The Facts About Fish Oil Supplements

It seems there is an abundance of information about the health benefits of fish oil and many times when I suggest using it for a patient I often hear from the client “Yes, I take fish oil too for my heart or my arthritis.” Fish oil is a well accepted nutritional supplement that most veterinarians are recommending for a broad range of patients.

I think an important point that is being missed by many who take fish oil is that quality matters. It’s really all about the fishy burps. If you’ve had one you know what I mean! So why do fishy burps occur with some supplements and not when we eat fish? The answer requires us to freshen up on a little basic biochemistry. Fish oil is composed of primarily two long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Unsaturated fatty acids are highly susceptible to oxidation in the presence of oxygen which causes the oil to become rancid. Oxidized fish oil (or any unsaturated fatty acid oil for that matter) has an offensive fishy odor and taste. When we eat fish we don’t get the fishy burps because it has been refrigerated or frozen to reduce oxidation and spoilage, therefore the oils present in the fish are also fresh. The best way to tell if a fish oil is fresh is to taste it. That’s right; bite the gel capsule in half and taste the oil. The freshest fish, oil, and/or supplement will have the best health benefits. The following is some basic information regarding fish oil supplementation for companion animals. For specific doses please consult a veterinarian.

Proven Benefits:

• Improved skin and coat


• Reduced inflammation due to arthritis, allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease


• Regulation of the immune system. This can work in both directions: boost immunity if low and suppress immune system if excessive.


• Improved brain function in older dogs with senility. 


• Enhanced brain and mental development in puppies and kittens.


• Lowering blood pressure (important in kidney, heart, and endocrine diseases).


• Lowering triglycerides (important in endocrine diseases and in familial affected Miniature Schnauzers).


• Promote weight loss in overweight dogs.


• Provides support in pets with cancer. 


• Provides support in pets undergoing cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Cautions:

• Fish oil is easily oxidized by exposure to oxygen, heat and light. When fish oil becomes oxidized it will develop a strong fishy and rancid odor. Rancid fish oil is not absorbed and contributes to fishy burps and fishy odor to skin and breath. To protect fish oil, store capsules or oil in the refrigerator and only buy a quantity you will use within 3 months maximum. If you notice an “off” odor the oil should be discarded.


• High doses of fish oil can interfere with platelet function and can create bleeding issues. It may be advisable to discontinue a fish oil supplement prior to surgery or dental procedures, check with your veterinarian. 


• Too much fish oil may add excess calories or increase inflammation rather than reduce inflammation in some situations.

Not all products are created equal:

• Pharmaceutical grade fish oil is molecularly distilled to remove toxins and impurities. The best companies producing fish oil are testing their finished products for the bad stuff such as PCBs, dioxins and furans, bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, yeast and mold, heavy metals (cadmium, arsenic, lead, mercury), and radiation.  These companies are also diligently measuring levels of oxidation which determines freshness and fatty acid ratios which determine the potency. Thorough testing increases the cost of producing a high quality product. For this reason the best oils from a standpoint of purity, potency, and freshness will not be the least expensive but will be more effective for your pet’s health and wellness. 
  

Sources of Omega 3:

• Cold water fish are the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids. These fish include sardines, cod, and anchovies. Recently krill (shrimp-like crustaceans, sole food source for whales) have been harvested to create fish oil supplements. Krill are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, but these fishing practices are not environmentally sustainable and I recommend avoiding krill oil for the health of our planet.


• Omega 3 fatty acids are also present in flax seed and several other food sources. It’s important to note that dogs and cats are not able to convert large amounts of ALA in plants to EPA and DHA. Inefficient conversion of flax oil to the useable forms of EPA and DHA is why I don’t recommend flax seed oil as a sole source of omega 3 supplementation.
  


• Many pet foods have added Omega 3 to the diets. If in the form of fish oil, the oil would be subject to rapid oxidation once the bag of kibble is opened, therefore smaller bags of food would be preferred to optimize the freshness of the added fish oils. There is also no way to know if the added fish oils are high quality or what testing is done prior to adding to the food. Flax seed oil added to food seems of little benefit to the pet since dogs and cats cannot convert it to useable forms. 


