How much Evening Primrose Oil??

[Stella]

Is there a recommended amount of EPO you can give? Chase is fed Acana, we rotate through the different flavours regularly. He has always been a bit of a scratchy dog, has dry skin and chews his paws when the pollen is high. We started giving him one 1000mg EPO capsule once a day a couple of years ago on the advice of the food group!! I did notice an improvement to his paw chewing and itching. Now that it is winter I've noticed his skin is getting really dry and his coat doesn't look that great. We heat with wood which is drying, and he gets wet several times a day in the snow. Would it be ok to give him more EPO without upsetting his digestive system? Any other recommendations??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD is allowed up to 1500 mg a day per his dermatology specialist, and his weight hovers around 80 lbs, although I don't know that the dosage relates to their weight with EPO.

You might also try fish oil or fish oil capsules. If you get the oil, you want wild salmon oil, you can buy it in pump spray bottles. If you go with the capsules, I like Nature Made Super Omega 3 minis.

As a side note, just to make sure that everyone knows this, you should not puncture the oil capsules with either EPO or fish oil. Some dogs will eat them if you put them in their bowls with their food. Otherwise, give as you would any pill.

[Stella]

I didn't know you shouldn't puncture the capsules. He won't swollow them so we have been puncturing it and squirting the oil onto his food. Why is this bad? He only weighs 50lb, so I guess I shouldn't give him any more than he already gets. What are the pros and cons of fish oil vs EPO? Would you say one is better than the other?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's not good to puncture them because the fatty acids are more effective when the capsules are allowed to dissolve in the small intestine rather than in the stomach. Studies have shown higher blood levels of Omega 3 fatty acids when they are taken in the form of enteric coated capsules rather than as plain oil. Most Omega fatty acid capsules have an enteric coating which prevents them from breaking down in the stomach. If you puncture the capsule, much of the beneficial effects may be lost. (Plus, it will reduce any burping from the fish oil if you give them whole).

There are going to be times in his life when you have to get your dog to swallow a pill that he doesn't want to take. You coat the capsule in something tasty that will help keep it from getting stuck on the back of the tongue, you pry his mouth open, you place the pill as far back as you can, and then you hold his mouth shut until he swallows. I do this 5 times a day with as many as 12 different pills and capsules. I use mashed sweet potatoes because I always have that handy, but you can try cream cheese, peanut butter, liverwurst, or anything else that will coat the pill.

The fatty acids which are most beneficial for inflammation, dry skin and itching are the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are only found in fish oil. But EPO is a very rich source of an Omega 6 fatty acid GLA, which is converted by the body into a substance called DGLA. DGLA has been shown to be as effective against certain types of inflammation as DHA.

So neither one is really "better" than the other.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know if most fatty  acid pills are enteric coated. I used to take some from Costco , which gave me the worst sardine aftertaste. I switched to Costco's fatty acid specifically labelled enteric coated ones and have no problem.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that even when they are not enteric coated, you'd get more benefit from the fatty acids if they stay inside the capsules as long as possible on the way down, lol. But my reading indicates that the better brands for human consumption are coated.  

[Stella]

My other dog, Hartley, will eat anything you put in his food bowl!! He is my easy going dog! Chase is a different story. Now that I know the capsules shouldn't be punctured, I'll get him to take them whole. Seeing as the fish oils and EPO are beneficial in different ways, I wonder if it would be worth alternating - fish oil one day, EPO the next??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure about the fish oil, but the EPO really needs to be taken every day to have the best effect.

[Stella]

Thanks Karen! You truly are the queen of all things food and health related! We'll keep going with the EPO. Maybe I'll see if I can get some 500mg salmon oil and add that each day too and see what happens.

[Theresa & Duncan]

Do you know if one of these is better than the other (EPO vs. fish oil) to help with itchy skin? I have read about people using both, but wasn't sure if one was better for itchiness, specifically. And would you typically check with your vey before starting either?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's no need to check with your vet. Unless your dog has a known allergy to fish, or has a seizure disorder, they are harmless in reasonable amounts. Many dog foods contain fish oil. It's doubtful that most GP vets even know about fatty acids, and for sure very few of them are familiar with EPO.

Which one is better for itchiness depends somewhat on the individual dog and the source of the itchiness. They contain different Omega fatty acids, all of which are beneficial for itching and inflammation. Taking both together is fine if your dog tolerates them. JD gets diarrhea from fish oil supplements, some other dogs here have had that reaction as well.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Just a reminder Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) should not be given to any dogs that have or are prone to seizures.

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Andy!