Just add daily or a few times a week to food, using a teaspoon. And, yes, you can overdo it.
The reported dose range of omega-3 fatty acids is 230 to 370 mg of EPA and DHA/kg of body weight for dogs with osteoarthritis. It should be noted that the safe upper limit of EPA and DHA recommended by the National Research Council, is 370 mg/kg of body weight0.75 for dogs, so that amount should not be exceeded.
Many research studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, decrease inflammation throughout the body, including the joints, leading to a decrease in cellular injury and tissue damage.[1]
Improved overall weight-bearing ability; ability to rise from resting, play, and walk; and lameness scores for dogs and with increased activity, increased ability to jump, and decreased lameness scores for cats, are common outcomes with omega 3 fatty acid (from a fish oil source) supplementation.
The effects of omega-3 fatty acids on pain are also supported by findings that dogs receiving fish oil supplements had sufficient improvement to allow a decrease in or discontinuation of NSAID treatment.
DHA in particular supports brain health, helping to improve learning ability and memory.
We stress a fish oil source because, despite hemp oil becoming so popular, that oil is rich in the fatty acids linoleic acid (LA and omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).They’re not rich in EPA and DHA and need to be converted, but they do that very inefficiently.
[1] Johnson, Karie & Lee, Anne & Swanson, Kelly. (2020). Nutrition and
nutraceuticals in the changing management of osteoarthritis for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 256. 1335-1341. 10.2460/javma.256.12.1335.
Bestie Cod & Plum Superfood Oil Blendis boosted with antioxidant-rich Kakadu Plum and Davidson Plum extract.
The benefits of antioxidants on the cognitive health of senior dogs are well-recognized; anthocyanins, the phytochemical compounds that give berries their pigment, are a rich source of antioxidants. Anthocyanins can protect against—and even reverse—declines in cognitive function due to age-related oxidative stress.[1]
In addition to having an antioxidant capacity more than times that of blueberries, Kakadu Plum is also rich in vitamin C, with about 100 times more than an orange. Vitamin C acts as both an antioxidant and antiradical and has been shown to help support joint heath.[2]
[1]
DOG SYMPOSIUM 2016, Oslo, Norway, Nutrition and Thyroid Function Affect Canine Behavior and Cognition W. Jean Dodds, DVM, Hemopet
[2]
Colletti, A.; Cicero, A.F.G. Nutraceutical Approach to Chronic Osteoarthritis: From Molecular Research to Clinical Evidence. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 12920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222312920
We use cod liver oil that’s made from cold-water Arctic Cod caught using traditional, sustainable methods. Suppliers hold Friend of the Sea (FOS) certifications. FOS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, whose mission is marine habitat conservation. Known for their strict guidelines and procedures, FOS is a leading international certification project.