• Canned fish can be a good source of fish oil for dogs and cats. For example: one ounce of canned fish with bones (sardines, mackerel, pink salmon) averages 300 mg EPA and DHA. Cats especially may prefer canned fish rather than adding a fish oil supplement to their food. Make sure you select a fish canned in water not oil or any special sauce.


• There are many different brands of fish oil supplements available for people and animals. For myself and my own pets I have used products made by Nordic Naturals, Thorne Research, and Nutramax Laboratories. 


• Cod liver oil is another excellent source of fish oil that also contains Vitamins A and D. Cod liver oil would be useful for pets eating a home-cooked diet. For specific doses, please consult your veterinarian.

About Fish Oil! - Dog Health & Nutrition - Dog Forums

08-30-2009	  #1
Senior Member Best In Show     Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: small place in southern Wisconsin Posts: 7,341 Thanks: 14 Thanked 131 Times in 104 Posts My Mood:	About Fish Oil! Found this on the net! Anyone else have some more good info on this great ‘stuff’ for dogs?Health Benefits of Fish Oil for Dogs The advantages of fish oil for dogs are plentiful. It’s no longer just a supplement for humans, or a benefit that cats enjoy from eating fish. Nope, your dog can have similar health benefits from fish oil. Did you know that fish oil aids in the relief of canine allergies? It can also help many conditions including kidney disease and arthritis. Fish oil or salmon oil for dogs can also assist in supporting vision, the heart, joint health, and it provides a boost to proper immune functions. One secret to fish oil is the omega-3 fatty acids. You can add fish oil to your dogs diet in a pill or liquid form. But you can also make dog treat recipes that contain natural sources of fish oil. These include: Salmon Herring Mackerel Anchovies Sardines Trout Tuna We’re going to focus on salmon and tuna. These are readily found processed in cans and easily used in dog treat recipes. Want to get started with homemade salmon dog treats? Then you’ll want to start with the Salmon Cakes for Dogs recipe, it even has a dog friendly “tartar sauce” dip. SEE THIS RECIPE IN THE THREAD IN THIS FORUM THAT HAS ALL THE RECENT RECIPES POSTED in THE DOG CHAT FORUM/SECTION. Also check out using tuna in the Chicken and Beef Broty Ice Cream recipes. (In same place) A prime place to see the effects is in your dogs skin and fur. It can help relieve the symptoms caused by allergies, such as hair loss, dry skin and dull fur. This super supplement can also help stop excessive shedding. The advantages of fish oil will help your young, adult and senior dogs. How quickly can you see the effects? Well, it depends on your dog. But remember that it will be working from the inside out. So your dog will begin to benefit right away, but it could be several weeks before you notice a difference. Fish oil for dogs is an incredible addition to your dogs diet. However, please consult your veterinarian for the amount and type of fish oil needed for your individual dog. Last edited by CorkyMax; 08-30-2009 at 03:31 PM.
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08-31-2009	  #4
Senior Member Best In Show     Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: small place in southern Wisconsin Posts: 7,341 Thanks: 14 Thanked 131 Times in 104 Posts My Mood:	Quote: Originally Posted by pinsnpugs We buy canned salmon and out it in the dogs food daily. They sell mackeral canned as well, and its cheaper than salmon. I wonder, if it is as good as the salmon? Would save on my budget to go with the mackeral if it is. Am still in the process of finding info on the salmon and mackerel—-I use both but if there is any difference in which has the most Omega 3–not sure yet although they worded mackerel 1st in this sentence–Mackerel and salmon are the main 2 used in the fish oil supplement/capsule! I give my 2 dogs fish oil capsules (plus I give mackerel/salmon (mostly mackerel once or twice a week. I prefer the mackerel because of the price but it also has more of the 4 vitamins/minerals mentioned. I am comparing the 2 cans I have on hand which are from same company–Chicken of the Sea. Of course this I have of the salmon is the cheaper pink salmon, lol, who can even think about paying the price for the red salmon!! Here is the comparison as far as the 4 vitamins/minerals: (mackerel wins on all 4) Mackerel———————-Salmon V.a–2 %———————–0 % calcium-25 %——————-10 % iron—8 %———————-2 % Neither has any vitamin C —Lol, I don’t care for smell of either, but mackerel is worse. I think my dogs (at least 1 of them!) prefer the salmon but depending which has the most Omega 3, otherwise the mackerel sounds more nutritious! Why don’t you supplement with the fish oil capsules too and not have to buy so much salmon/mackerel? I get mine (human grade) through Puritan’s Pride catalog– 1-800-645-1030—www.Puritan.com Can call 24/7 to order. Right now they have a buy 1-get 2 free deal which is due to expire 9/9/09! I’ve bought there for over 25 yrs. I am going to attempt to paste a link here for what you want to see–but it is pretty long address–Don’t know if it will accept it here! In mean time will continue to see what I can find on which has the most Omega 3–the mackerel or the salmon! Omega 3 Fish Oils | Puritan’s Pride I am giving mine the Double Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil 1200 mg–product # 17132–This is # in the catalog–Think they use other #s on the site! Just started the higher strength because my dogs are getting old and arthritis is there a little now. Don’t know if you would want that high a potency or not but would certainly use the 1000mg for sure. OH! To know: You need to supplement with V. E when giving fish oil as fish oil will deplete V.E! Mine get 400mg. of V.E a day too! I also don’t give fish oil every day–maybe about 5 times a week. I only want the ’3′ oil for mine—Think they have the 6 and 9 from the food I feed (raw diet). You might want to chek out what ratio you would need depending what you feed. Check on the web! Maybe try the words (and others) omega 3-6-9 oils/ratio or something on that order! And it is important to have the ratios right! Last edited by CorkyMax; 08-31-2009 at 09:38 AM.
