
Salmon oil contains vital ingredients that are essential for a dog’s development.
Read on for an in-depth guide on how exactly salmon oil can benefit your dog and to learn some of the science behind salmon oil’s powerful ingredients.
After feeding it to your dog for just a couple of weeks, you could start to see the following results in your dog:
Salmon oil can seriously improve brain function in dogs - in fact, it’s particularly recommended for the brain development of growing puppies.
Research carried out by Lewisburg PHNC found that 9-week-old puppies fed on a high DHA diet became more intelligent, easier to train and had improved memory in tests which taught them how to recognise shapes that led them to a treat (3).
You can also feed it to an older dog, as cognitive development needs to be nurtured at all ages.
Healthy brain function and development in dogs helps them stay alert, energetic and reactive to their owners (or a ball, or a squirrel, or your neighbour's dog).
The anti-inflammatory properties of salmon oil helps to reduce scratching and limit shedding, making your dog’s coat smoother, shinier and more lustrous than ever.
The fatty acids found in salmon oil help form a protective layer which moisturises your dog’s skin and acts as a barrier to allergens and irritants.
If your pooch does suffer from skin inflammation, Omega 3’s anti-inflammatory superpowers can help reduce itching.
DHA and EPA found in salmon oil can supercharge your dog’s immune system, meaning their body will be naturally stronger in fighting off infectious diseases.
A study by K.J. Rutherfurd-Markwick found that cats who were supplied with salmon oil had a greater ability to fight infection and disease. (4)
The Omega 3 fatty acids in salmon oil help protect your dog’s heart by managing Cholesterol, Triglyceride and blood pressure levels, meaning their overall stamina and cardiovascular health are improved, and they won’t run out of breath as quickly.
Salmon oil can help keep your dog’s joints limber and lubricated so they can move around easily - an essential aspect to a dog’s continued mobility as they grow and age.
A dog’s eyes indicate their overall health and salmon oil can help promote bright, clear eyes and better sight thanks to DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid).
Being present in salmon oil, it has been seen to play a role in aiding a pup's brain development and eye function, particularly the retina.
When rearing a puppy there’s nothing more encouraging than seeing them grow bigger and stronger. As salmon oil is a nutrient-rich source of fat, it’s the ideal way to induce healthy weight gain in a puppy or an underweight adult dog, in a way that includes vital nutrition too.
Salmon oil is beneficial for dogs because of its wonder-trio of fatty acids: Omega 3, 6 and 9.
These powerful ingredients are really beneficial to your dog’s body and mind; they promote healthier skin and coat quality, improved heart health, and they boost immune system, brainpower and movement.
Omega-3 was recognised as a molecular marvel when it was found to contain fatty acids Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
DHA and EPA are long-chain acids containing 20 or more carbon atoms, and in 1929, scientists found that they form the important structural components (1) of healthy cell membranes.
In 2004, the US FDA made it official - Omega 3 and 6 were given ‘qualified health claim status’ for being beneficial to normal, healthy growth.
All mammal bodies, including humans and dogs, don’t produce DHA and EPA naturally. To receive these nutrients, vital for our mental and physical development, we have to get them from food such as salmon oil.
Administering salmon oil to your dog couldn’t be easier - it’s got a strong fishy flavour so they love the taste. Following the guidelines for their size, just drizzle it into their regular food and mix well.
For maximum benefits, feed your dog salmon oil every day.
For small dogs, a teaspoon a day is enough.
Medium dogs, 1-2 teaspoons.
Large dogs, 2-3 teaspoons.
Giant dogs, 3-4 teaspoons a day.
Clear instructions are on the label of each of our Salmon Oil For Dogs bottles.
All fish oils have an expiration date; after this, its quality will gradually decrease, and in the worst case, it could make your dog unwell.
If you’ve had an unopened bottle of salmon oil for a while, check the expiration date before feeding it to your dog. A fresh bottle should be good for two years if stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight - but use it up within 90 days once you’ve broken the seal, and throw it away if it smells rancid.
Short answer - yes, or you could risk any of the side effects listed below.
