Hannah Zulueta Supplements · Omega-3
When Fish Oil Is Off The Table
Six omega-3 sources for the dog who reacts to fish, and an honest account of what each one gives up.
Your dog’s epidermis is replaced roughly every 22 days. That means an itchy dog can start showing you a different coat in under a month once you change what is going into the bowl.
The one thing
The substitutes are real. They are not equal.
Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid. Your dog cannot build it, so it has to be fed. It balances omega-6, and it is the foundation under healthier fur, skin, heart, joints and immune function. This is not a supplement you skip because the usual source is out.
What you need to know before you order anything is that plant-based omega-3 and marine omega-3 are not interchangeable. EPA and DHA are found in animal products. A vegan oil can be the right call for your dog and still leave a gap you should know about.
Why it earns its place
The importance of omega-3
There is no doubt that omega-3 is vital to your dog’s overall health. Omega-6 has real nutritional benefits of its own and the balance between the two is what actually counts, but this article stays with omega-3.
Omega-3 is best known for reducing inflammation. That is why it gives itchy, rashy dogs relief, and why it is the first thing most people reach for when the skin goes wrong.
Most dog parents get there through fresh oily fish or fish oil. Fish oil can be eaten as fish, extracted directly, or concentrated into capsules. The active ingredients with studies behind them are the omega-3 fatty acids EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid, and DHA, docosahexaenoic acid.
Omega-3 is not one molecule. These are the forms, roughly in the order the body converts them.
So what do you do when your dog reacts to both the fish and the oil?
You have options. Six of them are below, with what each one does well and what each one is missing.
The options
Six substitutes, side by side
Note: Some links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon Associates or other programs I participate in). At no charge to you, as an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pick an oil to see what it is, what it is missing, and whether it suits your dog.
A vegan oil that has become the favored alternative to both fish oil and flaxseed oil, and one of the cleanest in that category.
Safe-Sea, Green Lipped Mussel Oil with Ahiflower
Do not use this oil if your dog is also allergic to shellfish, or if your dog has yeast. I avoid shellfish in every yeast case until the yeast is resolved, and the green-lipped mussel in this product can hold that up.
A vegan oil will not deliver the EPA and DHA levels your dog needs. If marine omega-3 is genuinely off the table, feed this knowing that gap is there.
The same plant oil with nothing marine in it at all.
This is the option of last resort rather than the option of first choice, and that is exactly the job it does well.
The newcomer to the omega-3 space, and the one currently being celebrated as the breakthrough.
Standard Process Calamari Omega-3 Liquid
Some dogs tolerate calamari oil despite a fish allergy. If you try it, feed a quarter of the dose the first time.
A marine oil that does more than deliver omega-3.
Haka Life Nutrition Green Lipped Mussel Oil for Dogs
Some dogs tolerate green-lipped mussel oil despite a fish allergy. If you try it, feed a quarter of the dose the first time. Skip it entirely if your dog has yeast, until the yeast is resolved.
A marine oil built on the smallest link in the chain.
Antarctic Krill Oil 2000 mg, 120 softgels, with astaxanthin
Some dogs tolerate krill oil despite a fish allergy. If you try it, feed a quarter of the dose the first time.
A plant-based powder rather than an oil, and the source the fish themselves are eating.
Marine Phytoplankton Omega-3 EPA powder for dogs and cats
When a dog cannot have fish or marine oil at all, phytoplankton is the other alternative worth trying.
Before you order
Three rules that apply to all six
Plant-based omega-3 does not carry adequate levels of DHA and EPA. Feed it knowing that, rather than feeding it and assuming the gap is covered.
Closing thoughts
What I would actually do
Every dog needs omega-3, either from fresh fish or from an added oil. Most dogs take fish oil without any trouble. Some cannot, because it gives them hives, breaks them out, or makes them itch.
If that is your dog, the plant-based options are ahiflower and phytoplankton. If your dog turns out to tolerate marine oils that are not fish, green-lipped mussel and krill are both on the table, introduced at a quarter dose.
One more thing worth saying plainly. Adding an oil rarely fixes an allergy on its own. If your dog is losing fur, there are other imbalances in play, and the diet and the herbs are where I would look next rather than at a bigger scoop of oil.
