[jwemt81]

We just started switching Tucker over to California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato from Eukanuba this week. We have always given him a fish oil tablet with each meal in the past, but I just realized that we might not need to do that anymore since he is now on a food with fish as the #1 ingredient and has plenty of omega 3 in it. Does anyone else still use fish/salmon oil tablets in conjunction with a fish formulated food? Is it even necessary?

 

[MyBentley]

The amount of omega 3 listed in a dog kibble isn't really dependent on the protein source. The manufacturers can add it in a variety of ways through fish or oils. Omega 3s are heat and air sensitive; so a lot of it is destroyed in the kibble cooking process. That's why I always supplement with salmon oil and vitamin E no matter what kibble I'm feeding. The CN Herring and Sweet Potato lists a 1.5% of omega 3 so I might not supplement quite as much as I would with a formula like EVO which has 0.5% omega 3.

 

[LifeOfRiley]

You could try cutting back on the supplements and see how he does. It looks like there's a pretty decent amount of Omega 3 in the CN, so he might not need as much from supplements.
Gunner is on a fish-based food with 0.80% Omega 3 and I still give him two 1,000 mg fish oil capsules a day. (And his skin is still dry.)
When Riley was on the same food, I gave him one capsule a day and it was plenty for him.

 

[jwemt81]

He has been getting 2 tablets of fish oil a day (1000 mg tablets) with his old food, so I think we'll cut back to only one 1000 mg tablet a day and see how he does. He is prone to dry skin during the winter months, so we started giving him the fish oil supplements last December, which helped tremendously and he hasn't had dry skin ever since and his coat is very soft and shiny. I just didn't want to completely cut out the fish oil supplements if he still could benefit from it, even on his new food!

 

[Lego&Jacub]

I personally would agree with continuing with the fish oil tabs, and encorporate a Vit E tab as well... as it helps the absorption of the fish oil. Sadly foods that are manufactured (pets and ppl foods) contain waaaay too much omega 6 (which gives the lovely shiney coat) and not nearly enough of the 3 (great for inflamation, etc.).

 

[fameb]

The amount of omega 3 listed in a dog kibble isn't really dependent on the protein source. The manufacturers can add it in a variety of ways through fish or oils. Omega 3s are heat and air sensitive; so a lot of it is destroyed in the kibble cooking process. That's why I always supplement with salmon oil and vitamin E no matter what kibble I'm feeding. The CN Herring and Sweet Potato lists a 1.5% of omega 3 so I might not supplement quite as much as I would with a formula like EVO which has 0.5% omega 3.

How much Vitamin E do you give?

I read somewhere that any Oil you add to kibble decreases the amount of Vitamin E in there. So I wanted to add Vitamin E to his diet, however I can't find any for dogs. I'm not sure what dosage of the human variety is sufficient.

 

[Lego&Jacub]

I know you asked MyBentley but thought I'd add what we do as well... we give 2500 mg of fish oil daily (3-1000mg pills one day and two the next) and also 600 mg of Vit E daily.

 

[fameb]

I know you asked MyBentley but thought I'd add what we do as well... we give 2500 mg of fish oil daily (3-1000mg pills one day and two the next) and also 600 mg of Vit E daily.

Thanks for the info,

We give him 3 pumps of Fish Oil per meal. I want to add Vitamin E though. Do you guys use regular Vitamin E or one that's formulated for dogs?

 

[Lego&Jacub]

Regular human grade. I haven't used oil in a pump for awhile, but if memory serves I gave 3 per day as well.

 

[artbuc]

I know you asked MyBentley but thought I'd add what we do as well... we give 2500 mg of fish oil daily (3-1000mg pills one day and two the next) and also 600 mg of Vit E daily.

Is it safe to give that much Vit E? Thanks.

 

[MyBentley]

How much Vitamin E do you give?

I read somewhere that any Oil you add to kibble decreases the amount of Vitamin E in there. So I wanted to add Vitamin E to his diet, however I can't find any for dogs. I'm not sure what dosage of the human variety is sufficient.

I give both my dogs one human grade 1000 mg Norwegian salmon oil capsule per day. Each capsule includes 20 IU of natural vitamin E. If either of my dogs' coats or general condition looked like they could benefit from a higher dosage, I'd have no problem giving more.