Every pet parent wants to give their doggo the very best. Be it their food or treats, pet owners, strive to find the best and healthiest options for their pooches. After all, what they eat directly impacts their overall health and well-being.  

But treats and foods aren’t the only things that you should centre your focus on; adding supplements to your pup’s diet also helps them live a long and healthy life.  

While you have multiple options to choose from, fish oil is one of the best options. But even among this category, you’ll find several oil options.  

But salmon oil remains the most popular one for all the right reasons. If you’re new to the concept of oils, read on to learn everything about incorporating salmon oil into your dog’s diet.  

What is Salmon Oil?  

As the name suggests, salmon oil is made from fish, which in this case is salmon. It contains healthy fats that offer countless health benefits, not just to humans but to fur babies as well. Salmon oil is highly recommended for those who don’t eat fish regularly.  

Benefits of Salmon Oil for Dogs 

Like other fish oils, salmon oil is also packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that offer a wide range of health benefits to dogs, including improved vision, cognitive function, and healthy joints. It is also known for being anti-inflammatory, making it beneficial for curing skin conditions and boosting brain and heart health.  

Let’s take an in-depth look at all the health benefits of salmon oil for dogs:  

Contributes to Healthy Skin and Boosted Vision 

As mentioned earlier, salmon oil contains omega-3 fatty acids. But the important thing to note is that it has two specific types of omega-3 fatty acids. These include docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, also known as DHA and EPA, respectively.  

Both DHA and EPA are known for improving skin and coat in canines. Moreover, these fatty acids can also help treat various skin conditions. According to studies, salmon oil has been found to be useful in the treatment of skin rash caused by seasonal allergies among dogs.  

The dogs that actually received salmon oil experienced less itching and had better quality skin and coats as opposed to the placebo group.  

As for vision, omega-3 fatty acids are known for supporting early vision development. The main reason why they help boost vision is that the long chains of fatty acids are an inherent part of the cellular structure.  

Incorporating adequate quantities of these fatty acids in your pup’s diet helps them attain the healthy vision and even prevents vision-related health conditions.  

Improves Brain Function and Development 

While many factors play a role in brain function and development in puppies, DHA has proven to be the most helpful.  

Pups that receive proper amounts of DHA during the breeding phase of their lives experience improved cognitive function than those who don’t get DHA. According to studies, such puppies perform better on cognitive tests.  

Simply put, DHA acts as food for the brain of your fur babies. When your dogs receive a sufficient amount of DHA in puppyhood, they tend to have better memory and learning capabilities than those who don’t get DHA supplementation.  

Supports Heart Health 

Salmon oil is naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic. These properties support heart health and even help manage specific heart conditions. Moreover, the presence of omega-3 fatty acids helps with the stabilization of cells present within the heart muscles. Consequently, the stable cells help maintain a regular heartbeat and prevent any potential cardiovascular diseases in dogs.  

Boosts the Immune System 

Autoimmune diseases are fairly common among dogs. But with salmon oil, they can be prevented effectively. Thanks to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the immune system response gets a boost, which helps fight autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.  

They are especially known for reducing hip and joint discomfort. According to studies, salmon oil generates an improved immune system response against severe joint conditions. It may also help reduce the severity of the pain.  

Potential Side-Effects of Salmon Oil 

Now that you know about the benefits of salmon oil for dogs learning about its potential side effects is also essential before you start incorporating it into their diet.  

So, let’s look at what might happen if you start giving your doggo salmon oil supplementation:  

Weight Gain 

One of the major side effects experienced after introducing salmon oil to dogs is weight gain. Since the oil is rich in calories, your doggo might put on some extra weight. However, it is completely manageable. You simply need to adjust their daily food to ensure their meals are well-balanced, allowing them to avail themselves of all the benefits of salmon oil without leaning towards obesity.  

Of course, if you’re feeding your pups a raw diet, managing their weight will be much easier as raw food automatically keeps your dogs at an ideal weight because they get all the nutrition they need without overeating.  

Tummy Problems  

It is not uncommon for dogs to experience an upset stomach upon ingesting salmon oil for the first time. When something the immune system doesn’t recognize enters the body, it starts to fight against the intruder, resulting in digestive problems. But that doesn’t mean it won’t suit your puppy at all.  

You start adding salmon oil to their food in small quantities, and once their body gets used to it, you can slowly start increasing the amount. This will help solve all tummy issues.  

Bad Breath 

Since salmon oil is fish oil, your doggo’s breath will smell, well, fishy. Imagine getting kisses by your dog, only to be bombarded with a foul smell.  

