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UPDATED RECOMMENDED THERAPEUTIC DOSES OF EPA + DHA (MARINE FATTY ACIDS)

The table below reflects the most current, research-based therapeutic EPA+DHA dose recommendations for various medical conditions in dogs and cats. The medical condition dosing (mg/lb/day and total daily dose for a 50-lb dog) matches established veterinary guidelines, and the equivalency conversions for whole food marine sources are provided in recommended conversion factors for ounces, teaspoons, and egg yolk counts.

Medical Condition

Dose (mg/lb/day)

Approx EPA + DHA (mg) Daily Dose (50-lb Dog)

Atopy (skin allergies)

27

1350

Kidney Disease

30

1500

Cardiovascular Disorders

25

1250

Osteoarthritis

67

3350

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

27

1350

Idiopathic Hyperlipidemia (high triglycerides)

26

1300

Reference: Donna Radcliff DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), CVA Laura Gaylord, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)

todaysveterinarypractice.com/nutrition/fish-oil-dosing-in-pet-diets-and-supplements

The table shows that osteoarthritis requires the highest therapeutic dose at 67 mg/lb/day (3350 mg for a 50 lb dog), while cardiovascular disorders require the lowest dose at 25 mg/lb/day (1250 mg for a 50 lb dog). Most other conditions fall in the 26-30 mg/lb/day range.

THERAPEUTIC OMEGA-3 EQUIVALENCY TABLE: FISH & MARINE SOURCES (MOST PRACTICAL OPTIONS)

Raw cod livers are the most practical whole food source, requiring less than half an ounce for most conditions, while Saba mackerel and anchovies provide excellent concentrated options at reasonable serving sizes.

Medical Condition

Daily EPA+DHA (mg) for 50-lb dog

Wild Sockeye Salmon (oz)

Raw Cod Livers (oz)

Saba Mackerel (oz)

Pacific Sardines (oz)

Anchovies (oz)

Wild Salmon Roe (oz)

Atopy (skin allergies)

1350

3.6

0.4

2.1

4.8

2.3

2.1

Kidney Disease

1500

4.0

0.5

2.3

5.4

2.6

2.3

Cardiovascular

1250

3.3

0.4

1.9

4.5

2.2

1.9

Osteoarthritis

3350

8.9

1.1

5.1

12.0

5.7

5.2

IBD

1350

3.6

0.4

2.1

4.8

2.3

2.1

Hyperlipidemia

1300

3.5

0.4

2.0

4.7

2.2

2.0

Key Insights

Most Concentrated & Practical Sources:

  • Raw Cod Livers: Only 0.4-1.1 oz needed - extremely concentrated. HIGH in Vit A & D - proceed with caution. Too much can be dangerous. Must be fed in careful consideration along with all other other forms of Vitamin A & D and liver in the diet.
  • Saba Mackerel: 1.9-5.1 oz needed - excellent whole food option
  • Anchovies: 2.2-5.7 oz needed - highly concentrated and affordable
  • Wild Salmon Roe: 1.9-5.2 oz needed - premium concentrated source

Moderate Serving Sizes:

  • Wild Sockeye Salmon: 3.3-8.9 oz (reasonable portion for most dogs)
  • Pacific Sardines: 4.5-12.0 oz (about 3-8 whole sardines)

Supplements - we reccomend giving BOTH Source Algea Omega-3 for DHA + MOXXOR Omega-3 for EPA/ETA together:

  • Source Algae Omega-3 liquid for DHA: 2.5-6.6 ml (most concentrated option)

Source Oil Pure Algae Omega-3 (Chromista Oil) contains 500 mg of DHA per 1 mL, which is one of the most concentrated DHA algal oils available. Below are the precise DHA amounts per commonly used measurements:

DHA Concentration by Measure

Measure Volume (mL) DHA per serving (mg)
1 mL 1 500
0.125 tsp 0.625 312.5
0.24 tsp ~1.2 600
0.5 tsp 2.5 1250
0.75 tsp 3.75 1875
1 tsp 5 2500

  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL.

  • Calculations: For non-integer measures, multiply volume in mL by 500 mg (e.g., 0.625 mL × 500 mg = 312.5 mg).

This means each mL reliably supplies 500 mg of DHA, so conversions to other volumes are linear.

  • MOXXOR Omega-3 caps for EPA/ETA. Give the following capsule amounts accodrding to the pet's body weight:
    • cats/dogs under 25-lbs 1 cap every other day
    • dogs 25-50-lbs 1 cap/day
    • dogs 50-100-lbs 2 caps/day
    • dogs over 100-lbs 3 caps/day

Below please find a calculator to determine your dog's reccomended daily dose according to their medical condition and body weight. 

Few Tips:

  • Feed seafood frozen rather than defrosted. 
  • Do not add omega-3s when meal prepping in advance. Add omega-3s to meals at the time of feeding.  
  • Omega-3s supplements are best fed with food rather than in-between meals.

For Cats: Practical Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dosing for Felines with Cardiac Disease

For a typical 4.5–5 kg cat:

  • ~180–200 mg EPA + ~112–125 mg DHA daily (total ~300–325 mg combined EPA+DHA).

Use a high-quality supplement: human-grade, USA-made, 100% pure, highly stable algae oil made without additives is the ideal. Our research found the best of the best: Source Omega Oil for DHA given with MOXXOR caps for EPA/ETA. Therapeutic diets with added omega-3s can contribute, but often need topping up with a supplement to reach therapeutic levels.

We do not advise feeding seafood to cats so using the Source Omega Oil + MOXXOR caps is highly recomended. To learn more about the use of MOXXOR for cats, please check out these articles:

MOXXOR Omega-3s | Little Big Cat - Dr. Jean Hofve

Omega-3s are Essential for Cats and Dogs! by Dr. Jean Hofve

Administration tips:

  • Give with food.
  • Start lower and titrate if GI upset occurs.
  • Recheck with your veterinarian (ideally a cardiologist or veterinary nutritionist) after 4–8 weeks; monitor for response in appetite, energy, cachexia, or arrhythmias.

Safety and Considerations for Severe Disease

Omega-3s are generally well-tolerated and have a good safety profile. Potential issues at higher doses include:

  • Mild GI upset.
  • Anti-platelet effects (bleeding risk if combined with anticoagulants like clopidogrel).
  • Caloric contribution (relevant in pets with poor appetite or on strict calorie control).

Avoid cod liver oil (risk of vitamin A/D toxicity); raw cd iver are safer but still must be given in controlled doses in consideration of other sources of vitamn A & D in the diet. Quality/purity matters due to potential contaminants and with the very real problem of fat oxidation, especially of concern with supplemental fish oils.

Ideally, consult your pet’s veterinarian or veterinary specalists before starting or adjusting supplementation, especially in severe disease where the pet may be on multiple medications. If knowledgeable about the theraputic use of omega-3, they can help tailor the dose and monitor via exam, echo, and bloodwork. Supplementing with theraputic levels of omega-3s is an adjunctive nutritional strategy, not a replacement for standard therapies - eseiclally for cardiac patients (e.g., pimobendan, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or newer options like rapamycin in some cases).

In summary, while cat-specific dose-response data is still limited, the 40 mg/kg EPA + 25 mg/kg DHA daily target (or the broader 27–54/18–41 mg/kg range validated in the 2025 review) represents the best current evidence-based therapeutic guidance for cats with significant cardiac disease. If your cat in on medications, your veterinarian should help implement omega-3 supplementation safely for your specific cat.