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08-31-2009	  #5
Senior Member Best In Show     Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: small place in southern Wisconsin Posts: 7,341 Thanks: 14 Thanked 131 Times in 104 Posts My Mood:	Just found this: Mackerel and salmon are two fatty fish whose oil is used for making fish oil capsules and other omega 3 nutritional supplements. Fish oil contains two essential fatty acids: DHA and EPA. About 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA is omega 3 fish level mackerel salmon. Other than these two fish, hoki, herring and sardines are also used in the making of good quality supplements. In fact recently it has been found that hoki is by far the most effective source of fatty acids because it lives in clean and less polluted waters around New Zealand. Consequently, hoki fish oil is also pure and less contaminated than other fish oils. Omega 3 fish level mackerel salmon can be read from the cover or bottle of the nutritional supplement you are about to buy. (THE MACKEREL I HAVE DOES NOT GIVE THAT INFO—THE SALMON DOES (same company, Lol, I think it is because they want you to think the salmon is better for your health so you will buy the more expensive stuff! By not putting that info on the mackerel at all tells me it has maybe more or the same–People would go for the mackerel then, lol, if they could get past the smell!) Normally doctors recommend taking 300 to 400 mg of DHA and EPA combined on a daily basis. So, you need to find out how much fat content is provided by one single capsule or pill. 1 serving of a healthy, fatty fish like the ones mentioned above provides up to 1000 mg of both fats combined. This amount is enough for 3 to 4 days and therefore doctors recommend eating fish twice a week to receive adequate amounts of these important fats on a regular basis. Keep in mind that they are referring to humans here.
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01-12-2010	  #9
Senior Member Best In Show     Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: small place in southern Wisconsin Posts: 7,341 Thanks: 14 Thanked 131 Times in 104 Posts My Mood:	Ratios of Omega 3 to Omega 6–Be aware Omega 3 fatty acid supplements for dogs: There is a huge difference in the omega 3 – omega 6 balance in commercial dog foods and the omega 3 – omega 6 balance in the diet of wild carnivores. The wild animal’s diet is composed mostly of small animals and birds eaten whole. This natural diet is high in omega 3 fatty acids and low in omega 6s. Commercial dog food is exactly the opposite. Dog food contains a lot of cereal grain which is high in omega 6 fatty acids and low in omega 3s. This lack of omega 3s affects the health of our pets in ways that nutritionists and veterinarians are only beginning to understand. Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for normal function of every organ system in the body, particularly the immune system. A lack of omega 3s (or relative excess of omega 6s) contributes to allergic and degenerative disorders, causing: Joint inflammation and arthritis Allergy – dry itchy skin, recurring skin infection, recurring ear infections Autoimmune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease Loss of mental alertness in older dogs Flax and flax oil are good sources of omega 3s but unstable. Heat processing destroys most of flaxseed’s value. Cold-pressed flax oil is an excellent choice, but has a short shelf life and must be kept continuously under refrigeration. Oils such as cod liver oil derived from cold water fish are an excellent source of omega 3s and a more practical way of supplementing our pets’ diets: Deep water fish concentrate toxins like mercury and cancer-causing PCBs. If we are going to use fish oil for ourselves or our pets, purity is an important concern. Fish oils oxidize easily. Old or improperly stored fish oil oxidizes, creating free radicals which are toxic. Pure, fresh fish oil is light in color. It has very little fishy flavor and almost no odor. The pump dispensers used for some veterinary omega oil supplements are easy to use, but oxidize the product. This isn’t what you want. Once opened, fish oil should be refrigerated and used within three months. Wipe away excess oil from the lip of the bottle after each use so you don’t accumulate oxidized oil and contaminate the next dose. Recommendations: Feed a low fat commercial diet, preferably one formulated for dental health. Supplement with cod liver oil or if you find the extra convenience worth the cost, with fish oil gel caps. Buy the highest quality product you can find. Give pets of all ages one teaspoonful of cod liver oil per fifty lbs. or the equivalent amount of fish oil gel caps. Pets that have arthritis, immune disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, recurring skin problems, or chronic kidney disease should receive one teaspoonful of cod liver oil (or the equivalent) per twenty pounds.
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All About fish oil for dogs

