Krill Oil

raintyger · Apr 30, 2013

Just back from the vet. Found out that Poppy, my little sweetie, has arthritis due to an trauma injury (don't know exactly what, she came to us with a kink in her tail). The vet recommended krill oil supplements, but didn't know where to get them.

The only krill oil I know of is Megared, but I tried it once and it comes in a hard capsule that I couldn't cut open without the oil spilling all over. The vet mentioned a brand that came as a capsule that you could easily open. Does anybody here know of this brand and where to get it? Or of an easily dispensable brand?

Also, does krill oil have a strong taste? Do some cats reject it?

mrsgreenjeens · May 1, 2013

Here is what some of us use:
It does come in a pretty hard to open and squeeze capsule, but if you slice into it at the seam with the tip of a paring knife, it opens fairly easy, but you really need to squeeze it hard to get the oil out. My fingers aren't very strong, but I can do it between my thumb and middle finger, usually.

I understand Mercola has a Krill Oil in a pump bottle that dispenses only the amount needed with each pump. I'll may try that one next, depending on the price. It's supposedly packed in such a way that it keeps it fresh.

As to taste, one of mine loves it, and hates salmon oil. One of mine loves salmon oil and doesn't particularly care for Krill Oil, but will eat it because he loves food

, and the third one doesn't like either one, but she prefers Krill over Salmon Oil. How do I know? She flat out refuses to eat if Salmon Oil is in her food. Won't even look at it. She will at least take a few bites if there is Krill Oil on it, and with enough toppers, will eat it.

andrya · May 1, 2013

My kitties alternate between salmon oil and krill. They like the salmon oil, but love, LOVE the krill.

We use the NOW brand that was linked in the previous post, and as mrsgreenjeens mentioned, they can't be snipped and squeezed at the end of the capsule as easily as the salmon oil. They need to be sliced with a sharp knife down the side of the capsule on the seam, then it gives way pretty easily, but the shell is hard.

Someone here once posted they soak the capsules in hot water for a while to soften them up before slicing and squeezing. Another said she melts the entire capsule into hot water, fishes out any solids she can get, and adds the water to the raw food.

Did the doctor also talk about Glucosamine for arthritis? l know there was a thread here not long ago about arthritis kitties. l believe it was started by Anne - l'll edit and link it if l find it.

Found it:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/255611/have-you-ever-lived-with-a-cat-that-had-arthritis

peaches08 · May 1, 2013

Have you considered Adequan?

raintyger · May 1, 2013

mrsgreenjeens said:
Here is what some of us use:
It does come in a pretty hard to open and squeeze capsule, but if you slice into it at the seam with the tip of a paring knife, it opens fairly easy, but you really need to squeeze it hard to get the oil out. My fingers aren't very strong, but I can do it between my thumb and middle finger, usually.

I understand Mercola has a Krill Oil in a pump bottle that dispenses only the amount needed with each pump. I'll may try that one next, depending on the price. It's supposedly packed in such a way that it keeps it fresh.

As to taste, one of mine loves it, and hates salmon oil. One of mine loves salmon oil and doesn't particularly care for Krill Oil, but will eat it because he loves food

, and the third one doesn't like either one, but she prefers Krill over Salmon Oil. How do I know? She flat out refuses to eat if Salmon Oil is in her food. Won't even look at it. She will at least take a few bites if there is Krill Oil on it, and with enough toppers, will eat it.

OK, thanks for the link! Both the Now and Mercola sound like good possibilities. I suppose if she won't take the krill oil I can use it for myself in place of my salmon oil capsule regimen.

peaches08 said:
Have you considered Adequan?

Didn't even know of it until now. Internet info says it's for horses and dogs?

Andrya said:
My kitties alternate between salmon oil and krill. They like the salmon oil, but love, LOVE the krill.

We use the NOW brand that was linked in the previous post, and as mrsgreenjeens mentioned, they can't be snipped and squeezed at the end of the capsule as easily as the salmon oil. They need to be sliced with a sharp knife down the side of the capsule on the seam, then it gives way pretty easily, but the shell is hard.

Someone here once posted they soak the capsules in hot water for a while to soften them up before slicing and squeezing. Another said she melts the entire capsule into hot water, fishes out any solids she can get, and adds the water to the raw food.

Did the doctor also talk about Glucosamine for arthritis? l know there was a thread here not long ago about arthritis kitties. l believe it was started by Anne - l'll edit and link it if l find it.

Found it:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/255611/have-you-ever-lived-with-a-cat-that-had-arthritis

He didn't say anything about glucosamine, although I have been giving Zuke's Hip Action. Poppy's always liked Zuke's chicken treats. I don't like the carbs in it, but I figured Hip Action was OK because of the glucosamine and have been giving it to her up to this point on a general "good for you" principle. I always suspected a possible traumatic accident because of her tail kink, so I kept giving the Hip Action.

