What is the difference between oil from farmed and wild salmon?

Salmon oil is a healthy addition for your dog. The fatty acids in this fish oil fit very well in a responsible diet. Salmon oil can come from wild-caught salmon or farmed salmon. There are a number of differences between wild and farmed salmon, but the fatty acid composition is roughly the same. There are some concerns regarding contamination and sustainability with wild salmon.

Salmon oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. In addition, salmon oil also contains omega-6 and 9 fatty acids. All these unsaturated fatty acids are very important for the immune system and the health of the heart and blood vessels. Salmon oil also promotes a healthy and shiny coat. Plus, dogs often really enjoy the taste of salmon oil!

Benefits of salmon oil for dogs

Salmon oil has several health benefits for your dog:

• Supports coat and skin
• Stimulates the brain
• Strengthens the immune system
• Supports the heart, liver function, and kidneys
• Ideal flavor enhancer, for example when medication is mixed in with the food

Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) is the main farmed fish in Europe. Most of this farmed salmon comes from Norway, Scotland, and Ireland. Farmed salmon grows faster than wild salmon, resulting in higher production. Additionally, there is no need to fish in wild populations, which is beneficial for the sustainability of the ecosystem. The quality of the fish is equivalent. The fatty acid composition is the same, as well as other parameters such as fat percentage, pH, and texture of the fish meat. However, research shows that wild Atlantic salmon more often contains various contaminants like plastics or heavy metals compared to farm-raised salmon. Salmon are predatory fish; they eat other fish. This means that contaminants in the prey accumulate in the body of the salmon. A predator is at the end of the food chain. Farmed salmon is fed by humans, with feed that is monitored for quality. Therefore, cultivated salmon generally contain fewer contaminants such as dioxins, PCBs, pesticides, and zinc than wild salmon. This is supported by scientific research.

Salmon oil production

The highest quality salmon oil you can give to your dog is made as a by-product of farm-raised salmon intended for human consumption. This salmon must meet strict requirements. The fish is sold to stores and supermarkets, while the oil is pressed as a by-product from parts that do not go to the store. Of course, it is important that the fish farmer treats his fish in a sustainable and responsible way, and that, for example, the antibiotic policy is responsible.

Read more about responsible salmon oil from farmed salmon here.

Sources:

Kevin A. Glover, Håkon Otterå, Rolf E. Olsen, Erik Slinde, Geir L. Taranger, Øystein Skaala,

A comparison of farmed, wild and hybrid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) reared under farming conditions. Aquaculture, Volume 286, Issues 3-4, 2009, Pages 203-210, ISSN 0044-8486.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.09.023

Lundebye AK, Lock EJ, Rasinger JD, Nøstbakken OJ, Hannisdal R, Karlsbakk E, Wennevik V, Madhun AS, Madsen L, Graff IE, Ørnsrud R.

Lower levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants, metals and the marine omega 3-fatty acid DHA in farmed compared to wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Environ Res. 2017 May;155:49-59. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28189073/

Foran JA, Good DH, Carpenter DO, Hamilton MC, Knuth BA, Schwager SJ.

Quantitative analysis of the benefits and risks of consuming farmed and wild salmon. J Nutr. 2005 Nov;135(11):2639-43. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16251623/