Fish oils and shark cartilage

[Michele Kiss]

Fenway has been SUPER itchy lately and I suspect it's the dry winter weather. I want to add oil to his food to help his skin and a friend also recommended shark cartilage (powder) - apparently not only good for hips, joints etc but it also can be good for their coat and skin. He said it made a huge difference with his lab. 

I am leaning towards salmon oil. Fenway is such a picky eater, I feel it might be safer to mix in to his food? Less likely to turn his nose up at it? 

Any recommendations on brand? Or is the Omega-3 Fish Oil type stuff (made out of anchovies, etc) a better choice than salmon? I haven't bought any of the oils before so I just want to buy a good quality one. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Buy human Omega 3 fish oil softgel capsules. Nature Made is a good brand, but there are lots of others. Human supplements are better regulated, have better quality, and are usually cheaper than supplements made for dogs. Capsules ensure that all of the beneficial fatty acids make it to the small intestine, they have no fishy smell, and they are less likely to cause diarrhea than oils. 

Don't puncture the capsules. Give them as you would a pill. Some dogs will just eat them if you place them in the food bowl, especially if the food is wet.

I haven't seen any studies showing the benefits of shark cartilage for dogs and would have to research that. There are a lot of advertising claims on-line about it, but so far I haven't seen any fact-based evidence to support them. One thing I can tell you is that any time a product claims to "boost the immune system", be very suspicious.  

[Michele Kiss]

Fenway is just to darn picky I was trying to avoid having to "give" him something that would cause him to spit it out, refuse to eat the rest of his food, etc. So I thought the oil might work better... Aren't they pretty big pills? (*I* can't swallow most of those giant capsules...) How often do you give them? 

Will look at human ones, good idea. 

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

I am pretty sure NatureMade makes "mini" fish oil pills!

[Christy&Riley]

I'm confused on the part about don't puncture but some dogs will eat if in food bowl. If in food bowl I would think they will chew it therefore puncturing the capsule? Just curious because I just bought capsules and I'm not sure I want to use them since Riley will probably chew them therefore puncturing. Not sure how to give them to her properly. Thanks!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't think puncturing them matters. calla does chew them. This kind of capsule probably dissolves in the stomach anyway but the oil is digested primarily in the small intestine.

[Christy&Riley]

Thanks!

[Christy&Riley]

Wow. I'm amazed dogs can swallow pills like that without water. Riley swallowed a big gel cap without a problem. Then again it shouldn't surprise me with all the spit she can get on her toys. Her saliva glands must work overtime.

[Rica + Margot]

If it's the dry air and Fenway is mostly at home. You can try a humidifier. We have pretty dry air and got one for the humans, but Margot definitely benefited too! Her nose and paws aren't dry anymore and she doesn't sneeze as much in the morning. It might just be a coincidence though.

[Michele Kiss]

Oh good call - I used to have a humidifier in Boston but since we moved to California haven't needed it. (And yes he's almost always at home.) Didn't think to set one back up for Fenway. 

[Deborah Brown]

My doodles love sardines. A tin costs about $1 and make a tasty supplement.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I give my guys gel capsules of Evening Primrose Oil.  I used to be able to give it to them like a treat, then I used to drop the capsule in their kibble, but now I put a little bit of peanut butter on them.  Unless they are ill, my guys will eat anything if it has peanut butter.

[Michele Kiss]

Anyone know the amount (mg) that would be appropriate for a miniature labradoodle? (~25lb.) I was going to get the Nature Made mini capsules since I'm worried about the size of the pill (Fenway is a picky eater and hard to 'fool' with things wrapped in peanut butter, etc) which is 360mg. Given they're intended for humans and he's of course much smaller I'm guessing it would be fine? It's these ones: http://smile.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Ultra-Omega-3-60-Count/dp/B004U...