We all want the best for our pets. They are beloved members of the family and at times it can feel challenging or confusing to know what exactly is the right food or supplements to give them! 

One of the supplements that often gets mentioned as beneficial for dogs to consume in their daily diet is fish oil. We are going to break down the facts and information behind why fish oil is essential to your pet’s diet.  

What Is Fish Oil

For starters, fish oil is of course derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA act as anti-inflammatory agents and can be used to help fight inflammatory diseases including:

• Skin allergies (atopy) and dermatitis
• Arthritis
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Diabetes

Why Should I Give My Dog Fish Oil?

Fatty acids like EPA and DHA which are in fish oil, can only come from adding supplements to your dog’s daily diet. Omega-3 is also considered an essential fatty acid (EFA). Pets often have a dietary deficiency in EFAs which can lead to poor growth, scaly skin, poor coat condition, and infertility. Proper levels of EFAs are also associated with mood, mental function, and are necessary in helping to prevent debilitating diseases such as cancer. Most supplements only tend to focus on Omega-3, but the best type of added supplement for your dog should actually contain a balanced ratio of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9.

Why? Well, Omega-3 fatty acids prevent heart disease, normalize lipid levels, lower blood pressure, and improve glucose metabolism. They are also necessary for your pet’s growth and development, especially in the development of nervous tissue, and may improve cognitive function and emotional health.

Omega-6 fatty acids produce an inflammatory response that provides your pet with a healthy immune system function. They also provide relief for skin dryness, dandruff, and psoriasis. 

Omega-9 oils are monounsaturated and also help your pet maintain a healthy immune system.

So in order to get the health benefits to fight and prevent inflammatory diseases, you need to add an essential fatty acid like fish oil to your dog’s daily diet.

How Do I Choose a Good Fish Oil for My Dog?

While there are many different fish oils on the market you need to keep your eye out for these things:

Purity: Fish oils can contain contaminants such as heavy metals, especially if they come from polluted waters. Knowing exactly where the fish that were caught for your supplement which are now in the bottle you are giving to your dog is key to figuring out the purity levels.

Potency The fish oil must contain DHA and EPA. If you're wanting to focus on helping your dog's skin issues, such as itchiness, use oil with higher levels of EPA than DHA. 

Naturally-Derived: The fish oil must be in the natural triglyceride form for optimal absorption by your dog’s body. Don’t use the synthetic form, which is sometimes labeled as EE-based (ethyl-esters) or sold as omega-3 fish oil concentrate.

Why Choose Ultra Oil for Pets

Ultra Oil for Pets is our answer to the best fish oil out there on the market. Our oil contains a superblend of ingredients like fish oil, (sardine and anchovy to be exact) Canadian hempseed oil, flaxseed oil, and more! These ingredients all help to treat your dog's dry skin and hair conditions like hot spots, allergic reactions, itching, fur loss, and more. Ultra Oil’s skin and coat supplement contains a  balanced ratio of each essential fatty acid, Omegas-3, Omegas-6 and Omegas-9.

We are extremely transparent about our ingredients, analysis, and where we source our ingredients. (Ultra Oil is manufactured in the United States. We use wild-caught fish from a fishery in Peru using Seine Nets and other sustainable practices. Peru is one of the top rated countries for sustaining fish populations in an environmentally-sound way.)

Ultra Oil for Pets makes sure to guarantee certain levels of EPA and DHA in each bottle: 

• EPA 550 mg/tsp | DHA 276 mg/tsp. 

While the balanced ratio of Omega-3, but Omega-6 and Omega-9 is: 

• Omega 3 3500 mg/tbsp, Omega 6 6000 mg/ tbsp, Omega 9 1500 mg/tbsp

Additionally, Ultra Oil for Pets can help your dog: 

• Increase energy levels and metabolic rate
• Lower blood LDL cholesterol levels
• Lower blood pressure
• Improve immunity levels
• Improve organ function

• Improve cardiovascular circulation and function

How To Give Dogs Fish Oil

Fish oil should be given with your dog’s food so as to not upset their stomach. You should determine the quantity based on your dog’s weight. Our Ultra Oil for Pets fish oil supplement has a dosage chart on the back of each bottle to easily determine how much your dog needs daily. 

Care and Storage of Fish Oil

We recommend storing fish oil in a cool dry place or in your refrigerator. Our supplement is good for up to 20 months.

Are There Any Potential Side Effects?

Fish oil is generally very safe to give to dogs. But your dog may experience side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, sleepiness, fish odor to the breath (Ultra Oil contains no fishy odor) stomach upset, or changes in appetite. 

Fish oil should be carefully added into your pet’s food and monitored for any of these changes. It’s always important to listen to your vet’s advice and use with caution for pets who have diabetes, diarrhea, or a history of pancreatitis. Your dog should only be given fish oil products that have been reviewed and specially formulated for dogs and cats, so stay away from human fish oil! 

Give your dog the best nutrients possible so they can live a longer, happier, healthier life! We recommend starting them on Ultra Oil for Pets today.