Fish oil is a controversial and often confusing topic. Veterinarians recommend it and many dog owners swear by it. But then you read headlines like “I almost killed my dog with fish oil” … so you don’t know what to believe.
Is Fish Oil Good For Dogs?
The answer is … fish oil is both good and bad. It’s one of the most popular ways to give your dog omega-3 fatty acids … and omega-3s for dogs have tons of health benefits. But fish oil comes with some negatives as well.
Here’s a detailed look at the benefits and disadvantages of fish oil.
Benefits Of Fish Oil For Dogs
Fish oil can be an important source of omega-3 fatty acids. And your dog needs omega-3s to balance out the omega-6 fatty acids in his diet.
Balance Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-6 is usually too high in dogs’ diets. Most dogs eat meat or processed foods that supply too much omega-6. Too much omega-6 can cause chronic inflammation in your dog. And that can lead to diseases like …
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
So it’s important to give your dog omega-3 fatty acids to lower the risk of these chronic illnesses. And fish oil can provide some important ones.
EPA And DHA: Essential Fatty Acids In Fish Oil
Fish oil provides your dog with the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. They’re considered essential because they need to come from your dog’s diet.
Your dog’s body can actually make EPA and DHA. But it’s quite an inefficient process. It doesn’t provide your dog with much EPA and DHA. So you need to make sure he gets them in his diet.
Benefits of EPA and DHA
EPA and DHA are powerful additions to your dog’s diet. EPA has anti-inflammatory effects and supports your dog’s immune response. DHA is vital for eye, brain and nervous system health.
Here are some of the known benefits of EPA and DHA …
- Support brain health
- Promote nervous system development
- Fight inflammation
- Lower heart disease risks
- Maintain eye health
- Promote brain and eye development in puppies
- Support healthy skin and coat, relieve allergies
- Improve joint health
- May decrease the risk of some cancers
- Reduce metabolic endotoxemia in the gut
- Work with probiotics to boost beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut
What Happens If Your Dog Is Deficient In EPA or DHA?
Lack of EPA can cause depression in animals. Lack of DHA is linked to cognitive issues. Other signs of omega-3 deficiencies can be …
- Dull or poor coat
- Dry or flaky skin
- Allergies
- Slow wound healing
- Ear infections
- Hot spots
It’s clear your dog definitely needs omega-3 fatty acids in his diet. So then the next question on your mind is probably …
What’s The Best Fish Oil For Dogs?
Unfortunately, that’s another question without a simple answer. Before you try to find the best fish oil for your dog, you need to read about its drawbacks … and some alternatives.
Why Is Fish Oil Bad For Dogs?
There are some very good reasons not to use fish oil. The first one is …
1. Fish Oil Is Missing Important Anti-Inflammatory Fats
There are some other important anti-inflammatory fats … but they aren’t in fish oil.
ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid) is another omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acid. It can also help regenerate cartilage in a dog with arthritis. Your dog can convert ETA to EPA … but not the other way around. So if there’s no ETA in his diet, he’s missing out.
GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is an omega-6 fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps with hormone balance and supports your dog’s coat and skin. But GLA only comes from plants. Fish oil doesn’t have it.
2. Fish Oil Can Be Toxic
Sadly our oceans are full of contaminants. And the fish that live there are too. And guess where toxins are stored in fish bodies. Yes, in the fat … that becomes your dog’s fish oil. So fish oil could be harming your dog with these poisons.
Fish these days are polluted with dangerous heavy metals … like arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium. These toxins may be in your fish oil, and they can cause …
- Cancers
- Organ damage (liver, kidneys)
- Endocrine issues
- Blindness
- Neurological problems
- Leaky gut and yeast
- Immune problems
Other toxins in fish include …
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
These industrial chemicals can increase cancer risk. They can harm unborn infants and may cause learning disabilities. Fatty fish are especially prone to carry these toxins. Farmed salmon that are fed ground-up fish are higher in PCBs. And farmed salmon are a big source of fish oil.
Dioxins And Furans
Dioxins and furans are common environmental pollutants. They’re on the “dirty dozen” list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Most dioxin and furan exposure is from contaminated food. They accumulate in fatty tissues. They cause reproductive and developmental problems. Dioxins and furans harm the immune system, disrupt hormones and cause cancer. They last a long time in the body … and they’re high in Great Lakes fish.
If you buy a really good quality fish oil, they should be free of these pollutants. But just to make sure, ask the manufacturer for a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
3. Fish Oil Is Radioactive
If you give your dog fish oil from Pacific fish, beware. The Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster released radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
In a 2013 Stanford University study, Pacific fish tested positive for radioactive particles. Tuna was especially toxic, but salmon used to make fish oil has also tested positive. Radioactive substances like Cesium and Strontium can get into your dog’s bone marrow. That can lead to bone cancer and leukemia.
4. Fish Oil Goes Rancid
Fish oil is extremely unstable. That means it oxidizes (turns rancid) very easily … as soon as it’s exposed to air. If you ever take the cap off a bottle of fish oil and it smells fishy … don’t use it. Good fish oil shouldn’t smell bad.
This isn’t just an odor problem. Oxidation produces unstable molecules called free radicals. When free radicals build up, they can harm your dog’s cells, proteins and DNA. This is known as oxidative stress. It can lead to premature aging and chronic disease, including …
- Joint disease
- Heart, liver or kidney disease
- Cognitive decline
- Cancer
And it’s really hard to stop fish oil from oxidizing. Sometimes it’s rancid before you open the bottle. Air can even get into the fish oil through plastic containers. So always buy your fish oil in dark glass bottles or jars … and refrigerate it. If you buy gel caps, you can store them in the freezer and they’ll last longer.