Be sure to feed your dog the recommended daily amounts according to their size and age, as indicated on the label on the bottle
Most dogs will see the many positives of salmon oil, however with any supplement, there’s always a risk of side effects or allergies. If you notice your dog experiencing any of the following symptoms after taking salmon oil, it’s a good idea to book a visit to your vet and get them checked over, just to be safe.
Pancreatitis. If your dog shows the classic signs of pancreatitis - a hunched bag, sustained vomiting over hours or days, diarrhoea, lethargy and/or pain in the abdomen, take them to the vet for treatment and don't continue to feed them salmon oil.
Fish oils are too high fat to give to those prone to pancreatitis and has been known to trigger it if the symptoms are already starting to show.
There are plenty of other oil supplements for dogs that offer similar health benefits, but salmon oil is the cream of the crop, and here’s why.
Oils derived from other fish, such as cod liver oil, offer lots of the same benefits to dogs as salmon oil; improved coat and skin quality, a boosted immune system and decreased inflammation.
This is mostly down to their Omega 3 content. That said, prioritising salmon oil helps to avoid Vitamin A overdose, a risk that is brought about by using cod liver oil.
Salmon oil also provides superior Omega 3 absorption in a dog’s body, and it has a fishier taste, which dogs love. Put simply, other fish oils are great, but salmon oil tops them in terms of concentrated goodness (and tastiness).
As a plant-based alternative to fish oils, we humans often turn to natural oils such as olive, coconut and flaxseed. For dogs, this doesn’t quite work the same way.
While fish oils contain the long-chain fatty acids DHA and EPA found in Omega 3, plant-based oils have more of the short-chain acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid).
Though ALA is still beneficial to dogs and puppies, they’d have to eat a whole lot of plant-based oil to receive the more potent nutrients found in smaller amounts of salmon oil.
Sold on salmon oil’s dog-enhancing superpowers? To see the benefits in your dog, Pooch & Mutt’s Salmon Oil is sustainably sourced, of the highest quality and packed full of Omega 3, 6 and 9.
If you have any other questions about Salmon Oil that we haven’t covered here, you can contact us via email or leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to help.
4. The potential for enhancement of immunity in cats by dietary supplementation (K.J. Rutherfurd-Markwick) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165242713000287
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Comments (60)
Hi Ge!
A teaspoon of Salmon oil contains roughly 38 calories, it could help with a little weight gain but we would advise looking for a food that would be higher in fats to help with this. :)
I’ve just started giving the fish oil to my cocker spaniel. The Vet saiid that it would help him with his brain function as he has popcorn seizures and is very reactive. He is also nervous. I notice after a few days of.mixing the salmon oil with his food, that he is calmer. However he sits and seems to be seeing something that I don’t see. Is he hallucinating? He’s also stopped begging for food and he’s eating all of his dog food. What do you think? Sandy
Hi Sandy,
We would recommend speaking with your vet regarding this, as this could be linked to their seizures and they know your pets history best. :)
Hi
My 10 year old lab has arthritis and recently diagnosed spondylosis. She has been on Yumove for a few years now and has been on Pardale V for 3 months or so and given Gabapentin and Memantine recently, which is not controlling her pain and seems to be making her pain worse. Would she be able to take salmon oil as already getting green lipped mussel in her Yumove?
Thanks.
Hi Ray,
You can absolutely feed salmon oil alongside YuMove, we would advise following the feeding guidelines for both and monitor for any adverse reactions :)
My dog is allergic to salmon. Is there an alternative?
Hi Richard,
We do only have our Salmon oil available, but you could look at other brands and get either a herring oil or cod liver oil instead. If you are unsure, we would advise speaking with your vet regarding what might be best for your pooch. :)
Hi, I have a 14 and half year old Labrador on your health and digestion dry food and yumove max. Can he also have salmon oil as he has dry skin. Thank you
Hi John,
You can absolutely add some salmon oil to their diet, we would advise starting with half the dose and monitoring for any adverse reactions such as loose stools. If they tolerate this well, you can then increase to the full dose. :)
I have a pregnant Vizsla who already has 2 teaspoons a day of your salmon oil should I increase it until the puppies are being weaned?
