Skip Human Fish Oil Supplements for Dogs or Cats

Buying human fish oil supplements for dogs and cats used to seem like a good idea to save money. “They put a dog or a cat on the label as a way to get us to spend more!” we thought. But now we know better: to get more Omega-3s into our pet’s diet, shop for dog and cat supplements instead. Here’s why.

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Fish Oil Omega-3s Ease Pet Arthritis Pain

Fish oil is a great starting point to keep your Tripawd’s joints in good shape. It’s exploding with Omega-3s, the “healthy” fatty acids found in cold water fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and krill plankton.

• Omega-3 Fish Oil is good for joints in pets and people.
• Many studies show fish oil reduces inflammation in the body.
• Fish oil also eases chronic arthritis pain.
• As a bonus, fish oil can support the immune system too!

If you or your pet eats tons of fresh fish each week, you probably don’t need to buy fish oil supplements. But for most of us, fish isn’t on the menu most nights. That’s why a high quality fish oil supplement for pets or people is usually a smart move.

But whatever you do, please don’t try to give your pet people supplements. Your pet will not get the same benefit. It’s like throwing money away. That’s because “when it comes to fish oil for dogs and cats, it isn’t about ingredients in a nutraceutical, it’s about the formulation,” says pet pain management expert Dr. Robin Downing.

 

I educate clients all the time who say to me, “Well, I read that omega-3 fatty acid is good for joints and so I went to GNC and I got fish oil capsules.” — Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS (Bioethics), DAIPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP.

Watch Dr. Downing explain why you shouldn’t use human fish oil supplements for dogs and cats.

“It’s really important for us to leverage good nutraceutical support,” says Dr. Downing. But what exactly does she mean?

It isn’t just about ingredients in a nutraceutical, it’s also about the formulation.

What Dr. Downing is saying, is that compounds in any supplement for pets or people must be formulated in a specific way for the species they are supposed to help. Otherwise, how can you be sure the supplement will work?

Any supplement you buy should have clinical studies that proves it works in the intended species.

“I want to use a nutraceutical that has been proven in dogs to be effective in dogs. I want to use a nutraceutical that has been proven in cats to be effective in cats.” — Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS (Bioethics), DAIPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP.

Now we all know not to buy human fish oil supplements for dogs and cats. It’s tempting to try to save money that way, but your pets will thank you if you head to the pet supplements aisle instead. Meanwhile you might want to try Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pets, one of Dr. Downing’s preferred Omega-3s supplement that’s made just for dogs (and cats too!):