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Hi there! I would like to start giving my kitty omega 3 fish oil. I've read different things on here like if over supplemented it can cause health problems and that it needs to be given with the right amount of omega 6's ? I also read that it can cause loose stools . Is any of this true ? Also, would she benefit from getting it a couple of times a week or does it need to be given daily ? Thanks so much .

Hi there! I would like to start giving my kitty omega 3 fish oil. I've read different things on here like if over supplemented it can cause health problems and that it needs to be given with the right amount of omega 6's ? I also read that it can cause loose stools . Is any of this true ? Also, would she benefit from getting it a couple of times a week or does it need to be given daily ? Thanks so much .

Updated On February 5th, 2018

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 years and 1 month old | 9 lbs

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Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

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Over supplementation of fish oil can certainly cause diarrhea. And some animals are sensitive to it even in small doses, so I always recommend starting with a low dose then working up. For cats, I would recommend a liquid pump in order to make that process easier. We have found that even though we are not exactly sure of the "correct" ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids that since Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and Omega 6 fatty acids tend to be pro-inflammatory, that we prefer that ratio to be higher than we used to think. Omega 3 fatty acids work over time, so while daily supplementation is ideal, a few times a week is certainly better than nothing. So, I normally recommend a cat specific liquid in a pump and start with 1/2 the recommended dose for a few days to make sure there isn't any soft stool, then increase to the recommended dose daily (if possible). I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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