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How much EPA+DHA does your dog need? Land prey is low in long-chain omega-3 — you have to source them from fish or oil. This tool applies NRC 2006 and converts the requirement into sardine or salmon oil depending on your dog's condition.
EPA + DHA / day
591 mg
Whole sardine
42 g
Salmon oil
2.5 ml
Reminder: freeze raw salmon at -20 C (-4 F) for 7 days before serving (anisakis, Nanophyetus).
Avoid tuna and swordfish (mercury), raw carp/pike (thiaminase destroys vitamin B1).
Pragmatic values (Bauer 2011, Roush 2010, above NRC 2006 AI of 30 mg/kg^0.75): maintenance 62.5 mg/kg^0.75; skin 100; arthritis 150; gestation 125. Whole sardine ~1400 mg EPA+DHA / 100 g. Salmon oil ~1200 mg / 5 ml.
| Weight | Maintenance | Arthritis (therapeutic) | Sardine (maintenance) | Salmon oil (maintenance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | 351 mg | 844 mg | 70 g | 1.5 ml |
| 20 kg | 591 mg | 1,419 mg | 118 g | 2.5 ml |
| 30 kg | 801 mg | 1,923 mg | 160 g | 3.3 ml |
| 45 kg | 1,086 mg | 2,606 mg | 217 g | 4.5 ml |
Tuna and swordfish concentrate mercury: avoid as a regular source. Raw salmon (Pacific): freeze for 7 days at -20 C to destroy Neorickettsia helminthoeca and anisakis. Raw carp, pike and herring contain thiaminase which destroys vitamin B1 when fed in excess.
They are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike plant-derived ALA, dogs barely convert ALA to EPA/DHA, so an animal source is required: oily fish, krill, algae or oil.
Whole sardines deliver EPA+DHA plus protein and natural calcium (bones). Oil is more concentrated and easier to dose but oxidizes fast (keep refrigerated in an opaque bottle). Alternating both is ideal.
Literature (Bauer 2011, Roush 2010) suggests 100-150 mg/kg^0.75 of EPA+DHA for a documented anti-inflammatory effect in osteoarthritis. Split across two meals to avoid loose stools.
Yes. DHA is crucial for neural and retinal development. Target around 125 mg/kg^0.75 of EPA+DHA per day for a growing puppy, ideally via fresh oily fish or oil.
Source: NRC 2006, Bauer 2011 (AVMA), Roush 2010 (JAVMA).
Our BARF calculator bakes omega-3 directly into the ration (fish or supplement) with an adjusted omega-6/omega-3 ratio.