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What Are Omega-3 EPA and DHA?
Explore the essential roles of Omega-3 EPA and DHA in supporting your dog's joint health, brain function, and cellular wellbeing — plus the best natural sources to look for.
Omega-3 has become a cornerstone of canine nutrition. Yet most pet owners don't know what those two letters really mean: EPA and DHA.
Behind these letters lie long-chain fatty acids with powerful physiological effects: they are involved in joint health, skin, brain, heart, kidneys and even the immune response.
Let's look at how they work, what their best sources are, and why their balance is essential to the dog's wellbeing.
Dogs with osteoarthritis supplemented with EPA/DHA show significant improvement in mobility and quality of life after 12 weeks.
Roush et al.
EPA and DHA: What Exactly Are They?
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) belong to the Omega-3 family.
Unlike ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), : the dog's body can use them without enzymatic conversion.
they are directly bioavailable
EPA's Role: Regulating Inflammation
EPA is the precursor of E-resolvins, natural molecules involved in the resolution of inflammation. In dogs, it contributes to:
decreasing the production of prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4;
limiting neutrophil activation;
reducing joint pain and stiffness (Bauer, 2007; Roush et al., 2010).
DHA's Role: Protecting Cells
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is much more than a simple structural fatty acid.
It's a key component of phospholipids — the fatty molecules that make up our cell membranes. Phospholipids act as a flexible, protective barrier while enabling cell-to-cell communication.
DHA accounts for up to 30–40% of brain phospholipids, but it also plays a key role in joint tissues: it protects cartilage and regulates bone cells.
A Proven Chondroprotective Effect
DHA acts directly on chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells). During inflammation, it helps preserve cartilage structure by:
stimulating the production of type II collagen and proteoglycans (essential components of cartilage),
inhibiting the enzymes involved in its degradation, such as MMP-13,
and reducing the production of inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) via a specific receptor called FFAR4 (Ma et al., 2025).
In summary, DHA contributes to slowing cartilage degradation and to maintaining bone balance, acting on both inflammation and cellular regeneration.
Sustained Cellular Regeneration
Beyond protection, DHA contributes to the resolution of inflammatory processes via the production of D-resolvins and protectins, two endogenous lipid mediators. These molecules promote tissue healing and the regeneration of articular cartilage, by stimulating the migration and proliferation of healthy chondrocytes.
DHA-derived metabolites, protectin D1 and resolvin D2, reduce the catabolic activity of cartilage and promote its functional repair.
Calder, Bauer
Thus, DHA is not limited to a role in the brain or vision: it acts as a true regulator of joint balance, protecting chondrocytes, inhibiting cartilage-destroying enzymes and stimulating tissue regeneration, thereby contributing to lasting mobility.
Clinically Proven Effects in Dogs
EPA and DHA act at several physiological levels. Here is an overview of their clinically documented effects in dogs:
Oily fish: salmon, sardine, mackerel, and anchovies — all naturally rich in EPA and DHA.
New Zealand green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus): rich in EPA, DHA and ETA.
Marine microalgae (Schizochytrium sp.): an excellent plant-based source of DHA.
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba): rich in EPA and DHA, in triglyceride and phospholipid form (approximately 30%), very well absorbed by cell membranes.
One of the most common nutritional imbalances in dogs' diets is the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio.
Most commercial dry and wet foods are loaded with excess omega-6 from vegetable oils (sunflower, corn, soy) and contain very little marine Omega-3. The result? A ratio that often exceeds 10:1 — sometimes even 20:1.
A ratio of 2.6:1 improves the immune and antioxidant profile of dogs, unlike an unbalanced ratio of 31:1.
Wander et al.
Veterinarians generally recommend a ratio between 2:1 and 4:1 to support the dog's overall health.
FAQ
Conclusion
EPA and DHA are essential fatty acids for a healthy, well-functioning body. They support joint mobility, cognitive function, skin and heart health, and actively participate in cartilage regeneration.
