Fish Oil Supplements for Dogs Provide Health Benefits

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Salmon oil, and sardine-anchovy fish oil are natural sources of beneficial omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have been proven to offer health benefits.

We offer fish oils by Iceland Pure, which are pharmaceutical grade in terms of purity and scent. Some of their benefits include:

• healthy, skiny coat


• soothing dry and irritated skin


• anti-inflammatory effects


• improved immunity


• heart health and endurance


• digestive health


• joint lubrication


• aids with anxiety and behavioral issues


• improved renal function


• aids in growth and reproduction

These claims have been backed up by various scientific studies, and a partial list of references is presented below:

Healthy coat and skin:

• Mooney MA, Vaughn DM, Reinhart GA, Powers RD, Wright JC, Hoffman CE, Swaim SF, Baker HJ. Evaluation of the effects of omega-3 fatty acid-containing diets on the inflammatory stage of wound healing in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 1998 Jul;59(7):859-63.

This study examined the effects of dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on the biochemical component of the inflammatory stage of wound healing, and concluded that it can be manipulated by diet, and that omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diets can be used to control inflammation associated with dermatologic conditions.

• Harvey RG. A blinded, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of borage seed oil and fish oil in the management of canine atopy. Vet Rec. 1999 Apr 10;144(15):405-7.

This blinded, placebo-controlled study used 21 dogs to measure the effects of supplementary oils (borage seed oil and fish oil in combination), and found that the dogs that received the supplements showed significant improvement for the skin conditions erythema and self-excoriation.

Improved immunity:

• Filburn CR, Griffin D. Canine plasma and erythrocyte response to a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched supplement: characterization and potential benefits. Vet Ther. 2005 Spring;6(1):29-42.

This study confirmed that dietary supplementation in dogs with a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids (salmon oil) increases plasma and red blood cell levels of these fatty acids.

• Kearns RJ, Hayek MG, Turek JJ, Meydani M, Burr JR, Greene RJ, Marshall CA, Adams SM, Borgert RC, Reinhart GA. Effect of age, breed and dietary omega-6 (n-6): omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid ratio on immune function, eicosanoid production, and lipid peroxidation in young and aged dogs.Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1999 Aug 2;69(2-4):165-83.

The focus of this study was to examine the influence of age and diet on various parameters of immune function in young and old Fox Terriers and Labrador Retrievers. In summary, this study indicates that feeding a diet containing an (n-6):(n-3) fatty acid ratio of 5:1 had a positive, rather than a negative, effect on the immune response of young or geriatric dogs.

• Bauer JE. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Dec 1;231(11):1657-61.

This study found that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and other marine sources appear to be capable of modifying inflammatory and immune responses in dogs. Information is provided on the capacity of dogs to metabolize omega-3 fatty acids and the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on skin and coat, inflammatory responses, and neurologic development in puppies.

Heart health and endurance

• Laurent G, Moe G, Hu X, Holub B, Leong-Poi H, Trogadis J, Connelly K, Courtman D, Strauss BH, Dorian P. Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce atrial vulnerability in a novel canine pacing model. Cardiovasc Res. 2008 Jan;77(1):89-97. Epub 2007 Sep 20.

This study assessed the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on abnormal heart rhythm vulnerability and concluded that the supplements did reduce that vulnerability.

• Sarrazin J, Comeau G, Daleau P, et al. Reduced incidence of vagally induced atrial fibrillation and expression levels of connexins by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dogs. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50(15):1505-12.

This study assessed whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevent vagally induced atrial fibrillation (AF) (abnormal heart rhythm) and influence atrial tissue expression levels of connexins (CXs), and founded that oral treatment with fish oils increased atrial n-3 PUFA levels and reduced vulnerability to induction of AF due to the antiarrhythmic effects of fish oils.

• Smith CE, Freeman LM, Rush JE, Cunningham SM, Biourge V. Omega-3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med. 2007 Mar-Apr; 21(2):265-73.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, in dogs with spontaneously occurring arrhythmia. It found that after six weeks, supplementation with fish oil, but not flax oil, did reduce arrhythmia in Boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and that it could be useful in treating this common disease.

