Want to buy Omega-3 for dogs? This is what you should pay attention to.

Just like you, your dog desperately needs omega-3 from fish oil or algae oil. Our dog's diet contains less and less omega-3, while a good intake of omega-3 from a fish diet or supplement is essential to support good health. Healthy functioning of the heart, brain, joints and healthy skin and shiny coat are supported by a healthy level of omega-3 in the cell wall of the dog's body cells. In this blog you can read all about omega-3 and what you should pay attention to when buying omega-3 for dogs.

We explain to you that you can use the omega-3 index test for dogs to measure whether your dog has a healthy level of omega-3 in its cells and we will help you choose the right omega-3 supplement for dogs.

Are you just looking for the right omega-3 fish oil supplement for your dog? Then of course you can also look directly at our Omega4Dogs from WHC ; the purest omega-3 for your dog!

The Health Council recommends daily intake of omega-3

Since the extensive studies among Eskimos in the 1970s by Danish researchers, many studies and medical research have been conducted that have demonstrated the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for humans and animals.

The fish oil fatty acids EPA and DHA in particular are associated with the healthy functioning of the heart, lower triglyceride levels in the blood, lower blood pressure (both important risk factors for cardiovascular disease), healthy brain function, healthy functioning of the eyes.

The authorities therefore allow health claims in these areas. click here for a comprehensive overview of permitted health claims for humans.

In addition, there are strong indications that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA play an important positive role in osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases and inflammation regulation.

The recommendation by the World Health Organization and the Health Council to take fish oil capsules or fish oil in liquid form daily has become increasingly strong and the recommended daily dose has also continued to be increased.

The importance of a good daily omega-3 intake for humans and animals is increasingly recognized and mentioned.
So pay close attention to this, also when buying omega 3 for dogs.

Why Omega 3 fish oil for dogs is important

1. Heart

Chronic inflammation is linked to cardiovascular disease. Omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. It is in particular the unsaturated fatty acid EPA that is known as a fighter against inflammation. EPA is therefore an important tool to support or restore healthy heart function.

2. Brain

This is where the unsaturated fatty acid DHA in particular plays a role. DHA plays an important role in building and maintaining healthy brain function. It is important throughout the life of humans and animals.

3. Joints

Do you notice that your dog is getting a little stiff when they wake up, get up from their pillow or when they walk up/down the stairs? Inflammation of joints causes swelling, pain and stiffness. Omega-3 plays an important role in the controlled reduction of inflammation.

4. Skin and coat

Who doesn't want their dog to look good? But it's not just about looking good. Smooth skin and a beautiful shiny coat are an indication of good health. Omega-3 helps maintain a healthy moisture balance in the skin. And that helps to reduce hair loss, dandruff and itching.

Why is it so important to supplement my dog's diet with omega-3 from fish oil?

Our diet and the diet of our pets has changed significantly over the past 40 years and this only makes the omega-3 deficiency worse. And an extra daily intake of EPA and DHA from fish oil or algae oil is even more important.

What is going on?

We eat more and more processed food products and more and more oil based on seeds (sunflower, turnip, etc.) is used. Seed oil contains a high dose of omega-6. This is in many ways the counterpart of omega-3.

Where omega-3 has an anti-inflammatory character, omega-6 has an inflammation-stimulating character.

Both are necessary for our bodies to have a proper inflammatory response. But in a healthy balance. The changed diet of us and our pets means that we have become unbalanced towards omega-6.

A healthy balance is 5:1. That means 5 omega-6 fatty acids compared to 1 omega-3 fatty acid built into the cell wall of your dog's body cells. It is important to restore this balance through diet adjustment and supplementation with omega-3.

But how do you know whether your dog is already getting enough omega-3? And which products are suitable for buying omega-3 for dogs?

How do I easily measure my dog's omega-3 status?

The omega-3 status or index is the measured amount of EPA and DHA fatty acids on the total of fatty acids incorporated into the membrane of the red blood cell expressed as a percentage. The composition of the membrane or cell wall of the red blood cell is representative of the composition of the cell wall of other body cells. You can easily measure this with a drop of blood.

In humans, the optimal omega-3 index is between 8 and 11%.

In dogs, the optimal index is between 5 and 6%.

The absorption of unsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA from fish oil or algae oil differs from individual to individual, from dog to dog and from cat to cat. How much you take is not the determining factor, but whether it ends up in the right place. That is why measuring occasionally is important.

You can get a special test for your dog from us. You can have this taken yourself or have it taken by the vet. You send the blood sample to our lab and you will receive a detailed report by email within 2 weeks. Click here for a sample report.

Based on this result, you can then make an action plan in which you optimize the daily dose of EPA and DHA from fish oil or algae oil between diet and supplementation.

The lifespan of red blood cells determines that it takes an average of 3 to 6 months before an increase in the amount of omega-3 in the diet is also measurable in the index.

What dosage of Omega 3 fish oil for dogs is desirable?

The daily dose of omega-3 from fish oil or algae oil depends on the weight of your dog. Here you will find a table with the relationship between weight and recommended daily dose. Based on this, you can coordinate nutrition and supplementation. If you already use food enriched with omega-3, less supplementation is needed.

Is there omega-3 in my dog's food?

If pet food contains omega-3, this is often between 0.03 and 2.5%.

If it is indicated on the label, there will be a minimum guaranteed amount in the food that is indicated on the packaging. If this is not the case and omega-3 is only on the ingredient list, it is impossible to determine how much omega-3 the product contains. In that case it is useful to contact the manufacturer.

Calculate how many grams of food you give per day and then multiply this by the % of omega-3 in the diet to arrive at a number of mg of omega-3 in the daily diet. Please note: this concerns EPA and DHA. Not about ALA.

Then use the table to see how much omega-3 is missing before you decide to buy omega-3 for dogs.

What are the omega-3 types and which are most important for my dog?

Fish oil and algae oil contain omega-3. In natural fish oil this is approximately 30%. This 30% consists of the fatty acids EPA and DHA. These are the fatty acids that are particularly healthy for your dog.

1. EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) from algae oil or (cold water) fish oil
2. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from algae oil or (cold water) fish oil
3. ALA (alphalinolenic acid) from plant oils such as flax seed, rapeseed, soy and walnuts

Plant oil such as linseed oil also contains omega-3. This is so-called ALA.

The omega-3 in pet food can consist of all these types of omega-3: ALA, EPA and/or DHA. ALA does not have the benefits that EPA and DHA provide and ALA is hardly converted into EPA and DHA. Only EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids count towards the omega-3 index.

It is therefore useful to look at the specific amount of EPA and DHA when assessing a product when purchasing omega-3 for dogs.

What type of supplements are available with Omega 3 for dogs?

Then use a good supplement for your dog. This can be a liquid fish oil or algae oil supplement or a fish oil capsule or pill. Oil is easy to add to the diet.

Use a fish oil with omega-3 in triglyceride form. This is up to 30% better absorbed into your dog's body.

It is also important that the oil is odorless. This has to do with the oxidation value – which must be low. Otherwise, your dog and your house will soon smell like rotten fish.

The oil carefully selected by us is the Omega-4 Dogs from WHC . This is a beautiful neutral oil with a powerful dose of omega-3 from cold-water fish in the most absorbable form.

WHC also offers the omega-3 index test for dogs, so you can kill two birds with one stone.