Fortunately, there are many solutions for this problem as well. Using some fresh herbal supplements can refresh their breath. Moreover, giving your dogs raw bones to chew on will also help eliminate bad breath, among other things.  

Incorporating Salmon Oil Into Your Dog’s Diet 

Now that you’re aware of the pros and cons of salmon oil, you can easily determine that the pros clearly outweigh the cons, as there aren’t any notable side effects that may be detrimental to your doggo’s health.  

That brings us to the main part, adding salmon oil into your doggo’s diet. It is important that you know how to add salmon oil to dog food and the quantity you should use. 

How to Add Salmon Oil to Dog Food 

Salmon oil is available in liquid form and in capsules. You can pick either one, depending on your dog’s liking.  

Most dogs aren’t too fond of chewing capsules, which makes it difficult to add salmon oil to their diet. The easier approach is to drizzle salmon oil on their food. If you’re feeding your pup raw food, mixing it in would be a lot easier than dry food.  

But it is essential that you store the oil correctly, or it will go bad very quickly. Most fish oils turn rancid when exposed to light, oxygen, and heat for prolonged periods. That’s why most experts and manufacturers recommend keeping it stored away in the refrigerator or the freezer.  

If the oil smells funky even in the slightest, you should throw it away, or it can cause health problems for your doggo.  

How Much Salmon Oil Should You Give to Your Dogs 

​​For​​​ your dog to get optimal health benefits from salmon oil, you need to get the dosage right. Typically, the dosage is based on your canine’s weight. Most manufacturers provide dosage instructions on the packaging, but just to be on the safe side, it is better to seek advice from your vet. They can guide you best on the amount of salmon oil that your dog should have in one day.  

If you’re giving salmon oil to your dog to target a specific health condition, you may need to look at the contents of the oil. For instance, if you want to treat an inflammatory condition, you will need an oil that has a higher EPA content than DHA, as EPA helps reduce inflammation.  

In such cases, your vet will act as your guide. Otherwise, you can stick to the manufacturer’s instructions. But be careful not to give too much salmon oil as it can cause an upset stomach, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. In other cases, it can even cause delayed immune system response and slow wound healing.  

How to Find the Best Salmon Oil for Dogs 

While the market is filled with salmon oils, you have to make some extra effort to ensure you purchase a high-quality product for your doggo. Here are some things you should look for when buying fish oil supplements:  

Form of Salmon Oil 

As mentioned earlier, salmon oil is available in different forms. The most feasible option is to get it in liquid form and mix it into their food. But if your pup becomes fussy about that, you can always opt for capsules, chews, and treats that contain salmon oil.  

EPA and DHA Content 

The EPA and DHA content determine the quality of the product. Make sure the salmon oil you purchase is rich in both forms of omega-3 fatty acids.  

Sourced from Wild Salmon 

Salmon oil may be sourced from wild salmon or from farm-raised salmon. While both contain essential nutrients for dogs, it is recommended that you choose a product sourced from cold-water wild salmon.  

The reason for this is that farm-raised salmon has higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. But wild salmon is abundant in omega-3 fatty acids, making it more beneficial for your dogs.  

Non-Diluted Oil 

Ideally, salmon oil should not be diluted by other products as they can hinder the oil’s effectiveness. Additionally, it is best to refrain from products that contain loads of preservatives.  

Unnecessary preservatives can lower the product’s efficacy. Typically, chews and edible products with salmon oil contain additional ingredients to form a chew.  

Scent-Free Oil 

Salmon oil will make your dog’s breath stink like fish. But there are many salmon oils that are either lightly scented or entirely scent-free. It will help minimize the odour, but as mentioned earlier, you can always rely on herbs and bones to eliminate the stench.  

Shop at Raw Paws Emporium 

Salmon oil offers a wide range of health benefits to dogs. Not only does it improve brain development and cognitive function, but it also helps manage multiple skin and heart diseases. Additionally, it also treats joint conditions and alleviates pain.  

Looking at all the benefits of salmon oil for dogs, it is clear that this supplement is essential for all pups. If you’re looking for a place to buy high-quality fish oil, Raw Paws Emporium is your go-to pet store. We keep high-quality salmon oil, among other supplements and hygiene products. Our salmon oil comes in opaque packaging to ensure it stays safe from light, oxygen, and heat.  

Our experts can also guide you about the dosage instructions, and we also offer raw food for cats and dogs. Click here to browse through the collection of our supplements for dogs. From homoeopathic medicines and herbal supplements to oils and seeds, we have it all.