Can my cat on steroids for inflammation safely take Omega-3 oil?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Omega 3 supplements are great doe many conditions. I am not sure why Lily is on steroids. There is no interactions that you need to worry about with prednisone. I like Nordic Naturals or VRS Omega Benefits. https://www.vrshealth.com/feline-products/omegacat/ I hope this helps and i wish Lily the best!

Omega fatty acids are naturally antiinflammatory and may well help but I would not recommend human dose capsules. Try to source a small animal preparation such as viacutan or a liquid oil supplement for cats. Many human preparations are supplemented with vit d which is at excessive levels for cats and dogs

Giving a small amount twice daily is good for the skin and joints. I feed a cat supplement and follow the label instructions. It reduces inflammation and helps with arthritis. As long as you limit the amount I’ve not seen pancreatitis from omega3 supplementation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitty.

I do not recommend giving any pets any human medications without specific instructions from your vet. Steroids have to be given carefully in order to obtain the correct therapeutic effect and they must be weaned off it when finishing a course. This is a discussion best handled by your veterinarian.

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.

First of all this is a steroid, and i do not understand why it was given to prevent an infection (steroid do the opposite). secondly steroids are usually not recommended for cats with heart problems, as it can cause heart failure (usually only in prolonged treatment though).

Sneezing and itching are suspicious of allergies, so I first recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. The vet will be able to help find the cause of this and give the necessary treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids can be helpful for inflammation, but they will not result in a big improvement. For a cat this size, it's recommended to supplement about 300-400mg per day. I hope that helps and all is well with Miss Sassy Sassafras.