Thanks for the arthritis thread. Looks like a lot of people are using Cosequin, and there's some controversy over Metacam? The vet did prescribe Metacam for a week on a "we'll see" basis, but if other remedies are available, I'm open to them.

peaches08 · May 1, 2013

Adequan is not labeled for cats, but it can be given to cats. I've used it on horses and cats with much better success than feed through supplements. Although, you can certainly use both! There are other health benefits from krill oil.

vball91 · May 1, 2013

Metacam is VERY controversial and is supposed to be used once, if at all, and I've never heard of it being prescribed for arthritis. I would talk to your vet about a different pain med (non NSAID like buprenorphine for example).

mschauer · May 1, 2013

Here's some information on Metacam:

Metacam

The FDA gave as the reason for the meloxicam boxed warning “many cases of kidney failure and death in cats associated with repeated use of METACAM[emoji]174[/emoji].”

raintyger · May 1, 2013

I did some Google searches and found out the information. I did give her one dose this a.m., and now I am super scared and worried since I am at work and not with her. I think I’ll opt for Cosequin instead. She hasn’t been limiping around or anything, but the vet did speculate that the arthritis might be at the root of her constipation problems.

raintyger · May 2, 2013

OK, everyone, thanks for all your replies and steering me away from Metacam! Poppy seems to be doing fine. She was a bit picky about her food yesterday, which scared me, but ate just fine today.

I got the krill oil and opened it as advised, down the seam. It was way messy, though! Are there any tips on how I can get most of the oil in her food and not on me as red nail polish?

Also, the store help gave me a tip. He pointed out a source distributor's logo on the package. He said that any product that bears this logo is getting the krill oil from the same distributor source, so it's essentially the same quality. Sort of like how some grocery store brands are the exact same product as the brand name, just in a different package. I shall upload the logo here so you know what I'm talking about:

KrillOilLogo.jpg

raintyger
May 2, 2013

It is on the package of Now krill oil in the previous link that mrsgreenjeans posted.

pinkman · May 2, 2013

Raintyger said:
I got the krill oil and opened it as advised, down the seam. It was way messy, though! Are there any tips on how I can get most of the oil in her food and not on me as red nail polish?

I had this problem too. Eventually, I just decided to pour only 1/2 of the capsule onto the food and the rest (capsule and oil) with the food mixed. For some reason my cat doesn't have a problem with this.

raintyger · May 3, 2013

Tried again today and had a much better time opening the softgel. Only my second time doing it with this particular brand, but I think it is easier if you only poke a small hole in the softgel. That way you can control the oil much better. I didn't get it all out, but at least 90% of it went in the cat food.

carolina · May 3, 2013

Raintyger said:
Tried again today and had a much better time opening the softgel. Only my second time doing it with this particular brand, but I think it is easier if you only poke a small hole in the softgel. That way you can control the oil much better. I didn't get it all out, but at least 90% of it went in the cat food.

That's what I do - I poke it with a needle and squeeze it with stainless steel pliers

raintyger · May 4, 2013

Oh, thanks, Carolina, for the extra refinement! I was opening with a very fine point knife, but a needle sounds like it's better. Can you elaborate on that needle, what size? Tapestry/needlework? Or regular sewing needle?

vball91 · May 4, 2013

I use a push pin (the kind with the plastic head). I found holding a needle difficult with my arthritic fingers.

carolina · May 4, 2013

Actually, thick injection needles is what I use. I got it from my vet :nod: I think it is the one they would use for fluids? It is the thick one..... They are strong..... The Thingy on the back that connects to the syringe makes it easy to hold while the tip is very sharp. Ask your vet for some!

I started using pliers when I wasn't feeding the NOW brand yet as the gel caps were too hard! But then I just continued to use them as the pliers make it easier to squeeze it over the food without making a mess and getting all the contents from the caps out.

I use a 100% Stainless pliers I got on Amazon so I can wash it and also toss it into the machine washer.

bonnie1smom · Jul 30, 2017

Hi Cat Lovers,

I also give Bonnie (and her brother Earl) the Now brand Krill oil. I'm currently giving them one capsule each, which is 500mg/ day, however, the appropriate dosage I found online is 250mg/ day.

I cut a slice onto the end of the capsule with a sharp knife or scissors and squeeze the oil onto their food. I get most of the oil out with very little mess.

Does anyone just give half a capsule?

MeganLLB · Jul 31, 2017

Grizzly Krill Oil Dog Food Supplement

Grizzly Joint Aid products has a lot to choose from, some say for dogs only, and others are safe for both dogs and cats.

MeganLLB · Jul 31, 2017

Grizzly has it in a pump in a liquid form and also in pellets. And I just asked about the Krill Oil. They said it is safe for cats if you follow the weight chart on the bottle.

Krill Oil

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