Know the different types of fish oils in the market right now. Choose the fish oil brands that are healthy, safe, and affordable for your furry friend.
by Dana J. Cook on March 5, 2023
by Dana J. Cook on March 5, 2023
Dana has been deep in the pet grooming business for over 10 years. Being a life-long dog lover, she's passionate about educating dog owners on making the best purchasing decisions.*
Fish oil is the best way to go if you want to improve your dog's heart and joints, improve skin or coat, and boost immune system. The benefits are far-reaching as fish oil supplements contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential nutrients to prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure.
Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids contain EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These act as an anti-inflammatory and helps brain and eye development. In general, it enhances heart health, reduces itchy and flaky skin, relieves joint pain, strengthen immune system and even help our dogs fight cancer.
Naturally, fish oil is found in mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, sablefish, and albacore tuna. Commercially produced, fish oils for dogs comes in capsule or liquid form. If your dog doesn't show interest in consuming the capsule, you can extract the contents and mix it with their food.
Be sure to know the correct dosage for your dog as fish oil would become toxic or produce uncomfortable results if a large dosage is consumed. As always, before giving fish oil supplement to your dog, consider their breed, size, weight, and overall health. Consulting a veterinarian will greatly help you decide whether to include it in your dog's diet.
However, before we decide on which brand is the best for our furry friend, we need to understand that there are three types of fish oil that can be found in the market: natural triglyceride oil, ethyl ester oil, and synthetic triglyceride oil.
Too much is toxic - Too much dosage could lead uncomfortable side effects like diarrhea. Some low-end products contain heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury which can cause severe health issues.
Omega 3 slows blood clotting - It decreases the the ability of platelets to stick together. That's why it's important to consult your vet first if you want to introduce fish oil to a dog whose most activity is outdoors.
Fish oil is anti-inflammatory - Don't complement fish oil to your pets who are already on anti-inflammatory medications.
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Natural Triglyceride Oil: It is the most natural and easiest to absorb by our pets. However, to retain it's purity, it isn't well filtered and processed. This type of fish oil may contain contaminants.
Ethyl Ester Oil: This fish oil is concentrated and distilled, thus impurities are removed. Think of it as semi-natural with important components of omega-3: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Synthetic Triglyceride Oil: This is primarily synthetic and absorbs the least of all three
This comprehensive list was made after extensive research and analysis, measuring the full value of each product by considering the ingredients, safety, efficacy, refund and return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. We also collect research from the latest studies and clinical trials to ensure that our criteria takes into account the most important details, presenting you with the results, and, in the process, saving you time and money.
After extensive data gathering and clinical trials and testing, we proudly present to you our compiled list for the best fish oils available in the market today. The research includes precise scoring for ingredient safety, projected effectiveness, value, return policy and history, and customer satisfaction along with the average grades of common fish oils. To paint the whole picture, we have also listed down the pros and cons, and identified the total ranking and overall grade.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Zesty Paws Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil tops our best choice for fish oil list. This liquid fish oil is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for improved joint function, immune system, and heart. It is a capsule-free formula designed for dogs who aren't fond of consuming large sized capsules or gels. This makes a good food topping on regular meals. The supplement altogether is FDA approved and made in GMP certified facility.
Due to its strong smell, be sure to complement it with food of same nature. And because the package is designed to be pumped, a faulty nozzle might result in an unpleasant experience because serving size is dependent on the number of pump - some reported spilling and leakage. Despite this, overall, Zesty Paws Salmon Oil wins the list for our top fish oil for dogs for its nutrients, Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and certifications.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
We place Grizzly Salmon Oil #2 in our list of best fish oils for dogs in the market. Grizzly Salmon Oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. It's also designed to help maintain a healthy skin and coat, good eyesight, brain, immune, and reproductive health. The product also boasts wild salmon (not farmed) which makes it lower in calories. It's also safe for pregnant or nursing dogs.
Same with others, the product should be complemented with food of the same nature. Faulty pumps result in unpleasant experience as it leaks the contents out of the bottle. Avoid using this product if your dog is known to have allergies to shellfish. Hence we place Grizzly Salmon Oil #2 in our list.
INGREDIENT SAFETY
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
VALUE
RETURN POLICY
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
The last in our list is the Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet. The product has pure Omega-3 nutrients for EPA+DHA needs. Its nutrients came from sardines and anchovies. It helps support the brain and heart functions. It also supports joint and coat good health. Since it doesn't have a strong fishy smell, owners can give this to their dogs as is.
However, the drawback is the nutrients came from sardines and anchovies which don't have the essential vitamins and minerals needed. So you might need to complement it with separate source of vitamins and minerals. Also one of the variants comes in a glass bottle - the serving is through a teaspoon which might result in overdose if not monitored. Hence, we place the product #3 in the list.
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