My dog is 18.She has very bad skin and arthritis.Can i give her fish oil pills and how often?

One Comment

1. T says:

   March 1, 2010 at 10:37 pm

   Yes, you can give him the same fish oil as you take. I have three dogs and they all get the same as I do. I myself take 2 1200mg soft gel tablets per day. My dogs all get 1 per day. I just throw it into their food and they all eat it with the Glycoflex 600 that they get to prevent joint problems. They are 10 years old, almost 8, and 5. and are all in great health with wonderful skin and soft shiny coats. Of course I make sure they get high quality dog food also. I am currently feeding VeRus, which is a basic high quality food with no by-products, no soy, corn, what, gluten or artificial coloring or flavoring. See link:

   http://www.veruspetfoods.com/

   You made me wonder if I am giving the correct amount, as I was going by what some breeders and knowledgeable friends had told me. I see from this article that the amount I am feeding is fine, so it should be fine for your dog also, as he is over 20 pounds. However, the article does recommend checking with your vet in case he would need a higher dosage due to allergies. As he states at the bottom, his dogs do not have skin problems or allergies, but they get fish oil for general health maintenance. That is true in my case also. They have no problems with allergies or skin disorders either. Maybe the fish oil is part of the reason why. I believe the Glycoflex is a lot of the reason that none of them have any problem with their joints.

   I think you will be happy with the results, and if your dog food is not being fed natural dog food, I hope you will check out this link. Every brand on here is excellent for your dog:

   http://search.onlynaturalpet.com/search.aspx?searchterms=Natural%20Dog%20Food&click=5&s_kwcid=food%20for%20dogs|903810603&gclid=CPW47evIio4CFQYjWAod3zJ2Dw

   I am glad you are trying the fish oil. It definitely will benefit your dog

   Fish Oil for Dogs?
   Is it harmful for dogs to take intended-for-human-consumption fish oil supplements for itchy skin?
   A Answer (Published 1/12/2007)

   Fish oil is good for dogs – and cats! Veterinarians first used omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil to treat canine allergies but now recommend it for a wide variety of conditions ranging from kidney disease to arthritis and high cholesterol. Adding fish oil to your dog’s food provides anti-inflammatory effects and can help relieve itching due to atopic dermatitis, an allergy-related skin condition.

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   You can get fish oil supplements designed for companion animals from both Nordic Naturals and Animal Essentials (and, I’m sure, from other sources), but you also can use fish oil meant for humans as long as you choose the correct dosage. For example, Nordic Naturals recommends one capsule of its 1500 mg soft gel fish oil for large dogs weighing 20 pounds or more. Smaller animals should get smaller doses. If you use fish oil that is intended for humans, you can give larger dogs a capsule or two (depending on the dosage) and puncture a capsule to squeeze some of the contents into the food of smaller dogs or cats.

   (To reduce my risk of heart disease and cancer I take two grams of fish oil a day and also eat fish – usually sockeye salmon – two or three times a week. I recommend that everyone eat two or three servings of fish per week, take a daily fish oil supplement or consume another source of omega-3 fatty acids.)

   Before dosing your dog or cat with fish oil meant for humans or pets, I suggest consulting your vet, particularly with regard to dosage. Pets with allergies may need higher than the standard dosages, and they also may need supplemental GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid that improves skin health. Your vet can best advise you about dosages and whether or not a combination of the two would work better for your pooch than fish oil alone. You may not notice changes for at least six to eight weeks, so be patient.

   My dogs do not have allergies or skin problems, but I add fish oil to their food at every meal for general health maintenance.

   Andrew Weil, M.D.

   Do you give fish oil to your pets? Click here to state your case in our discussion groups.

   Sources: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400120

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