Krill Oil vs Salmon Oil for Dogs: Benefits and Differences

An oil supplement is one of the easiest ways to add nutrients to your dog’s diet. Along with reducing instances of itchy skin and fighting allergies, liquid oil supplements are easy to mix with food, and tend to be tastier and more palatable to pups than pills and chewables.

OK, you’re sold on the oil idea. But which oil should you give your dog?

Salmon oil is a rich source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s been used as an all-round dietary dog supplement for decades.

But recently, veterinarians have been recommending an alternative, highly beneficial oil supplement: krill oil.

Krill is not just what’s for dinner if you’re a whale are eensy-weensy crustaceans. The word “krill” literally means “small fry of fish” in Norwegian. (The Norwegians aren’t just being rude, actually — “fry” is a name for a juvenile lifecycle stage of fish. Ya learn new things every day.)

So now you’re like, “What’s the difference between salmon oil and krill oil? What do they have in common? Is krill oil better than salmon oil? And how much should I give my dog?”

(Getting the dosage right is critical, since an overdose of any oil in dogs can cause stomach upsets and more serious issues.)

This blog will help you compare salmon vs. krill oil, so you can decide which is best for Mr. Pupper over there.

Below are the top 4 shared benefits of krill oil and salmon oil supplements for your furry buddy.

• Shared Benefit #1 — Promotes Healthy Skin and Shiny Coat
• SharedBenefit #2 — Promotes a Healthy Cardiovascular System
• Shared Benefit #3 — Reduces Inflammation and Joint Pain
• Shared Benefit #4 — May Improve Your Dog’s Ability to Fight Chronic Illness
• Recommended Dosage for Fish Oils
• Salmon Oil vs Krill Oil - Which supplement is best for your dog

Shared Benefit #1: Promotes Healthy Skin and Shiny Coat

Krill oil is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids in the world.

Like salmon oil, it contains two kinds of omega-3s: eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid.

EPA and DHA fatty acids are long-chain, meaning they contain 20 or more carbon atoms. This property that gives them anti-inflammatory benefits like:

• Eliminating dandruff in your dog’s coat
• Alleviating skin conditions like hot spots
• Minimizing development of skin allergies
• Reducing itchiness and redness from bites
• Accelerating wound healing
• Producing plumper and healthier skin cells

Since salmon oil naturally has a higher concentration of EPA and DHA than krill oil, its effects are more pronounced. The high levels effectively heal and soothe your pet’s skin, leaving them with a rich, glossy coat.

At Paramount Pet Health, our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs boasts a whopping 465 mg of DHA and 423 mg of EPA for every teaspoon (5 ml). This high-potency blend can help your pup’s skin stay healthy and hydrated on the daily.

After a few weeks of use, you won’t have to worry about your dog’s itchiness, flakiness, or irritation.

Shared Benefit #2: Promotes a Healthy Cardiovascular System

Even though some breeds are more prone to heart infections, every dog is at risk of suffering from heart disease.

A 2010 veterinary study suggested that omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases in dogs, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Additionally, if your dog suffers from heart disease, supplementing their diet with krill oil or salmon oil may help them maintain optimal body weight while providing necessary nutrients.This is essential in fighting heart disease, since a healthy cardiovascular system is supported by healthy body weight.

Generally, omega-3s can improve your dog’s cardiovascular system by:

• Enhancing healthy blood circulation
• Evenly distributing oxygen and nutrients throughout the body
• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing muscle loss
• Lowering cholesterol

Shared Benefit #3: Reduces Inflammation and Joint Pain

When inflammation is lower, your dog’s body has more resources to naturally keep their joints and connective tissues healthy. This reduces the risk of arthritis.

Krill oil and salmon oil’s antioxidant properties play a critical role in maintaining strong joints, as omega-3s in both oils fight off potentially harmful free radicals in the body.

On its own, krill oil wouldn’t necessarily be considered a joint supplement. So some dog parents might ask themselves, “Why give krill oil to my dog?”

