Salmon oil for dogs: what is in the bottle
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
Salmon oil for dogs is oil pressed or rendered from salmon, sold as a liquid or a chew. The useful number is not the word "salmon" but the EPA and DHA per serving, which varies widely. Many "salmon oil" products are blends with pollock, so check the label.
If you are looking for the best salmon oil for dogs, start with the label, not the marketing. A bottle named after salmon can contain salmon alone, a salmon and pollock mix, or a fish blend. The EPA and DHA it gives per serving can differ by a factor of several between brands. This page shows what makers publish.
What is salmon oil for dogs?
Salmon oil is fish oil that comes from salmon, usually from processing by-products. Like other fish oils, it contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, along with other fats. Dogs get the same EPA and DHA from sardine, anchovy, pollock or krill oil (or, in smaller measured amounts, from canned sardines). Salmon is one source, and the name tells you where the oil came from, not how much EPA and DHA it has.
What to look for: salmon, pollock, anchovy and blends
We record the oil source for each product as the maker states it. In our catalog the picture is mixed:
- Salmon only: several products are recorded with salmon as the oil source, for example Iceland Pure Salmon Oil Pharmaceutical Grade & Unscented (17 fl oz), which publishes 215 mg EPA+DHA per mL.
- Salmon plus other fish: several products named "Salmon Oil" are a mix of salmon and pollock, or a fish blend. Grizzly Salmon Plus Oil (32 fl oz) is one that says "Plus" in the name and is recorded as a blend.
- Pollock: Grizzly Pollock Oil (32 fl oz) is recorded as pollock oil, and publishes 815 mg per serving.
- Anchovy and sardine: this source includes Iceland Pure Premier Omega Oil for Large Dog Breeds (17 fl oz), which lists the highest EPA+DHA per mL among dog liquids in our catalog, and the milder Iceland Pure Sardine Anchovy Oil (17 fl oz) at 248 mg per mL.
A product named salmon oil may not be only salmon, so read the oil source and the EPA and DHA line. If you are asking whether salmon oil or plain fish oil is better, that has its own page: fish oil vs salmon oil for dogs.
Best salmon oil for dogs: salmon and salmon blends, ranked by label
The table below lists salmon oils and salmon blends that publish EPA and DHA, ranked by EPA+DHA per mL. Read the oil source in each row before you assume it is only salmon.
| Product | Form | Serving | EPA | DHA | EPA+DHA / serving | EPA+DHA / mL | NASC seal | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholistic Pet Organics Wild Deep Sea Salmon Oil (liquid) | liquid | 1 tsp | 760 mg | 530 mg | 1,290 mg | 262 mg | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Iceland Pure Salmon Oil Pharmaceutical Grade & Unscented (17 fl oz) | liquid | 1 tsp | 644 mg | 414 mg | 1,058 mg | 215 mg | — | Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Grizzly Salmon Plus Oil (32 fl oz) | liquid | 1 tsp | 598 mg | 368 mg | 966 mg | 196 mg | — | Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Paramount Pet Health Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats (16 fl oz) | liquid | 1 tsp | 423 mg | 465 mg | 888 mg | 180 mg | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Deley Naturals Alaskan Wild-Caught Salmon Oil Plus Formula (16 fl oz pump) | liquid | 1 tsp | 515 mg | 325 mg | 840 mg | 170 mg | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| NaturVet Salmon Oil for Skin & Coat (dogs and cats) | liquid | 1 tsp | 404 mg | 414 mg | 818 mg | 166 mg | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Label data from manufacturer websites and published label text, checked October 13, 2026. How we compare.
In this group the oils list 166 to 262 mg per mL: for example Wholistic Pet Organics Wild Deep Sea Salmon Oil (liquid) at 262 mg, which is the highest in this table, Iceland Pure Salmon Oil Pharmaceutical Grade & Unscented (17 fl oz) at 215 mg and Grizzly Salmon Plus Oil (32 fl oz) at 196 mg. The serving is a teaspoon for each. A weaker oil needs more volume for the same EPA and DHA, which also means more calories from fat.
Salmon oils without EPA/DHA we could find
Many of the best-known salmon oil bottles do not print EPA and DHA that we could find, only a volume or total omega-3. We cannot rank them, and you cannot work out a dose from them. They are listed below, with the oil source we recorded.
| Product | Form | Serving | EPA | DHA | EPA+DHA / serving | NASC seal | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Pet Life Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats (32 fl oz) | liquid | 1 pump | — | — | — | Yes | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Zesty Paws Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil (pollock + salmon, 16 fl oz pump) | liquid | 1 pump | — | — | — | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Pet Honesty Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil (pollock + salmon, 32 fl oz) | liquid | 1 tsp | — | — | — | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Native Pet Sockeye Salmon Oil (8 fl oz) | liquid | 1 pump | — | — | — | — | Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Natural Dog Company Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil | liquid | 1 pump | — | — | — | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Iceland Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil (33 fl oz) | liquid | 1 tsp | — | — | — | — | Search on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Label data from manufacturer websites and published label text, checked October 13, 2026. How we compare.
For reviews of individual brands in this group, see Zesty Paws and Grizzly.
Is salmon oil good for dogs?
Fish oils, including salmon oil, are widely given to dogs as a source of EPA and DHA. We do not claim that salmon oil treats or prevents any condition. The published veterinary references we use are about EPA and DHA amounts, and they apply to any fish oil with those fatty acids. If you want to use it for a health reason, ask your vet.
How much salmon oil should I give my dog?
Use EPA and DHA, not teaspoons. A board-certified veterinary nutritionist has published 50 to 75 mg of combined EPA and DHA per kg of body weight per day for adult dogs. The NRC's safe upper limit is about 370 mg times body weight in kg to the 0.75 power, counting food too. A label that says "1 pump per 10 lb" ignores how much EPA and DHA a pump holds. Our dosage calculator uses the label's numbers. Your vet has the final say.
Storage and freshness
Fish oils are prone to going rancid with air, heat and light. Store the bottle as the label directs, close the cap after each use, and stop using oil that smells sharply off. Labels do not tell you how fresh an oil is, and we did not test any, so use the date on the package.
Salmon oil in other forms
Salmon oil also comes in chews. Chews that publish EPA and DHA differ a lot in how much they give per piece, so check the number. See liquid vs softgel vs chews, or go back to the main fish oil comparison and the best fish oil for dogs picks.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take salmon oil to work?
We did not find a reliable fixed timeline, so we do not give one. If a dog's skin or coat changes, it is hard to judge quickly. Give it a steady, consistent trial and ask your vet how long to try before reassessing.
Can I give my dog salmon oil every day?
Many labels are written for daily use, and veterinary sources describe daily amounts of EPA and DHA for adult dogs. Whether daily is right for your dog depends on size, diet and health, so check with your vet. Count the EPA and DHA from the food too.
Is salmon oil safe for dogs?
Salmon oil made for pets is widely sold, but any fish oil can cause loose stool, vomiting or weight gain, and may affect blood clotting at higher amounts. Start by asking your vet, and read about side effects.
Page updated October 13, 2026. Label data is from manufacturer websites and published label text. This is not veterinary advice.