Omega-3 vs Omega-6 in Sporting Dogs – What’s the Right Balance?

Both are essential for a dog’s health, but in high-performance dogs, getting the right ratio can make a real difference in everything from mobility to stamina and coat health.

So, what are these fatty acids, and how do they affect your sporting dog?

What Are Omega Fatty Acids?

Fatty acids are essential components of your dog’s diet. Many can’t be made within your dog’s body—they have to get them from their food. They’re crucial for:

• Skin and coat condition

• Cell membrane function

• Brain and vision health

• Normal inflammatory responses

• Joint and cardiovascular health
  
  

The two main categories of dietary fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6. You may also hear about Omega-9s, but these are not essential as they can be made by the body.

Why Balance Matters in Active Dogs

Omega-6s are important, particularly in your dog’s skin health. However, in excess, they have a negative impact on your dog as they can contribute to the body’s natural inflammatory processes—not ideal when considering joint health. However, they are a vital building block in your dog’s skin and coat health, as well as contributing to other vital functions. Many commercial diets contain high levels of Omega-6s due to the use of poultry fats and vegetable oils. If you are considering supplementing your dog’s diet, it is important to use a supplement with controlled Omega-6 levels.

Omega-3s, on the other hand, are the powerhouse ingredient, supporting a whole host of bodily functions. But their major benefit is that they support your dog’s natural anti-inflammatory responses—ideal for those concerned by joint health, and for dogs under physical strain from activities like agility, herding, and flyball.

In short:
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are vital to your dog’s overall health, with Omega-3 leading the way, but too much Omega-6 may tip the balance in the wrong direction

How the Right Ratio Affects Your Canine Athlete’s Performance

In sport and working dogs, the balance of these fatty acids may influence their:

• Mobility and joint health
  
  

• Muscle stiffness after activity
  
  

• Endurance and cardiovascular support
  
  

• Skin health, particularly under environmental stress (mud, cold, swimming)
  
  

Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA, DHA, and ETA, especially from marine sources, are known to support normal joint function, long-term mobility, and overall vitality in dogs with active lifestyles.

Sources of Omega-3s for Dogs: Not All Are Equal

The pet supplements market is a crazy place—with so much choice, it’s hard to know what to pick. Fish oil is a commonly recommended supplement as a source of Omega-3s, but it’s not the most potent. While there are a variety of sources available, they don’t all provide the same benefits or are as nutritionally accessible to your dog when you feed them.

Types of Omega-3

• Fish oil: Provides EPA and DHA, but can be unstable and oxidise quickly.

• Flaxseed oil: A plant-based option that provides ALAs but is less bioavailable

• Green-lipped mussel: Provides a wide range of Omega-3s, but products vary in quality and potency.

When choosing a source of Green-lipped Mussel, you need to consider its concentration and bioavailability. For example, the powdered form is not as concentrated or readily absorbed as the extracted oil PCSO-524^®, found in Antinol.

Sporting dogs may benefit most from broad-spectrum Omega-3 sources that include both common and rare fatty acids, optimally balanced and readily absorbed.

How Can You Help Give Your Dog the Right Omega Balance?

1. Check your dog’s diet: Most commercial dog foods are high in Omega-6s. As long as they are well formulated, they should fall within the recommended amounts. However, homemade raw diets that are heavily chicken-based, may also have an imbalance of fatty acids, as grain-fed chicken tends to contain higher amounts of omega-6. Please check with a registered nutritionist to find the best food for your dog.
   
   

2. Use high-quality Omega-3 supplements: Choose stable, highly bioavailable sources, like concentrated oils, rather than powdered forms.
   
   

3. Watch for signs of imbalance: Stiffness, skin irritation, or no get-up-and-go after exercise may indicate the need for nutritional support and an increase in Omega-3 levels..
   
   

Antinol^® contains PCSO-524^®, a patented marine lipid concentrate derived from New Zealand green-lipped mussels. Unlike basic fish oils, PCSO-524^® contains over 90 different fatty acids, including vital Omega-3s like ETA which are hard to find in many supplements. Its super-concentrated formula is highly bioavailable and 20x more concentrated than powdered forms. In fact, Green-lipped mussel powder is a waste product of the production process.

Antinol supports:

• Joint and muscle function
  
  

• Free movement, even after intense exercise
  
  

• Skin and coat health
  
  

• Overall resilience in active dogs
  
  

It’s concentrated, and trusted by veterinary professionals and handlers around the world — ideal for dogs that live to work, run, jump, and compete.

Choose a supplement for every twist, turn, run and jump

Your sporting dog isn’t just a pet — they’re an athlete. Supporting their body with the right balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids is a smart, science-based way to support their performance.

Whether you compete for fun or professionally, targeted supplementation can give your dog the edge they need to perform at their best — and feel good doing it.