Its combined benefits — powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals, support for healthy joints, and support for a healthy cardiovascular system — contribute to keeping your dog healthy from nose to tail.

The most potent source of DHA and EPA is fish oil, such as salmon oil. A 2016 veterinary study reported that fish oil supplementation for 3 months substantially lowered pain, lameness, and joint disease in dogs, vs. less impressive results from mineral oil supplementation.

The study further concluded that taking these supplements potentially improves rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory infections.

You can administer salmon oil to your dog through pills, chewables, or liquids. However, liquid supplements taste better and blend well with your dog’s food and drinks.

Shared Benefit #4: May Improve Your Dog’s Ability to Fight Chronic Illness

Idk about you, but one of my biggest fears is a chronic illness like cancer taking my pets away (one has already faced, and lived through, GI lymphoma!). It’s normal to feel this way — and there are a few things you can do to potentially lower your dog’s risk of cancer.

Did you know that chronic inflammation leading to cancer in both humans and dogs may be caused, in part, by an imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids?

While omega-3s reduce inflammation, omega-6s tend to increase it. Unfortunately, most foods our canine friends consume, like meat, vegetable oils, and corn products, have a high content of omega-6 fats.

This contributes to a fatty acid imbalance, creating higher risk of:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Allergies
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

To fight these conditions, the omega-6 fatty acids in your dog’s diet should be balanced with a steady intake of omega-3s — like those in krill oil and salmon oil.

Adding krill oil or salmon oil to your dog’s diet isn’t a guarantee that they won’t develop cancer, but it can certainly help.

Recommended Dosage for Krill Oil Vs Salmon Oil

How much salmon oil or krill oil should I give my dog? The recommended dosage for fish oil supplements for dogs depends on the amount of EPA and DHA present in the supplement. A combined daily intake of EPA and DHA between 250 and 500 mg is ideal.

Higher doses of salmon oil have been proven completely safe and provide greater benefits than under-dosing. (The only real risk of ramping up the dosage too fast? What the French might call “une explosion de poo-poo.”)

Closely follow the dosage indicated on our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs packaging. If you want to use the oil to treat a specific condition for your pup, we recommend administering it in higher doses. Always, always talk to your vet before starting your pet on a new food or supplement.

Use the image below to find recommended daily dosage for our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil:

Whereas high doses of salmon oil are safe, overdoses are not. (You’d have to give your dog a TON of oil to overdose, but we just want you to have this information!) Excessive salmon oil can result directly and indirectly in symptoms like:

• Gastric issues
• Weight gain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Slow healing of wounds
• Higher chances of infections

Especially when starting a new supplement, monitor your dog’s reaction and take them to the vet promptly if anything seems off.

Krill Oil vs Salmon Oil: Which Supplement Best Suits My Dog?

Should I give salmon oil to my dog? Or will krill oil for dogs work better?

Which you choose depends on factors like ingredients (especially “filler” or flavor ingredients), the supplement’s taste, presence of any toxins, and dosage.

Knowing the shared benefits of fish oil supplements for dogs is essential as understanding their differences.

Check out the main differences between salmon oil and krill oil in the table below:

When choosing which oil to give your pet, you want the best, healthiest, and most cost-effective option.

A high-quality salmon oil should:

• Contain a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids
• Contain zero fillers or additives
• Be tested and confirmed free of toxins and contaminants, including PCBs and heavy metals

At Paramount Pet, we know that most dog parents won’t compromise to ensure their pooches get the best possible care.

Our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is made with 100% salmon oil with zero fillers, binders, or additives. Even better, it’s designed to blend well with food and drinks, and it’s especially deal for dogs who love strongly scented foods.

Here’s what Kris had to say:

"Great supplement…I highly recommend it to people who want to keep their dogs happy and healthy." - Kris

Order our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs today, and we’ll promptly ship to your location in the US within 0–2 business days. If you have any questions reach out to us at info@paramountpethealth.com, and we’ll be happy to help you!