Hi I have two border collies each around 70/80 pounds and I wanted to give them melatonin and fish oil to help with their dry skin and coat. I was wondering what the proper dose of each is safe for them. Thanks!

Updated On October 14th, 2017

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

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There are no published studies to give doses of either of these supplements. However, 40-100mg/kg of body weight is commonly recommended for fish oils (combined DHA and EPA). So for your dogs, that would be 1500-3600mg EPA+DHA per day. The biggest side effect of fish oils is greasy or loose stools. It may also cause pancreatitis in dogs that are sensitive to excess fat. You can try 3-5mg of melatonin once per day. I would do it at night since it may make them sleeping. You will need to check the list of ingredients in the supplement you choose to make sure it does not contain xylitol.

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