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Have an Itchy Dog with Allergies? Here’s Why They Need Krill Oil Daily

Written by: Justin Palmer
Justin Palmer is a Certified Pet Food Nutrition Specialist and co-founder of iHeartDogs.com. Inspired by his rescued husky, Splash, he dedicated himself to learning about extending both the length and quality of her life. Splash lived and thrived until 18 years old, and now Justin is on a mission to share what he learned with other dog owners.Read more
| Published on April 21, 2019

Why Pet Owners, Veterinarians, and Scientists Are Turning Their Attention Towards These Tiny Red Sea Creatures

Seasonal allergies are the bane of existence for dogs, dog owners, and veterinarians alike. 

Especially in the warmer months, many pups suffer immensely from atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin condition that often flares from pollens, molds, or foods in the dog’s environment. If left untreated, it can lead to lesions, hair loss, or bacterial infections. 

Studies over the past decade have begun to reveal the importance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in regulating our immune response to allergies. Sadly, however, most dogs do not receive enough omega-3 in their diet. 

Almost All Dogs Do Not Get Enough Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Their Diet – Here’s Why That’s a Serious Problem

Unfortunately, the modern canine diet does not contain an adequate amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for any mammal to thrive. About 15 years ago, when pet food companies discovered this fact, they began adding in a small amount of fish oil to their formulas. Unfortunately, testing revealed that the omega-3’s found in pet foods are often rancid before they are consumed by the dog, or destroyed in the high-heat processed that kibble undergoes. Even if they did survive, the quantity of omega-3 in dry dog foods are woefully insufficient.

For these reasons, most integrative veterinarians will recommend skipping any food that has fish oil in the formula, and supplementing it instead.  (an exception would be for dogs fed a fresh or raw diet, in which the omega-3 oil remain potent)

Dogs missing omega-3 in their diet will often experience hyper-sensitivity to allergens, usually resulting in excessive itching. Omega-3 provides support for a healthy immune system, and can help keep these allergic reactions in check.

Why So Many People Have Switched from Fish Oil to Krill Oil

Increasingly, more and more veterinarians are recommending krill oil as the best source of omega-3. Krill oil is a superior source due to 3 reasons:

  1. It’s up to 3x more bioavailable and absorbable for your dog’s body, due to the phospholipid form of omega-3 found in krill
  2. Because krill is low on the food chain, its contains absolutely minimal toxins that larger fish often contain
  3. It’s the most sustainable form of fish oil available

The Krill Oil We Use Ourselves & Recommend

Here at iHeartDogs, our pups love the Happy, Healthy™ Brand Omega-3 Select krill chews for dogs ($24.99 – 39.99). They’re also available in two sizes: one for small and large dogs.

The company is pretty confident you will see a difference in your dog, because they offer a 90 day satisfaction guarantee, where they will refund you if not satisfied, no matter how much of the bottle you’ve used.

No matter what product you choose, we recommend you do your homework on krill oil supplements for dogs, talk to your veterinarian, and talk to other dog owners. We think you’ll agree once you see the benefits!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional. 

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