Salmon oil is often given to a dog or cat. But why is salmon oil actually so often given to a dog or cat? One reason is that salmon sounds good. However, the main reason is that a dose of salmon oil is quite cheap, compared to other fish oil for dogs.
But why is salmon oil for dogs and cats cheap? Salmon oil is made from the remains of farmed salmon. Because more and more salmon is being farmed, there are more and more remains and salmon oil therefore remains cheap. But is salmon oil from farmed salmon really the right product for your dog or cat? How much salmon oil is good for your dog or cat? Below are 5 points of attention when you want to buy salmon oil. The question is whether you will still buy salmon oil afterwards.
Residues of medicines
First of all, in fish farming, including salmon farming, the fish are much closer together than in nature. This causes diseases to develop more quickly. Medicines are used to combat these diseases. Farmed salmon and salmon oil can therefore contain residues of medicines.
Contamination
Secondly, contamination can occur in the salmon as a result of contaminated feed given to the farmed salmon. In Norway, journalists are working to gain further insight into this. There is also a lot of controversy about the environmental pollution that occurs in the farming of factory-farmed salmon.
Lower Omega-3 content
Thirdly, the Omega-3 content of farmed (factory) salmon has declined considerably over the years. This is because this salmon cannot seek out its natural food, but is also fed plant-based pellets. As a result, farmed salmon is a lot less fatty than its wild brother. The salmon oil therefore contains less Omega-3 EPA and DHA.
No certification
Fourthly, a lot of wild fish (sardines and anchovies from South America) has to be caught to serve as fishmeal (feed) for the farmed salmon. Not really sustainable, then. Salmon oil therefore never carries a certification label.
Lower quality
People would never take salmon oil themselves, because it is simply unpalatable, due to oxidation. So why would you give salmon oil to your dog or cat? Or to your horses?
If the fish oil comes from Norway, chances are it is made very quickly in a cold environment. This keeps the oil very fresh, which benefits the quality. A good test to judge whether the Omega-3 fatty acids of a fish oil are in good condition is to taste it yourself. If it has a mild taste without a fishy smell, you know the oil is of good quality. If it has a strong fishy taste or fishy smell, the oxidation process may have been going on for a while.
