Fish oils for dogs and cats: How to tell if a product is worth the money

Some fish oil products for pets are excellent, and others are limp imitations. How do you know which is which? If you want to evaluate fish oil products, ask four questions:

1. What is in the product?
2. What’s the concentration?
3. Where’s the research that shows this particular product at this concentration is useful in the species it’s being marketed for.
4. Who’s using it? Are they veterinarians I respect?

Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet contains 1000 mg per capsule. This is 320 mg of Omega 3 fatty acid with 110 mg of DHA and 165 mg of EPA. Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet has been analyzed by an independent laboratory who found the oil contained a lower concentration of contaminants than a competitor. The analysis was done because the competitor swore their product was the most pure pet fish oil available. While both fish oil products were below the maximum allowable limits for heavy metals and PCBs (known carcinogens), the Omega 3 Pet from Nordic Naturals was verifiably more pure.

Heavy metals and PCBs are cumulative in the body so that even small amounts are significant. By the time your pet is a senior, its cells will be awash with contaminants if it consumes even legally acceptable amounts regularly. To protect your pets, choose the purist fish oils available.

In addition to independent laboratory testing, Nordic Naturals has research showing their products are pure and effective. In addition to veterinary research, there are many human studies of the effects of fish oils are done with Nordic Naturals products—another proof of medical professions belief in the purity and efficacy of these products.

Physicians and veterinarians interested in holistic medicine are choosing Nordic Naturals over other fish oils. These veterinarians are not swayed by the advertising of a new fish oil that is being marketed as having zero heavy metals and zero contaminants. Zero heavy metals and zero contaminants is an impossibility. All fish that eat other fish accumulate heavy metals and contaminants. It’s just the amount they accumulate that varies. If the fish are from Nordic waters, they have lived in less contaminated oceans and have lower concentrations of contaminants in their bodies.

While educated veterinarians understand fish oil contamination issues, the average pet owner may not. That’s why it helps to use the 4 questions above to assess the quality of a product. These questions help you realize advertising hoopla when you see it. Spend your money on cat or dog supplements wisely. Buy them at the best price, but buy them from a veterinarian you trust.