Hi Susan,
We would advise following the feeding guidelines for your dogs current weight, too much salmon oil can cause adverse reactions as listed unfortunately. If you would like any further advice, please do reach out to the team on [email protected] :)
Hi, your puppy dry food says it’s enriched with salmon oil. Does that contain enough for a 10kg puppy, or can we supplement on top? I don’t want to give too much given there are potential side effects
Hi JC,
Our Puppy Complete Superfood contains everything a pup nutritionally needs to grow into a healthy & happy adult pooch! However, you can absolutely still use our Salmon Oil as a supplement as although our Puppy Complete Superfood does contain Salmon Oil, it is not at a quantity that would be deemed as an ‘overload’ for your pooch. Salmon Oil is rich in essential fatty acids which cannot be made by your pets body and it has many benefits! If supplementing with Salmon Oil, we would advise starting with a small amount of salmon oil initially, as this can be rich for some tummies and if there are no adverse reactions the amount can then be increased to the feeding guideline amount after a few days :)
Hi, I have a 10 year old pug can I add salmon oil to her diet as she already takes your small joint care tablets?
Hi Nicola, you can absolutely add salmon oil to your dogs diet alongside the joint care tablets. :)
Hi there,
Is it possible to feed my puppy salmon oil along side Yumove Skin & Coat Care Boost or is this too much?
Thank you,
G
Hi G, you can absolutely feed salmon oil alongside these if you would like. We would advise starting with half the recommended dose for your pups weight and seeing how they tolerate this initially, before increasing to the full amount. :)
Can my diabetic dog take salmon oil? He has thyroid problems too and is losing his hair on his back. Thank you
Hi Gillian,
If your pooch isn’t overweight, and has no history of Pancreatitis, it can certainly be given in moderation. It should be given on or with meals, to avoid any blood sugar spike. We would advise starting with a small amount of salmon oil initially, as this can be rich for some tummies and if your pooch has no adverse reactions, you can increase to the feeding guideline amount after a few days :)
Can salmon oil help with anal gland trouble
Hi Clare,
Anal gland trouble can have a few causes including chronic diarrhoea, food allergies, obesity, lack of fibre, lack of exercise, body shape etc. To try to prevent them, we’d ideally figure out the cause of the anal gland issues, and go from there.
Salmon oil may help in some cases, for example, in dogs who are not passing stools regularly, or who suffer from constipation. Also, for those with actively inflamed or infected glands, it can help to reduce the local inflammation. However, if a dog is over-weight, adding a fatty oil could worsen rather than improve things.
We would advise consulting further with your vet on this, and if you do then need any further advice please do contact the team via Email where they will be more than happy to help :)
Hi, can I use both the salmon oil and the mobile bones supplement for my dachshund puppy?
Hi Abbie,
You can indeed use both of these products together, and they both offer differing benefits. Our Mobile Bones Supplement is suitable from 12 weeks old, it is the ideal health supplement for dogs with or prone to joint disease, or active/working dogs that may need a bit of extra protection from wear and tear.
Our Salmon Oil. It is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which cannot be made by your pets body, and are essential for skin and coat quality, cardiovascular/ heart health, immune response, cognitive/ brain function and joint function/ mobility. We always advise starting with a small amount of salmon oil initially, as this can be rich for some tummies and if there are no adverse reactions the amount can be increased to the feeding guideline amount after a few days :)
Can I use the salmon oil and bionic biotic supplement together please?
Hi Julie,
You can absolutely use our Bionic Biotic and salmon oil together. Both products offer differing benefits. Our Bionic Biotic is a probiotic health supplement containing both probiotics and prebiotics promoting a healthy gut microbiome and it is specifically tailored to actively promote solid stools and healthy digestion. In addition to this, the added antioxidants promote a strong immune system and have many overall benefits.
Our Salmon Oil is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids which cannot be made by your pets body, and are essential for skin and coat quality, cardiovascular/ heart health, immune response, cognitive/ brain function and joint function/ mobility :)
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