Do dogs need fatty acid supplements daily or only for skin issues?

I recommend giving a fatty acid skin supplement orally to help keep her skin healthy and coat shiny. Fish oil orally will work also. I do not use anything on the skin itself usually unless it's very dry and flaky, then I use a moisturizing grooming spray after a bath with a hypo allergenic shampoo. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Roxy.

Fish oil does tend to make the coat shinier and nicer looking, which will likely be the most obvious benefit you get from supplementing. Fish oil does have antiinflamatory properties that may be helpful with the itching, but I wouldn't expect a drastic change. There has been a great deal of debate about ratios of Omega 6 vs 3, but honestly, the debate is not over, so the 4:1 ratio should be fine. I would just make sure that the omega 3 fatty acids do not get above 1mg per kg of body weight, or you could be giving above the safe upper limit. Probiotics are another supplement that are not bad to give, but is not necessary for a healthy animal. I usually only advise probiotic supplementation for intestinal conditions where there has been some good evidence for its use. Probiotics are also an unregulated product, so depending on the product, it may or may not be have what it claims; or may not have the bacteria that are known to be beneficial. For this reason, I only recommend getting probiotics as directed by your veterinarian. I hope that helps and all is well with Chloe.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I love Omega 3 fish oils is a great supplement for all dogs. It helps with the joints, skin and almost every bodily function. I prefer Nordic Naturals or VRS Omega Benefits but this product looks fine. https://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to skin allergies mostly due to the fact that it started after moving. Adding fish oil can be considered regardless to help with the dry skin. You can use the commercial kind for dogs. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep the coat shiny. I recommend using a product labeled for dogs, which are available in pet stores. These are typically dosed based on weight (larger dogs may require multiple capsules), and are given daily. There are many options available, from liquids to capsules, so you can choose whatever suits you and Marley! I hope this helps and that all is well!

I would not recommend using all three of these oils together, as you can cause problems with the liver and pancreas in some cases by "overloading" fats like this. Fish oil has been shown to be the most helpful with skin issues like this, so you could try a good fish oil supplement such as Welactin for dogs - just follow the instructions on the label for dosing, based on your dog's weight.

Hello. The problem with using oils on the coat is the residual greasiness. If you want to use something, use a leave-in conditioner made for dogs, either post bathing, or one of the mousse rub in ones. The best way to get oils into the coat is to feed Arjun omega 3 fatty acids, so a good fish oil supplement daily. I would administer 1 000-1200 mg capsule twice daily & in a couple of weeks, his coat should start looking a little better. The longer you give it, the better it will work. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.