Work with me
If the itch is not resolving
An itchy dog usually has more going on than a missing fatty acid. If you have already changed the oil, changed the protein, and the skin is still wrong, book a consultation and we will look at the whole picture together, or I can refer you to a TCVM veterinarian.
Related reading: quercetin for allergy problems, zinc for immune and skin health, and how omega-3 helps protect against cancer.
Resources
Where this comes from
- ETA oil. Study unlocks potential anti-inflammatory action of ETA omega-3, and FAB Research.
- Omega-3 against omega-6 in inflammatory skin disease. Prevention and treatment review, PMC7037798.
- Ahiflower benefits. SteelFit overview, and the Ahiflower FAQ.
The information on Daily Dog Food Recipes is intended for nutritional, informational and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult your veterinarian about your dog’s medical care.
Hannah Zulueta obtained her Certificate in Canine Nutrition from CASI Institute. She is also studying for her Doctorate in Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Herbalism from the esteemed Pacific College of Health and Medicine. If you’re as keenly interested in health for yourself, visit her website for human health: Satori Acupuncture and Herbs.
She resides in San Diego with her three dogs, Maggie, Orbit, and Mr. Higgins.
She is available for one on one consultations. She develops evidence-based recipes that meet both NRC and AAFCO nutritional standards while integrating the therapeutic food principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine into her formulations.
Additionally, you can find her sharing free content on Instagram.
So I have a blue put and his back is losing hair, spots like..
He had a. Allergies rest and us allergic to fish.. others are outside allergies..what would be the best oil for him? He’s 3
Hello Eva. If he is allergic to fish and all other marine based oils, then he can do a pure Ahiflower oil:
I just updated the article with a link to a pure vegan/ahiflower oil.
That said – just adding an oil rarely fixes an allergy. If he is losing fur, there are other imbalances going on and I’d look closer at the diet and what other herbs to help him. A good TCVM vet can help you or you can book a zoom with me as well. Good luck with your pup – hope he gets better soon.
Love the way you presented the information here! I’m thankful I found you so quickly in my research. I’ve ordered 2 different oils to rotate them with my dog. I have a German shepherd with extremely itchy feet. A sensitivity test showed he has a salmon sensitivity. I have a good feeling that your information will be a big help to my big guy’s problem!
Glad to hear the article helped. If his feet continue to be itchy – watch his eyes. If his eyes and tear production increases coupled with being restless at night – his liver might be out of balance. Then you can add some dark leafy green toppers and milk thistle and that may help. Wishing you and your pup health and wellness.
I am looking for some kind of joint supplement without fish oil or any kind of fish in it. Is there any out there? I can’t seem to find any. Or even a recipe.
Hello Lilly – I didn’t catch your comment the first time.
The only non fish oil joint supplement I can recommend is by Gold Standard Herbs. Click through and look at their Voltrex or Lumbrex supplements. One is for the hips, knees and spinal cord, the other is for the back, hind leg and. discs. I think you can use DAILY and that might get you 5% off. Not sure if that is still active. Good luck.
https://goldstandardherbs.com/products?store-page=Halscion-85g-p450909521&aff=4
Can you explain why you wouldn’t use safe sea for dogs with yeast issue? Thank you
Hello and thank you for reading the article. I avoid shellfish for all dogs with yeast issues until the yeast is resolved . And this supplement has green lipped mussels which might delay the yeast from being resolved. Hope that answers your question.
Hi, thanks so much for this article! I’m happy to find your site… I have a 2yo Tibetan Terrier X Mini Schnauzer and he has been very itchy lately. He has tested for a sensitivity to fish oil, but shows no sensitivity to the fish included in the test (aside from tuna). So, salmon, cod, haddock… sardines, trout, even crab and squid are fine. Does this make sense? Can he eat some fish but not have fish oil?
The itchiness may be getting a bit better, but still hasn’t gone away totally.. although we’ve adjusted his diet and everything. Most treatments for itchiness recommend fish oil.. but would a little fish do any good or harm?
Hello Christina, Thank you for reaching out. There may be other confounding factors to his itch. Hard to say without a full consultation. You can book a call with me or I can refer you to a TCVM vet if you need. Blessings.