What Can Fish Oil Do For My Dog?

When it comes to your health, everyone knows that fish oils are super good for you, but did you know that they’re also great for you dog as well? Fish oils, which contain omega 3 fatty acids are a incredible source of nutrition that can help your dog stay healthy as well as help clear up such problems as joint pain. It is also a good idea to keep in mind that there are a variety of ways to give your dog a fish oil supplement other than just a pill like humans take. Let’s take a look at the various benefits of fish oil as well as the various methods of giving this amazing substance to your canine friend.

Prevent Shedding and Joint Pain

While it is normal for certain dog breeds to shed more than others, sometimes it gets completely out of hand and can be a real pain. The underlying problem here is that excessive shedding, especially in a breed that doesn’t shed much or at a time of year when shedding isn’t common, can be a sign of a sever nutritional deficiency. While your dog could be suffering from several different deficiencies, it is almost certain that he or she also has a fish oil deficiency. This isn’t too uncommon, seeing as how most regular dog foods don’t provide fish oil and therefore your dog isn’t getting the omega 3 they need.

Administering fish oil supplements to your dog in a variety of ways can really go a log way to help him get the shedding problem under control. Just remember that while fish oils are important, they should be apart of a larger nutritional supplementation program. Also, don’t hesitate to take your dog to the vet to get him looked at if they are having unnatural shedding patterns.

The benefits of fish oil for joint pain in humans is similar to that of canines. Unknown to most people, dogs can and do suffer from joint pain, including forms of arthritis. The good news is that just like with humans, certain substances such as omega-3 fatty acids, can really help to relieve joint pain.

The difficult aspect is recognizing if your dog actually has joint pain or not. Since dog communication is impossible, monitoring your dog’s behavior is important. Also, remember that joint pain can strike at any age but it is more common in older dogs, just like with humans. If your dog avoids moving around a lot it may be because of joint pain. Once again, your vet will help you figure out what the problem is and if joint pain is the culprit, fish oil can help.

Give Your Dog Fish Oil to Avoid Heart Disease

Heart disease is another problem that humans and dogs have in common and also one that can be helped by omega 3 fatty acids. Studies have indicated that dogs who take a regular supplement of omega 3′s will have a lower risk of heart disease. This is something you and your dog can work on together, since heart disease is a cross-species problem.

Something to keep in mind here is to not over do it when it comes to supplements for your dog. For a human, it is pretty hard to take too much fish oil but dog’s only need a certain amount. This can vary by breed so be sure to check with your vet before beginning a supplement program.

For humans getting fish oils usually happens in one of two ways: either you take a pill or you simply eat fish. While these two methods are viable for dogs as well, they have a few options that we don’t, one of the most popular being medicated shampoos that contain these essential ingredients. This is generally used to fight excessive shedding and if that is a problem for your dog, this is probably going to be the optimal medium of the supplement. Just remember that bathing is infrequent for dogs so you may need to use other methods as well.

Since getting dogs to consume pills isn’t easy, you can use the liquid supplement methods. These liquids come in various forms and are typically mixed with your dog’s food. Most are flavored to taste like gravy or something else a dog would like to make the experience enjoyable for them.

The most accurate way of giving your dog fish oils is to actually feed them fish. This can be good if you want to give them a specific type of fish oil, such as krill fish oil or socket-eye salmon (very popular). Once again, just make sure you’re not over doing it. Talk to your vet first to see what kind of fish is best and how often you should feed it to you dog.