At Laboratoire Sensilia, we've combined the best of science and nature to create PERNIXOL®, a liquid joint supplement that brings together:
New Zealand green lipped mussel oil, naturally rich in EPA and DHA in triglyceride and phospholipid form,
Microalgae oil, a pure and plant-based source of DHA.
This unique synergy guarantees absorption, digestive tolerance and oxidative stability, for natural and lasting support of canine mobility.
Discover PERNIXOL®, the ultra-concentrated EPA+DHA joint supplement
Scientific References
Magalhães TR, Lourenço AL, Gregório H, Queiroga FL. Therapeutic Effect of EPA/DHA Supplementation in Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic Companion Animal Diseases: A Systematic Review. In Vivo. 2021 May-Jun;35(3):1419-1436. doi: 10.21873/invivo.12394. Epub 2021 Apr 28. PMID: 33910819; PMCID: PMC8193331.
Bauer JE. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Dec 1;231(11):1657-61. doi: 10.2460/javma.231.11.1657. PMID: 18052798.
Bauer JE. Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Dec 1;239(11):1441-51. doi: 10.2460/javma.239.11.1441. PMID: 22087720.
Roush JK, Cross AR, Renberg WC, Dodd CE, Sixby KA, Fritsch DA, Allen TA, Jewell DE, Richardson DC, Leventhal PS, Hahn KA. Evaluation of the effects of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on weight bearing in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010 Jan 1;236(1):67-73. doi: 10.2460/javma.236.1.67. PMID: 20043801.
Ma J, Kitaura H, Ohori F, Marahleh A, Fan Z, Lin A, Narita K, Murakami K, Kanetaka H. Docosahexaenoic Acid Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis via FFAR4-Mediated Regulation of Inflammatory Cytokines. Molecules. 2025 Jul 29;30(15):3180. doi: 10.3390/molecules30153180. PMID: 40807354; PMCID: PMC12348860.
Wang Z, Guo A, Ma L, Yu H, Zhang L, Meng H, Cui Y, Yu F, Yang B. Docosahexenoic acid treatment ameliorates cartilage degeneration via a p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism. Int J Mol Med. 2016 Jun;37(6):1542-50. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2567. Epub 2016 Apr 14. PMID: 27082436; PMCID: PMC4866951.
Calder PC. Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Effects, mechanisms and clinical relevance. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015 Apr;1851(4):469-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.08.010. Epub 2014 Aug 20. PMID: 25149823.
Smith CE, Freeman LM, Rush JE, Cunningham SM, Biourge V. Omega-3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;21(2):265-73. doi: 10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[265:ofaibd]2.0.co;2. PMID: 17427387.
Nasciutti PR, Moraes AT, Santos TK, Gonçalves Queiroz KK, Costa APA, Amaral AR, Fernando Gomes Olivindo R, Pontieri CFF, Jeremias JT, Vendramini THA, Brunetto MA, Carvalho ROA. Protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease stages B2 and C. PLoS One. 2021 Jul 15;16(7):e0254887. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254887. PMID: 34265016; PMCID: PMC8282066.
Rodrigues RBA, Zafalon RVA, Rentas MF, Risolia LW, Macedo HT, Perini MP, Silva AMGD, Marchi PH, Balieiro JCC, Mendes WS, Vendramini THA, Brunetto MA. The Supplementation of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Concentrated Fish Oil Enhances Cognitive Function in Puppies. Animals (Basel). 2023 Sep 16;13(18):2938. doi: 10.3390/ani13182938. PMID: 37760338; PMCID: PMC10525578.
Wander RC, Hall JA, Gradin JL, Du SH, Jewell DE. The ratio of dietary (n-6) to (n-3) fatty acids influences immune system function, eicosanoid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and vitamin E status in aged dogs. J Nutr. 1997 Jun;127(6):1198-205. doi: 10.1093/jn/127.6.1198. PMID: 9187636.
This article was written by the R&D team at Laboratoire Sensilia, experts in animal nutrition.
