The Benefits of Salmon Oil for Dogs

Are you looking at giving your dog Salmon oil? This is a great supplement that you can give to your dog each day. Salmon oil is commonly added to dog food to help with skin and coat issues as well as with allergies. These many great benefits make this a wonderful supplement that your dog will also love. This a great supplement to add to your dog's diet each day.

This is a great natural source for your dog to receive. Most dogs have a hard time breaking down alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a common type of Omega 3's, to EPA and DHA. Salmon oil provides eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) directly. This will allow your dog to receive the full amount of EPA and DHA since it is not needed to be transformed into another substance.

Salmon oil has many great benefits and uses to help improve your dog's life. These are some of the main health benefits of salmon oil in dogs:

• Reduces Inflammation: Salmon oil can help decrease inflammation in the skin, GI system, and joints. If your dog is suffering from pain and inflammation, salmon oil can help them feel much better.
• Help with Skin Allergies: Salmon oil is great for dogs who suffer from skin allergies and other skin issues. This supplement helps build a strong barrier in the skin against these allergens. This helps when your dog comes in contact with these allergies, such as grass, dust, and pollen.  
• Helps Keep their Coats Soft and Shiny: Salmon oil help keep your dog's skin moist and soft. This intern keeps their coat nice and shiny.
• Improves Cognitive Function: Omega 3's helps your dog with brain development. It is a great supplement to use for puppies and an older dog who may be suffering from canine cognitive issues.
• Great for Overall Health: Salmon oil and other omega 3's can help with liver, kidney, and heart function. This will help improve your dog's overall health and allow them to live a longer and happier life.
• Helps Make a Complete Diet: Omega fatty acids are needed in your dog's diet. By supplementing their diet with salmon oil, you are helping make sure that your dog has a complete diet.  
• Some Studies Have Shown It Helps Fight Cancer: Recent studies show that omega fatty acids can help your dog fight cancer. Salmon oil can help slow down the growth of cancer cells and help it from spreading.
• Great for an Immune System: Salmon oil is great for your dog's immune system since it helps decrease inflammation and help with allergies. Your dog's immune system does not have to overwork fighting these issues.

While salmon oil has many great benefits, there is some side effect of giving salmon oil to your dog. These are a few of the unwanted effects of your dog taking salmon oil:

• Weight Gain: Fatty acids are high in fat. This can make your dog gain weight. If your dog is gaining weight when taking salmon oil, you should lessen the dosage of salmon oil or try to encourage more exercise. Salmon oil alone will not make your dog gain weight, but excessive salmon oil combined with inactivity can possibly cause weight gain.
• Bad Breath: Salmon oil will give your dog bad breath. The fishy smell sometimes will cause your dog to have a smelling fish breath.
• Diarrhea: Too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad. If your dog gets too much salmon oil, it can cause them to have diarrhea. Usually, decreasing the dosage or stopping for a few days can help their stool return to normal.  

Salmon oil is usually very safe for your dog and has some really great benefits. However, too much of a good thing can cause lots of problems for your dog. If you give them extremely high dosages of salmon oil or your dog eats a whole bag of their fatty acid treats, you may notice some gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea.  

If you give them extremely high dosages for a long period of time, Salmon oil and other Omega 3's can cause problems with blood clotting or other immune system dysfunctions. Most of these problems cannot be reversed. So, make sure that you are following the dosing instructions given on the package.

If your dog is suffering from skin issues, give them a little bit of salmon oil on their food will help. It is best to watch for side effects and make a judgment on how your dog handles these treats.

Most dogs do not have any bad side effects from taking salmon oil. Most actually really like the oil added to their food or salmon oil treats.   

Salmon oil has many wonderful benefits for your dog. This is a great supplement to add to their diet every day. While there may be a few side effects that you need to look out for, such as weight gain or diarrhea. If you notice any of these, it is best to stop this supplement. Like all supplements, talk with your vet before starting your dog on a new supplement to make sure that there is nothing that would cause them to have issues. These supplements will not only help your dog's coat be shinny but also help decrease inflammation and cause your dog to feel much better.