Just curious if anyone has run across a recommended dosage if giving some sort of omega 3 supplement to your dog?

I ask this because Greta continually has itchy ears. We are giving her allergy meds and cleaning her ears which help keep this under control, but frankly the allergy meds are REALLY expensive. I read somewhere that omega 3 is good for skin and coat in general and can sometimes help itchy ears.

Her food already has a little bit listed, but I wasn't sure how that compared to a recommended dose, hence the above question.

Any thoughts or articles shared would be much appreciated!

Hi, Carolyn,

There are detailed posts here on the topic of long-chain Omega 3s. I'll find a couple tomorrow and post links for you.

Sorry I didn't see your query sooner -- I just noticed it tonight.

You mention some Omega 3s in her food. What food is it? I ask that so I'll know the type of Omega 3s provided.

Okay, found some informative posts and threads.

First, why dogs need the long-chain Omega 3s called DHA and EPA ...

"About the importance of EPA and DHA:
From https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/omega-3-fats/ ...
"Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats. There are three main omega-3s:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) come mainly from fish, so they are sometimes called marine omega-3s.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega-3 fatty acid in most Western diets, is found in vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds and flaxseed oil, leafy vegetables, and some animal fat, especially in grass-fed animals. The human body generally uses ALA for energy, and conversion into EPA and DHA is very limited."

In dogs, this conversion is close to zero. Dogs need EPA and DHA, the long-chain Omega 3s, sometimes called the marine Omega 3s."



I use one gram (1000 mg) of good named-fish oil per ten pounds of dog per day for a dog with skin challenges.

There are also sources who recommend one gram per twenty pounds.

This source prefers one gram per thirty dog pounds.
https://pets.thenest.com/recommended-dosage-omega-3-dogs-5964.html

Give us a post back if you'd like specific recommendations for your dog's weight.

This is a good post throughout, and you'll want to look at number six ...
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=32256&page=1#361051

All of this important thread explains why dogs need Vitamin E when they are given oil supplements ...
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33926&page=1

I don't give dogs oil supplements without also supplementing with Vitamin E.

I received an email that reminds me to say that I'm not alone in giving a gram (1000 mg) of fish oil (along with the recommended Vitamin E, of course) per ten pounds of dog.

That's the heavier end of the spectrum, but it has plenty of proponents for dogs who are experiencing health challenges that suggest a need for more long-chain Omega 3s.

If you run across dosage suggestions that seem way off, they may well be talking combined DHA and EPA mg rather than fish oil mg. (The fish oil contains the EPA and DHA.)

And again, I (for one) would not give oil supplements to dogs without providing good-quality E as well (see post above).

And ... yes, some prefer one gram (1000 mg) of fish oil per 20 (or even 30) pounds of dog.

Thanks for all of the info, Connie!! Sorry it took me so long to follow up- was taking the last of my licensing exams. Greta is very glad I'm done with studying, lol.

Now that I see the reminder about Vit E, I seem to remember reading about this here a long time ago. She is currently eating Merrick grain free varieties. I usually change up the flavor with every bag. One thing I'm not sure how to calculate: they give Omega-6 and Omega-3 in percentages, 3.5 and .8 respectively. I'm guessing that's percentage weight of food? Out of curiosity I wrote in to customer support to ask, we'll see if they respond.

I'll read the links you provided and check back if I have any questions.

Thanks again!

 Quote: Carolyn Pike Roman

Thanks for all of the info, Connie!! Sorry it took me so long to follow up- was taking the last of my licensing exams. Greta is very glad I'm done with studying, lol.

Now that I see the reminder about Vit E, I seem to remember reading about this here a long time ago. She is currently eating Merrick grain free varieties. I usually change up the flavor with every bag. One thing I'm not sure how to calculate: they give Omega-6 and Omega-3 in percentages, 3.5 and .8 respectively. I'm guessing that's percentage weight of food? Out of curiosity I wrote in to customer support to ask, we'll see if they respond.

I'll read the links you provided and check back if I have any questions.

Thanks again!

Hi, Carolyn,

Omega 6 EFAs are necessary, but they are very abundant in modern American diets, including dog foods. (For example, chicken and beef are rich in Omega 6s.)

In people, a good ratio is 4 to 1, to 2 to 1 (Omega-6 to Omega-3). But people who eat a "normal" American diet most often have a ratio of 15 or 20 to 1, and many are closer to 40 to 1!

It's Omega 3s that are sorely lacking -- particularly the EPA and DHA especially found in marine sources.

Some plant foods (like walnuts and flax) are good sources of ALA, but ALA has to be converted in the body to DHA and EPA, and the conversion mechanism is pretty inefficient. The conversion factor in humans of ALA to DHA, for example, ranges from 1 to 9%. In dogs, it's even lower, usually close to zero.

I remember that Merrick has salmon meal and/or oil in their recipes, but I don't know offhand how that percentage is figured.


Yes, definitely post back with questions. It's a topic that's very interesting to me, and I read a lot about it.

PS
I'm not a health professional, and all this is JMO.

Connie, have you had experience with this brand before? https://bncpet.com/products/wild-omega-3-fish-oil-supplement-for-dogs-with-natural-vitamin-e-16oz

I have not used it, but I have read up on it.

I remember that I thought it was up in the "A" class, like Nordic.



PS in general ...
It's very important to treat fish oil carefully, because rancid oil isn't just less beneficial -- it can be a carcinogen. No heat or light, and it should always smell good. (In fact, even with gelcaps, I'd pierce one and smell it before using them.)