The benefits of Omega-3 for your dog’s nutrition

A dog's diet also needs to be well balanced. Achieving this balance requires an adequate intake of Omega-3s, nutrients associated with numerous benefits for our four-legged friends. Discover why taking care of their health with OMEGOR PET, the fish-oil–based supplement for veterinary use, is so important!

Every year, on August 26, we celebrate International Dog Day – a tradition dating back to 2004, when companion animal expert Colleen Paige chose the anniversary of the adoption of her first dog, Sheltie, to mark the first National Dog Day.

Since then, the event’s popularity has grown to the point of becoming an international celebration. Today, it is a symbolic occasion to honor humankind’s best friend and a reminder of how important it is, in our daily lives, to take care of their well-being from every perspective: respecting them, loving them, and ensuring they have a peaceful family environment where they are protected and cared for.

Ensuring the well-being of your four-legged companion undoubtedly means providing a healthy, balanced diet. As with humans, achieving dietary balance for dogs may require additional support, which comes in the form of complementary feeds such as OMEGOR PET, a source of fresh, pure, highly concentrated, and easily absorbed Omega-3s designed to support your dog’s heart health, joint function, and coat quality.

Omega-3 for dogs: the benefits

Fish oil, a source of the Omega-3s EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), has been associated with several benefits for dogs dealing with dermatological, cardiovascular, and kidney issues. Fish oil has also been linked to improvements in canine metabolism, blood lipid levels, and symptoms related to osteoarthritis affecting the joints.

For example, the anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic properties of these fats appear useful in managing the loss of lean mass and cardiac arrhythmias associated with heart failure in dogs.

 Dogs of all ages may benefit from an adequate intake of these fats.

Puppies need them for proper brain and visual function, and compared to puppies who do not receive fish oil, those who do exhibit better development; specifically, puppies fed a diet richer in Omega-3s show enhanced visual and cognitive abilities. Since puppies have a very limited ability to produce DHA from its precursors, the intake of preformed DHA is especially important.

For adult dogs, complementary feeds designed to increase Omega-3 intake may be particularly helpful for those unable to synthesize adequate amounts of DHA. Identifying which dogs fall into this category is not simple; for this reason, experts recommend providing preformed DHA at any age.

Omega-3 for dogs: are they effective?

Results from studies investigating the benefits of Omega-3s for dogs show some variability. This is likely due to differences in study protocols – for example, the dose of EPA and DHA used, treatment duration, other dietary factors, the dog’s health status, and the parameters selected to measure outcomes.

From this perspective, measuring the Omega-3 Index helps determine whether the Omega-3s consumed are actually increasing the levels of these fats in the body. The Omega-3 Index indicates the amount of EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes — a parameter that reflects overall Omega-3 status in the body.

Cell membranes (including those of red blood cells) are the natural destination for dietary EPA and DHA. In humans, studies have shown that once incorporated, these fats increase membrane fluidity and influence the function of associated proteins. Beyond this, EPA and DHA regulate gene expression, modulate immune cell activity, and serve as building blocks for molecules such as maresins, resolvins, and protectins — all of which help control inflammation and counter chronic inflammatory conditions, including cardiovascular and joint disorders.

A study published in Animals in October 2024 showed that complementary feeds containing EPA and DHA effectively increase the Omega-3 Index in dogs, and that this increase corresponds to tangible health benefits.

All 29 dogs who completed the study (15 males and 14 females, all at least 3 years old, of various breeds — from Chihuahuas to Beagles to Labradors — and who had not received Omega-3 or fish-oil supplements in the previous 6 months) were given for 16 weeks 70 mg of EPA + DHA per kg of body weight per day, in softgels containing 250 mg of EPA and 200 mg of DHA derived from fish oil (anchovies and sardines). Meanwhile, they continued their usual diet (and any other supplements or medications they required).

The Omega-3 Index was measured from simple blood samples taken by veterinarians at the beginning and end of the study. Owners completed questionnaires assessing quality of life and pain levels at both time points.

Previously, a study involving krill oil supplementation in Huskies for 5 weeks showed a 19% increase in the Omega-3 Index; another study, also on Huskies, reported a 60% increase. The protocol in this new research increased EPA and DHA levels in red blood cells by an impressive 135%.

In terms of Omega-3 Index values (a percentage measure), the results of this study and other scientific data suggest that reaching at least 3% may be sufficient to improve health status.

Regarding health outcomes, this study associated Omega-3 intake with a 19% reduction in pain-assessment scores. Small and medium-sized dogs experienced the greatest improvements.

According to the authors, “this result is most likely due to the anti-inflammatory properties of EPA and DHA,” since “pain and inflammation are closely related.” They add that “pain is one of the main symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases in dogs, such as osteoarthritis, and reducing inflammatory products (…) is a common goal of treatments aimed at managing pain symptoms associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.”

The long duration of EPA and DHA supplementation is a major strength of this protocol; it is known that stabilizing Omega-3 levels requires 12 to 16 weeks. Consistency over long periods is therefore essential to achieve meaningful effects.

Dosage is also crucial. As the study authors state, “higher doses of EPA + DHA induce a dose-dependent increase in the Omega-3 Index,” and “the lack of effect on pain scores in large dogs may be explained by a lower EPA + DHA dose per kg.”

Omega-3 for dogs: dosage

According to the U.S. National Research Council, the recommended dosage of Omega-3s (EPA + DHA) for adult dogs varies depending on the intended goal:

- 30 mg per kg per day to maintain health;
- up to 370 mg per kg per day to prevent disease.

As mentioned earlier, and as highlighted by the study authors, the primary goal should be to raise the Omega-3 Index above 3%. However, as stated in the study’s conclusions, “dogs may benefit from higher doses of EPA + DHA, which would naturally lead to higher Omega-3 Index values.”

At Omegor, we recommend giving your dog OMEGOR PET following these guidelines:

- 1 capsule per day up to 5 kg body weight;
- 2 capsules per day up to 15 kg body weight;
- 3 capsules per day up to 30 kg body weight;
- 4 capsules per day over 30 kg body weight.

You can give them directly into your dog’s mouth or pierce the capsules and mix the contents with their food.

Never exceed the recommended daily dose, and do not use OMEGOR PET if your dog is hypersensitive to any of its components (fish oil, pork-derived gelatin, glycerol) or to chemically related substances. 

One last tip: store OMEGOR PET at room temperature, away from direct heat, light, and moisture. This will help preserve its exceptional quality!

References:

Bauer JE. The essential nature of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2016 Dec 1;249(11):1267-1272. doi: 10.2460/javma.249.11.1267

Carlisle C, Metzger BT, Tintle NL, Polley K, Jackson KH, Le Brun-Blashka S, Griffiths J, Harris WS. The Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation on the Omega-3 Index and Quality of Life and Pain Scores in Dogs. Animals (Basel). 2024 Oct 29;14(21):3108. doi: 10.3390/ani14213108 

Freeman LM. Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease. J Small Anim Pract. 2010 Sep;51(9):462-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.00968.x

Magalhães TR, Lourenço AL, Gregório H, Queiroga FL. Therapeutic Effect of EPA/DHA Supplementation in Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Companion Animal Diseases: A Systematic Review. In Vivo. 2021 May-Jun;35(3):1419-1436. doi: 10.21873/invivo.12394