• Billman GE, Kang JX, Leaf A. Prevention of sudden cardiac death by dietary pure omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dogs. Circulation. 1999 May 11;99(18):2452-7.

This study tested the effects of purified omega-3 fatty acids and concluded that they prevented ischemia-induced ventricular fibrillation in its dog model of sudden cardiac death.

• Freeman L, Rush J, Kehayias J. et al. Nutritional alterations and the effects of fish oil supplementation in dogs with heart failure. J Vet Intern Med 1998;12:440-448.

The purposes of this study were to characterize nutritional and cytokine alterations in dogs with heart failure and to test the ability of fish oil to reduce cytokines and improve clinical outcome, and it found that fish oil supplementation decreased IL-1 concentrations and improved cachexia, which are associatred with canine heart failure.

Nutritional benefits

• Kelley R, Lepine A. Improving puppy trainability through nutrition. Proceedings from Iams Clinical Nutrition Symposium 2005,Seville, Spain.

This paper looked at how the inclusion of omega-3 DHA increases puppy trainability, and hence, improves the strength of the owner-pet bond, and better integration of the pet into the household.

Joint lubrication

• Hansen RA, Harris MA, Pluhar GE, Motta T, Brevard S, Ogilvie GK, Fettman MJ, Allen KG. Fish oil decreases matrix metalloproteinases in knee synovia of dogs with inflammatory joint disease. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 May 23.

This study found that dietary fish oil may exert beneficial effects on inflamed joint disease in canines.

• Hall JA, Henry LR, Jha S, Skinner MM, Jewell DE, Wander RC. Dietary (n-3) fatty acids alter plasma fatty acids and leukotriene B synthesis by stimulated neutrophils from healthy geriatric Beagles. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2005 Nov;73(5):335-41.

This study found that that foods enriched in omega-3 (n-3) FA from fish oil may have value in the treatment of canine inflammatory diseases.

Behavior issues

• Re S, Zanoletti M, Emanuele E. Aggressive dogs are characterized by low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status. Vet Res Commun 2008;32:225-230.

This study investigated whether polyunsatured fatty acid status could be altered in the plasma of pathologically aggressive dogs. The results suggest that low omega-3 fatty acids may adversely impact behaviour in dogs, resulting in greater propensity to aggression. However, whether omega-3 fatty acids supplementation may be useful to reduce aggressive behaviour in the dog deserves further investigation.

Improved renal function

• Brown SA, Brown CA, Crowell WA, Barsanti JA, Kang CW, Allen T, Cowell C, Finco DR. Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in early renal insufficiency in dogs. J Lab Clin Med. 2000 Mar;135(3):275-86.

This study looked at the effects of dietary supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the progression of kidney disease in dogs. It found that supplementation with omega-6 PUFAs hastens the decline of kidney function, and that omega-3 PUFAs are reno-protective.

• Plantinga E, Everts H, Kastelein A, et al. Retrospective study of the survival of cats with acquired chronic renal insufficiency offered different commercial diets. Vet Rec. 2005;157(7):185-7.

A retrospective study was carried out on the efficacy of seven commercial diets designed to be fed to cats with chronic renal failure. It found that the most effective diet had a particularly high content of omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid.

Growth and reproduction

• Wright AS, Bauer JE, Bigley KE, Lees GE, Waldron MK. Maternal Dietary Fatty Acids Modify Canine Puppy Plasma Lipoprotein Distributions during the Suckling Period. J Nutr. 2004 Aug;134(8 Suppl):2106S-2109S.

The present study was conducted to investigate cholesterol-lowering changes during suckling and early adolescence of puppies born to bitches that were fed diets that varied only in fatty acid composition and were otherwise identical. The results showed decreased total plasma cholesterol and all LP cholesterol fractions in puppies whose mothers were fed the menhaden fish oil diets.

• Heinemann KM, Bauer JE. Docosahexaenoic acid and neurologic development in animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Mar 1;228(5):700-5, 655.

This paper found that feeding dams a diet enriched with DHA during gestation and lactation has been associated with improvements in neurologic development of their puppies. Also, feeding diets or supplements containing DHA may improve memory or learning in young dogs.