There are many great ways to help a dog using fish oils. Many people may not realize it, but fish oils for dogs are a great way to ensure that a canine stays in top shape. The key ingredient in the fish oils is the Omega 3 fatty acids for dogs. Pets on their own, can’t produce these wonderful acids. Even more, the diet of a dog is usually consisting of processed foods. The processed dog foods are alright for the dog, but tend to lack in the Omega 3 acids that help the dog. This is also true for the majority of home-made meals for dogs. It is very hard to get the Omega 3 needed for dogs, unless using a special diet or supplement for a dog. This is where the fish oils come into play. It is a supplement with many great benefits to our canine friends. The first major appeal for fish oils is the help it provides in lowering cholesterol. This is equally important for dogs as it is in humans. The next benefits is the prevention in inflammatory diseases. The most common inflammation in dogs is in the joints and bowls. The fish oils can not only reduce the risk of such disease, but it can also help treat the disorder by reducing the inflammation. On top of that, fish oil for dogs helps in the cancer category. It has been shown to help reduce the risk of getting cancer in dogs. If a dog already has cancer, the fish oils can help in fighting the cancer. This is not to say that its a cure for such things, but it will help the dogs body fight it. The final major health problem that fish oils can help is heart problems. The fish oils do this by keeping the dog’s heart healthy in the first place, keeping the risk of heart diseases low. Fish oil for dogs does not stop at helping disorders and diseases, it also helps to boost the immune system. A healthy immune system supports a healthy production in skin and hair. A dogs coat becomes sleek and shiny when in proper health. The Omega 3 in fish oil for dogs will boost the immune system and support such growth and provide the wonderful coat all canines dream of. Even though there are many great positive results, it is important to ensure that the dog receives the proper dose. If the wrong dose is given many things will occur. It is possible the dog will start with loose stools, and loss of control of bowl functions. This is usually a result of bowl inflammation, and is easily corrected when the dose is fixed to the proper amount. Another side effect can include a weakened immune system. This will open the door for other problems to occur. The negative side effects of taking too much fish oil for dogs is basically the direct opposite of the positive results as you can see. To prevent this from occurring, all that need be done is to read the proper dosage for the supplement. Most of the time, dosage instructions are found on the bottle it comes in. If this is not the case, it is always wise to consult the dog’s vet. Vets are always more than happy to provide advise and suggestions on dosage and good brands on fish oil for dogs. You can find these helpful fish oils in many places. The most common place for this is the vet’s office. This is a great place to look, because they typically have name brand and a cheaper off brand available