, you may find salmon oil for dogs, sardine oil for dogs and other types of fish. You want to go for smaller species of fish when you are getting fish oil for pets as well as for people. Larger fish are more likely to be contaminated with toxins. Extremely high levels of mercury and PCB can make you or your dog sick, so you want to avoid that in the best way to do so as to avoid larger predatory fish.
You also may want to do some research on the various types of fish that are out there. Each species of fish offer slightly different benefits, but they all pretty much have the anti-inflammatory benefits in common. Several different types of fish were the basis of the fish oils reviewed at the beginning of this guide, and that should give you some basic information on what one particular species of fish offers over another.
Origin of Fish
Where the fish comes from is also important. If at all possible, you want to avoid factory farmed fish no matter how they are kept. There are number of reasons that you should avoid them. Pretty much the only benefit to these factory farmed fish is that they can sometimes contain less mercury with the larger fish species. However, that single benefit can be eliminated if you go with smaller species and there are so many reasons to avoid factory farmed fish altogether.
One of those reasons is that it is inhumane to keep fish the way they do at these aquafarms. The fish are overstocked and that causes stress as well as higher mortality rates. In fact, almost half of fish and aquafarms died before they are slaughtered. Plus, since there are so many fish kept in a single tank, the water pollution is extremely high. Fish can become infested with parasites and infections which are offset by dangerous pesticides and other chemicals added to the water.
The best rule of thumb when it comes to fish oil is to look for fish oil that is harvested from the fish out in the wild. As long as you go for the smaller species of fish, you do not have to worry about mercury poisoning, and you will not be contributing to an inhumane environment are risking dangerous chemicals getting into your fish oil.
Purity of the Product
Another factor to consider is the purity of the product. When you are getting fish oil for your dog, purity is absolutely essential. You want to find fish oil that is not been subjected to artificial processing methods. Those methods allow contaminants to get into the fish oil. You want to manufacture the uses completely natural processing methods. That means that they do not use oxygen, chemicals or extreme heat to remove chemicals and impurities.
There are a lot of methods out there for manufacturing harvesting fish oil, and you will have to do your own research on the brands that you have chosen to find out what their manufacturing methods are. But the more natural the method, the less chance of your fish oil being contaminated. One of the natural methods is molecular distillation which maintains the integrity of the oil while getting rid of potentially harmful environmental toxins. If you are not sure, ask your manufacture for a certificate of analysis from the manufacturer. You can also find out if your fish oil manufacturer is meeting standards created by oversight agencies such as these:
- NMS—Norwegian Medicinal Standards
- EPS—European Pharmacopoeia Standards
- CRN—Council for Responsible Nutrition
- WHO—World Health Organization
- GMP—Good Manufacturing Practices
Bioavailability
Bioavailability is also a concern. The bioavailability of any product refers to how much your body is actually going to be able to process. In other words, how much of the good stuff are you going to be able to get into your body using the particular product that you have purchased. When it comes to fish oil, the good stuff refers to those omega-3 fatty acids and other fatty acids that may be present. Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in triglyceride form, but some manufacturers alter those triglycerides with chemicals to form synthetic EPA and DHA.
The problem is, the synthetic forms of these helpful supplements are a lot less absorbable by the body then if you were to get them in their natural form. That means that you need to make sure that you choose fish oil where the triglycerides form naturally, or you are going to have to take more fish oil in order to make up for the lower bioavailability rate. There is usually no way to know whether or not this is the case unless you research the manufacturer carefully and look at user reviews. You may also want to send an email asking.
Freshness & Oxidation
How fresh your fish oil is also an important factor to consider. When it comes to fish oil liquid for dogs, oxidation can happen to fats when they are exposed to the environment. When those fats are exposed to oxygen, light or heat, they can oxidize. The result of oxidation when it comes to fish oil is spoiled or rancid oil. Consuming rancid oil can be extremely risky for your health. In fact, consuming fish oil with oxidation actually has the opposite effect of normal fish oil. For example, oxidized fish oil increases inflammation in the body as well as oxidation within the body leading to all kinds of serious illnesses.
This really shouldn’t be a problem as long as you purchase it from a high quality manufacture. Most manufacturers adhere to very specific safety standards that ensure that the fish oil does not become oxidize and spoiled or do testing to ensure that they catch the problem before it goes out. But another thing you want to check for is to make sure it is stored in a dark bottle. If fish oil liquid is exposed to the light, then there is a chance he can oxidize if it is not stored in a dark bottle. This is something you can check before you buy. You can also put a drop onto a paper towel and smell it to find out if it has been oxidized. If your fish oil smells like rotting fish, then you need to throw it away and try again.
Balance of Fat-Soluble Vitamins
What kind of balance is there between fat-soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins in your fish oil? This is important because water-soluble vitamins can easily be eliminated from the body while fat-soluble vitamins are often stored in the body. Depending upon the vitamin, storing additional quantities of the vitamin can lead to toxicity. Some forms of processing can lead to the elimination of certain vitamins, but you still want to be aware of fish that contain large quantities of certain vitamins and whether they are fat soluble or water-soluble.
For example, some fish have large amounts of vitamins A and D, both of which are fat soluble vitamins. Cod liver oil has vitamins A and D in large amounts, which is why most dogs should not take it as a supplement. Salmon oil has high vitamin D levels. These are just a few examples. Omega-3 fatty acids can be pretty amazing for your health, but they can also create oxidization in your dog’s body which can mean that your vitamin D levels are depleted. You simply have to be aware of what your specific fish oil provides for your dog
Fish Oil for Dogs Review Conclusion
The bottom line is that there is a lot to consider when it comes to getting fish oil for your dog. You want to choose the best product possible using the factors listed above, but you want to be aware of some of the potential dangers as well. However, as long as you choose a high quality brand, you are definitely going to be doing more good for your dog than risking harm. You can choose from the products reviewed above, or you can make your own decision as to which fish oil product for dogs to buy. But no matter what, you should definitely consider giving this supplement to your dog because it is one of the most important things you can do for your dog’s health.
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