Vitamin E, because of fish oil

[Stefani]

I've been trying to do some research on vitamin E and fish oil suppliments after I read on a different board that if you give fish oil to a dog, you also need vitamin E.  Razel is on a fish oil omega-3 1000mg capsule twice a day (recomended by my vets office), but she isn't on Vitamin E. I tried google to find an answer, but I can't come up with anything.  I'm asking here first (depending on what is said, I'll contact my vets office) to see what others have to say.

[Stefani]

Hmmm  I've been reading, and I've found that if a person is on fish oil omega 3, that Vitamin E is good to take with it.  There is Vit E in Razel's fish oil omega3 capsules. With more reading, I found out you can take too much Vit E, so I'm going to just leave her on what she is on, because there are no bad effects that make me belive a change is neccesary.

[magolin]

The only supplement I give Diesel (he's on a raw, prey model diet) is fish oil.  Make sure its fish body oil, not cod liver oil.  CLO doesn't give you the same omega-3 fatty acids which is the point of doing fish oil in the first place.  I actually just get him the people version of the Wal-Mart brand.  They're way cheaper than supplements you give to dogs.  Since its something you do by weight anyway the people version is fine.  Diesel gets 2000-3000mg a day or 2-3 capsules.  I do 2 usually but I'll give 3 if he's eating certain things a lot.  Days he eats fish he doesn't get them at all.   

I've not heard anything about needing extra vitamin E, but with kibble fed dogs it may be a little different.  Not bashing kibble here, but the research I've looked at with fish oil has all been directed towards the raw feeding end.  Dogs digest kibble and raw meat differently so there may be some differences in needing the vitamin E. 

A really good reason for fish oil supplements?  It makes the coat super shiny and seems to cut down on shedding.  Who doesn't want less shedding?!   

[SistaHelen]

I've been trying to do some research on vitamin E and fish oil suppliments after I read on a different board that if you give fish oil to a dog, you also need vitamin E.  Razel is on a fish oil omega-3 1000mg capsule twice a day (recomended by my vets office), but she isn't on Vitamin E. I tried google to find an answer, but I can't come up with anything.  I'm asking here first (depending on what is said, I'll contact my vets office) to see what others have to say.

I take Omega 3 for mood stabilization, 1 to 3 grams a day.  But how would you figure a dose for a 6-pound dog?  Or administer it?  The only fish-oil caplets I've seen are 1,000 mg, and he could never swallow something that big.

I'll look in my medical resources on Omega 3 and E.

best,
Helen and Charlie

[Stefani]

To find the dosage for your pup contact your vet.  As for how to give it to him, they make the stuff in liquid form.  Here, at my local vitamin discount center (where I get most of the things I use) it is actually cheaper than the pill form.  I just happen to not want to handle liquid, so I pay more for the capsule. 

[magolin]

I'm not sure what dose you'd want for a dog that little.  Most vets should be able to tell you.  If your vet doesn't know, contact a holistic type vet and I'd bet they know for sure. 

And yes, the liquid is cheaper, but its easier for me to just toss Diesel a couple capsules (he likes to eat them) so I pay a bit more for those.  My mother was giving it to their 20lb poodle for a while and she was doing the liquid form.  The stuff she had was marketed for dogs.  It was just putting X number of pumps per pound of dog on the food.  Emma liked it, but had a bad reaction to it since she has a zillion food allergies. 

[Ilghaus]

Sorry it took me so long to respond, but I wanted to give a better answer then "just because you should."

Here is a quote from a study of why Vit. E should be given with Fish Oil.

"Besides these positive effects of fish oil, increased levels
of long-chain n-3 fatty acids may render membranes
more susceptible to oxidation and may increase the
requirement for antioxidants."

Vit. E is an excellent antioxidant and is used as a natural preservative. I am putting the link to this one study for anyone who wishes to read it. But the short answer is by giving fish oil you may (many reports show an absolute need) then open the body's requirements for a need for more antioxidants.

http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-99-29-1/sag-29-1-1-97222.pdf

I did want to come back and add that more and more Fish Oils are starting to add Vit. E to their products. Read the ingredient list very carefully as Vit. E is a fat soluble vitamin and excess amounts can be stored in the body. If your fish oil comes with Vit. E then do not add more because of the fish oil. The manufacturers will keep the two in balance as new studies come out. Extra Vit. E is only necessary now if your Fish Oil is plain without the extra Vit. E added.

Always be careful when adding any new substance to your dog's diet. Too much of a good thing can very easily turn into a bad thing by shifting the balance to unsafe levels.