4.7 stars | 3,000+ dog reviews
5 Things Your Dog's Fish Oil Label Isn't Telling You
The label shows the omega-3 content, but it doesn’t tell you how fresh the oil is, what other ingredients might be inside, or if your dog will actually enjoy it. Smart Earth Camelina uses just one cold-pressed seed, so the label is simple and clear.
How fresh is it, really?
Omega-3s can break down when they’re exposed to heat, air, or light, which can make fish oil go rancid. The American Kennel Club says you can spot this by a "stronger, unpleasant odor," but that’s tough to notice with something that already smells like fish. Camelina naturally has tocopherols, so it stays fresh on the shelf without added preservatives.
What else is in the bottle?
Marine oils can have small amounts of mercury and PCBs, which build up as they move through the ocean food chain. The best brands test and filter for these, but the AKC notes that less refined oil "may contain contaminants," and labels usually don’t list everything inside. Camelina comes from a seed, so there’s no food chain for anything to build up in.
Who actually made it?
In 2023, two bad batches from one supplier were recalled under more than fifty pet brand names. That meant fifty different labels on the same product, and none of those brands actually made the oil themselves. We do. Our contract farmers grow the seed on the prairies, we press it at our own facility in Canada, licensed for human food, and we sell it to you directly.
Where did it come from?
Fish oil comes from small forage fish, which are also eaten by seabirds, seals, and bigger fish. Every bottle of fish oil starts with fish taken from the water. Camelina, on the other hand, is grown in prairie fields, planted and harvested each season on land that doesn’t need much to thrive. From the field to our own press to the bottle, it never leaves our hands.
Will your dog even eat it?
Most owners don’t stop using fish oil because of the science. They stop because it smells bad, and their dogs notice it before they do. Camelina has a mild, nutty scent, so dogs who avoid fish oil usually accept it right away.
"I have a very picky girl but she licks her bowl clean & wanders over to her brother’s empty bowl to lick the remaining oil. It’s THAT good."Robyn White, verified customer · her photo
What to expect after you switch
- 1Week 1In the first week, add a few drops to one meal. Since there’s no fishy smell, most dogs accept it right away.
- 2Week 2During the second week, gradually increase to the full amount based on your dog’s weight.
- 3Weeks 2–6Between weeks two and six, most owners first notice their dog’s coat becomes softer and shinier, followed by less scratching.
Some dogs may take longer to show results, especially if they have other health issues. Results can vary.
Trusted by thousands of dog owners
4.7 stars across more than 3,000 verified dog-owner reviews — many of them from people who tried fish or salmon oil first. Results vary from dog to dog.
Hear it from owners
The label, side by side
What you'd find if you put the bottles next to each other and read the fine print. Category comparisons, not a specific brand.
| Smart Earth Camelina | Typical fish oil | Typical blended oil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | One: cold-pressed camelina oil | Usually several fish species, sometimes flavorings | Often 8 or more: seed oils plus fish |
| Price per ounce16oz bottles, shelf prices at time of writing | $1.56 | About $2.14 | About $1.50 |
| Cost per day2 tsp a day, 16oz shelf prices | 34¢ on the 64oz jug · 53¢ on the 16oz | About 72¢ | About 51¢ |
| Omega-3 | ALA, 36% of the oil · 1.8:1 omega-3 to omega-6 | EPA/DHA, used directly | Mixed ALA + EPA/DHA, varies by blend |
| Once opened | Keeps 1 year, no fridge, natural vitamin E | About 90 days, refrigerate | About 45 days, refrigerate, natural + synthetic vitamin E |
| Contaminants | Plant-based, no ocean food chain; two-stage filtration | Must be purified; unrefined oil may contain contaminants | Depends on the fish portion |
| Smell | Mild, nutty | Fishy | Fishy |
| Allergen | None: a single seed oil | Fish protein | Fish protein |
| Source | Grown on prairie farms, non-GMO, planted and harvested each season | Wild-caught fish | Seed oils plus wild-caught fish |
ALA and EPA/DHA are different omega-3s; see the EPA/DHA question in the FAQ below. Per-day costs compare the same two teaspoons a day for a mid-size dog. Shelf-life and ingredient figures are from typical product labels in each category.
Camelina Oil for Dogs
One seed. One pump a day. No fish. The jug ships free, and every order is covered by our 60-day money-back guarantee.
Not sure your dog will take to it? The 64oz is covered by the same 60-day money-back guarantee — so the full jug is the risk-free trial.
Isn't fish oil's EPA/DHA different from camelina's ALA?
It is, and we'd rather you hear it from us. Fish oil supplies EPA and DHA directly; camelina supplies ALA, the parent omega-3, which the body converts — partially. What owners see from camelina is the coat, skin and shedding change — that's what the reviews on this page are about. If your vet has prescribed EPA/DHA for a specific condition, follow your vet.
How to switch (read this)
Don't swap cold turkey — any new oil can loosen stools at full dose. Week 1: a few drops to half the amount for your dog's weight, on one meal. Week 2: work up to the full amount. Weeks 3–6: this is when most owners notice the coat and skin change; tougher cases can take 6–8 weeks.
You can run out your fish oil alongside it or stop — most owners stop because of the smell.
Storage: room temperature, away from direct sunlight. No refrigeration. Use within a year of opening.
Label dose, once daily: 1–15 lb ½ tsp · 16–35 lb 1 tsp · 36–65 lb 2 tsp · 66–95 lb 3 tsp · 96–125 lb 4 tsp.
Ingredients & allergies
100% cold-pressed camelina (Camelina sativa) seed oil. Non-GMO. No fish, no additives, no preservatives, no flavorings. Grown by our contract farmers and pressed at our own facility.
The science, briefly
Camelina is 36% omega-3 (ALA), 20% omega-6 and 34% omega-9 — an omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of 1.8 : 1 — it supplies essential fatty acids most dog diets are short on and shifts the balance toward omega-3 at the same time. Naturally occurring vitamin E protects the oil from oxidizing; oxidized oils create free radicals, which are pro-inflammatory. Camelina oil supports healthy skin and coat, joint mobility, and can help with allergy-like dryness and itch that come from an omega imbalance.
Questions owners ask
Can I give both? Yes. Some owners do; most who try camelina stop the fish oil, mainly because of the smell.
My dog seemed itchier after switching. Occasionally a dog itches more in the first week or two of any diet change, and it's often something else that changed at the same time. Start slow, give it 3–6 weeks, and if it's not working for your dog, use the 60-day guarantee.
What if my dog won't eat it? Most dogs take to it faster than fish oil. If yours doesn't, you're covered for 60 days.
Will it help my dog's allergies? Camelina oil supports healthy skin and a strong coat and can help with the dryness and itch that come from an omega imbalance. For true food or environmental allergies, it works best alongside your vet's plan.
Is the bottle messy? The 64oz comes with a pump — a few pumps on the food, no drips.
Can I cancel? Anytime. Skip, pause or cancel in a couple of clicks.
Customer Reviews
Verified reviews from Smart Earth Camelina customers, collected by Stamped.