Enteric-Coated Fish Oil for Dogs

Just like humans, dogs have physical ailments as they age. Arthritis, heart disease, cancer and dry-skin conditions plague our four-footed companions. Unfortunately, most commercial dog foods do not supply the nutrients needed to maintain healthy bones, skin and hair. Adding a capsule of enteric-coated fish oil once a day to a dog's diet will curtail many ailments and bring out the wag in a dog's tail.

  1. Why the Need for Fish Oil?

    • If left to their own means, dogs would most likely eat raw foods loaded with omega fatty acids, which are really healthier for them. Unfortunately, most commercial dog foods contain a large amount of grains and carbohydrates and small amounts of fats. Even "meaty" commercial dog food comes from cows that were grain-fed, reducing the amount of natural occurring omega-3s. Fish oil supplements break down easily in a dog's digestive tract and provide the nutrients missing in its food.

    Why Enteric-Coated Fish Oil?

    • Fish oil usually has a fishy taste and can cause embarrassing "fish burps" in humans. The same can happen with dogs. Getting a dog to swallow pills can be a problem in itself, and if the pill tastes bad, it is almost impossible to get it down. An enteric coating reduces the fish taste and also keeps the oil intact until it reaches the small intestine where it does its work.

    Benefits of Fish Oil

    • Dogs suffer from many of the same afflictions that affect humans. As they age, their joints can become arthritic, and their skin can become dry and itchy. Because of the high content of grains and cereals in their diet (doggie biscuits included), they can become diabetic or develop heart disease. All of these ailments can be brought on because of a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. According to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, fish oil capsules contain a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain triglyceride and cholesterol levels, ward off heart disease and inflammation that can cause cancer. When given to puppies, fish oil helps to stimulate their intelligence, improving training.

    Dosage

    • Healthy, medium to large dogs weighing more than 20 lbs. can take 1,000 to 1,500 mg of fish oil daily. Smaller dogs should be given half that amount. If the dog has a health condition already, slowly increase the dosage, and always consult a veterinarian about what amount will work best. It may take up to eight weeks to see results from fish oil supplements.

    Guidelines for Buying Fish Oil

    • There are so many kinds of fish oil supplements on the market. It can be confusing as to what is the best product for dogs. A good fish oil product will contain natural triglycerides, and DHA fatty acid should be one of the main ingredients. It should have a low peroxide level, show evidence of purity and state somewhere on the label that it has low rancidity and contamination values.

    Side Effects

    • Fish oil supplements usually leave a fishy odor on the breath. However, if it is enteric-coated, this side effect is minimized. Some dogs do suffer from diarrhea when they first start to take fish oil. If this is the case, it is a good idea to start them on a low dosage and gradually increase it.