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.
Pauline Durepaire
Published in
Omega-3Explore 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.
Published in
Omega-3Sensilia Laboratory is a French, family-owned and independent laboratory based in Gironde, France. Since 2019, we have been researching and manufacturing healthy, innovative wellness products.
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.
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) belong to the Omega-3 family.
Unlike ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), they are directly bioavailable: the dog's body can use them without enzymatic conversion.
EPA is the precursor of E-resolvins, natural molecules involved in the resolution of inflammation. In dogs, it contributes to:
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.
DHA acts directly on chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells). During inflammation, it helps preserve cartilage structure by:
In summary, DHA contributes to slowing cartilage degradation and to maintaining bone balance, acting on both inflammation and 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.
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.
EPA and DHA act at several physiological levels. Here is an overview of their clinically documented effects in dogs:
| Health Area | Observed Effects | Clinical References |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Health | Reduced pain, improved mobility, cartilage protection | Roush, Bauer, Takahashi, Tsuchida |
| Skin Health | Reduced itching, improved coat condition | Logas |
| Cardiovascular Health | Reduced arrhythmias, blood pressure support, improved lipid profile | Smith, Nasciutti |
| Cognitive Function | Improved memory and learning | Rodrigues |
| Kidney Health | Reduced proteinuria (excess protein in the urine) | Brown |
| Immune Health | Reduced oxidative stress, modulation of cytokine activity | Magalhaes |
Discover the best natural Omega-3 sources
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.
Veterinarians generally recommend a ratio between 2:1 and 4:1 to support the dog's overall health.
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:
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
This article was written by the R&D team at Laboratoire Sensilia, experts in animal nutrition.