Can omega 3 supplements for cats cause pancreatitis? Are they safe?

No , Omega 3 fatty acids in the amount present in vitamin supplements should not adversely affect your dog. However I strongly advise that you consult with your veterinarian about giving him this supplement as your vet knows your dog and his medical history and would be more qualified that us to decide whether a multivitamin supplement is detrimental to your dog or even necessary.

Over supplementation of fish oil can certainly cause diarrhea. And some animals are sensitive to it even in small doses, so I always recommend starting with a low dose then working up. For cats, I would recommend a liquid pump in order to make that process easier. We have found that even though we are not exactly sure of the "correct" ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids that since Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and Omega 6 fatty acids tend to be pro-inflammatory, that we prefer that ratio to be higher than we used to think. Omega 3 fatty acids work over time, so while daily supplementation is ideal, a few times a week is certainly better than nothing. So, I normally recommend a cat specific liquid in a pump and start with 1/2 the recommended dose for a few days to make sure there isn't any soft stool, then increase to the recommended dose daily (if possible). I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. There are some supplements you can try that have been suggested to help reduce the occurrence of acute pancreatitis. I typically recommend a low fat diet along with omega 3 fish oil (Welactin fish oil for dogs) as well as vitamin E supplementation. Some veterinarians have recommended using digestive powders to help try and reduce the work that the pancreas needs to do to digest food. Pancrezyme is one such digestive enzyme powder that you can try. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Use caution when giving any fatty supplement to a pet with a history of pancreatitis. Too much may cause a flare up or aggravate an existing case of pancreatitis. Cosequin DS or Dasuquin are excellent joint supplements that can be given to dogs. Search www.pet360.com for products. Discuss an appropriate pain management protocol with your vet to provide relief if your dog has difficulty moving around.

Oily/fatty foods can cause stimulation of the pancreas and increased pain and vomiting and would not be recommended in Bellas case. Given the history of vomiting I would not be overly concerned about the delay in stool production but she should pass feces within 72hours of regaining her appetite and food intake.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This I will tell you from a medical standpoint but also from experience as my Golden Retriever has a history of chronic pancreatitis. When it comes to it, it is really hard to know what may trigger an episode of pancreatitis. For that reason, I would encourage you to avoid this. The reason is that fish oil can be a bit hard on the gastrointestinal system especially for a dog like ours that is a bit sensitive. I have been debating about starting my dog on fish oil and have decided not to for this reason. It is possible that he will be fine though I would suggest you avoid it. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! No, this is not how it is intended to be done and is not likely effective that way. I would recommend you give it by mouth instead as recommended by your veterinarian. Best of luck!