REAL maximum EPA-DHA (omega-3) for a 9 pound cat

Hi everyone,

I currently know of one reference that speaks about maximum dosage of EPA/DHA for cats. It's http://www.felinecrf.org, which states that :

"One recommended dose of EPA is 22mg per kg of cat per day, or 10mg per lb of cat per day. So if your cat weighs 8 lb (3.6kg), you would give a product containing 80mg of EPA each day. 

Another recommended dosage is 180 EPA and 120 DHA per 10 lbs (4.5kg) of cat. As you can see, this is more than double the earlier dose. 

"

I used to give my cat salmon oil. The bottle stated that I had to give her 2.5ml of that oil (which equals 180 EPA and 120 DHA), exactly the maximum dosage stated in the second paragraph above.

Like some of you might already know, my cat has serious arthritis + CKD stage 2.

And now that I switched her to VivaLabs krill oil (http://krilloil.com/  drag your mouse on the picture of the bottle and you'll see the content for TWO capsules)), I am afraid of giving her that same amount of EPA/DHA cuz it would mean giving her 2 capsules. Everyone in different forums say that one capsule is more than enough.

I sure dont want to my cat to have more that the maximum recommended dosage, but do you guys agree that giving 2 caps of krill oil is safe if it is the same dosage (in terms of EPA/DHA) than my previous salmon oil ?

Or if you know any other serious reference that gives different recommended dosage I would be glad to know it!

Thanks for your help!

Kim and Titi

Start with one capsule, and see if it provides any benefits in terms of her movement / agility. I saw a difference in Flowerbelle's movement quite rapidly when I switched from salmon oil to krill oil. She weighs 7.25 pounds, and I give her one 500mg capsule daily. This contains 120mg of EPA and 70mg of DHA (I use NOW foods Neptune Krill Oil).

But here is what info there is:

While omega-3 fatty acids have numerous benefits and clinical indications, as with any nutraceutical, caution should be exercised to avoid adverse reactions, and careful patient selection should be employed. The authors state that The National Research Council publication on Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats has established 2,800 mg/1,000 kcal of diet as a safe upper limit of the combined amounts of EPA and DHA, which is equivalent to 370 mg/kg0.75 in dogs. For example, in a 10-kg dog, the safe upper limit would be 2,080 mg. They also state that not enough published data are available to establish a safe upper limit in cats.

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From: http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.co...Article/detail/817506?contextCategoryId=47673

This is why you can't find anything conclusive.

Another take: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ktudor/2013/aug/the-dangers-of-too-much-fish-oil#.UpEvbkBpqWy

The National Research Council has established a safe upper limit of EPA and DHA for dogs. It has yet to establish one for cats. In light of that, it is probably safe to use the guidelines for dogs for both species. Translating the data suggests that a dose between 20-55mg combined EPA and DHA per pound of body weight is safe for dogs and cats. This dose is far less than those used to treat serious conditions where the risk of side effects is less important than the benefits of treatment. Consult with your veterinarian when treating conditions requiring higher dosages.

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Thanks s lot LDG!
how long do you think I should wait to see if I cap of krill oil might be enough?

I'd give it a week or two. With Flowerbelle, I saw a difference in three days, but this type of supplement can take time to help. So if after two weeks you've seen no difference, I'd bump it up.

Thanks