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Introduction
Max has had this dry, itchy skin forever. He’s always scratching himself raw, and he leaves these white dandruff flakes all over my couch, my clothes, even my bed. I tried everything: special hypoallergenic shampoo, fancy grain-free food, even those anti-itch sprays that smell like lavender. Nothing worked. The vet finally looked at me and said, “He’s just missing omega-3s. You need to give him cod liver oil.”
I’d never thought about that before. I knew fish oil was good for people, but I didn’t know it was good for dogs, too. I started looking around, and found the Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil. It was $28.86 for 8 oz, which sounded a little expensive, but the vet said it was one of the best brands, so I ordered it. After using it for a month, I put together this full Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil: A Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil Review of Its Benefits
So, what is this stuff, anyway? It’s cod liver oil, specifically for pets, right? It’s made from wild Arctic cod, so it’s not farmed fish, which is nice, because you don’t have to worry about all the weird stuff that farmed fish have. It has omega-3s, EPA and DHA, which are the things that help with skin and coat, and joint health. It also has vitamin A and vitamin D, which are good for their immune system, and their eyes, and their bones.
Each teaspoon has 1104 mg of omega-3, which is a lot, right? It’s liquid, so you just pour a little bit on your dog’s food, and they eat it. No more forcing pills down their throat, which is great, because Max hates pills. He will hide if he sees me with a pill. This is way easier.
It’s supposed to be unflavored, too, so it doesn’t smell like fish, or anything. The idea is that your dog won’t even notice it’s in their food. It’s also third-party tested, so you know there’s no heavy metals, or toxins, or anything bad in it. That’s important, because a lot of cheap fish oil has mercury in it, right?
My Story: Putting Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil to the Test
When the bottle arrived, I was pretty excited. I opened it up, and the first thing I noticed was the smell. They said it was unflavored, but it definitely smelled like fish. Not super strong, like rotten fish, but you could definitely tell it was fish oil. I was worried Max would hate it, because he’s a picky eater.
I poured a teaspoon on his food, mixed it in, and he ate it right up. No hesitation, no sniffing, nothing. He just ate it like it was regular food. I was shocked, I thought he would turn his nose up at it. But he loved it. He even licked the bowl clean, like he was trying to get every last drop.
The first few days, though, his poop was soft. Like, really soft. I panicked, I thought he was sick, or he was allergic to it. I went online, and saw that so many other people had the same problem. Their dogs get soft poop the first week, while their stomach gets used to all the fat. Oh, right! Because dogs aren’t used to eating that much oil, right? So after about three days, it went back to normal. Phew.
Then, after a week, I noticed something. Max wasn’t scratching as much. He used to scratch his ears, his belly, his legs, all the time. Now, he was barely scratching at all. And the dandruff? It was gone! I looked at my couch, and there were no more white flakes. That was amazing! I’d been dealing with that for years, and it was gone in a week.
After two weeks, his coat was so shiny. Like, really shiny. People were stopping me on the street, asking what I was feeding him, because his fur looked so good. Even his joints! He’s getting older, right? He used to limp a little after long hikes. Now, he can hike 3 miles, and he doesn’t limp at all. I couldn’t believe it.
But then, there was the annoying part. The dropper. Oh my god, the dropper. Every single time I use it, I have to wash it. If I don’t, the oil gets stuck in it, and it goes rancid, and it smells terrible. And if you leave the oil exposed to air, it loses its potency, right? So I can’t just leave the dropper in the bottle, I have to take it out, wash it, dry it, put the cap back on. Every single night. That’s so annoying! I do this every day, and it’s such a hassle. I wish they would make a pump bottle, or something, so I don’t have to wash the dropper every time.
Also, the price. $28.86 for 8 oz? That lasts me about a month and a half, right? Because I use a teaspoon a day. That’s almost $20 a month, which is a little expensive. I can’t afford that forever, honestly. A lot of people said the same thing, it’s great, but it’s too expensive to keep buying.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- It worked for his skin and coat: That first week, the dandruff was gone, the scratching stopped, his coat got shiny. That was the whole reason I bought it, and it worked perfectly.
- It helped his joints: He’s 7 years old, and he used to limp after hikes. Now, he can run and jump, no problem. I noticed a huge difference in his mobility.
- My dog loves the taste: He eats it right up, no problem. He doesn’t care about the fishy taste, he loves it. No more forcing pills down his throat.
- It’s high quality: It’s wild cod, third-party tested, no heavy metals, no toxins. I know I’m not giving him garbage, which is nice.
- It works for cats, too: A lot of my friends use it for their cats, and it works for them, too. It’s not just for dogs.
What I Didn’t Like
- The dropper is a huge hassle: Every single night, I have to wash the dropper, dry it, put the cap back on. If I forget, the oil goes rancid, and it smells terrible. That’s so annoying.
- It’s expensive: $28.86 for 8 oz, that lasts a month and a half. That’s almost $20 a month, which is a lot, especially if you have multiple dogs.
- The first few days, soft poop: My dog had soft poop for three days, while his stomach got used to it. That was a little scary, at first.
- It’s not actually unflavored: It says unflavored, but it definitely smells like fish. Not too bad, but it’s not nothing.
- Some people say it doesn’t work for them: A lot of people said they used it for a month, and they didn’t notice any difference. It worked for me, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
Is Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If your dog has dry skin, dandruff, itchy skin, or joint problems, and you’re willing to spend a little money, then yeah, this is perfect. It worked so well for Max, it was worth it, even with the hassle.
But if you’re on a super tight budget? Then no, this is too expensive. There are cheaper fish oils out there, even if they’re not as high quality.
Also, if you have a tiny dog? Then the small bottle is better, but this one is 8 oz, which is too big, it will go bad before you use it. This is better for medium or large dogs, honestly.
And if your dog has a sensitive stomach? Be careful, because the first few days, they might have soft poop. Start with half a teaspoon, and work your way up, so their stomach can get used to it.
Common Questions About Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Can I use this for cats?
Yeah! A lot of people use it for cats, too. Just use a smaller dose, like a quarter of a teaspoon, because cats are smaller. It works the same way, helps their skin and coat.
How long does the bottle last?
If you use a teaspoon a day, which is the dose for a 50 pound dog, it lasts about 45 days. That’s a month and a half. If you have a smaller dog, it lasts longer.
Will this make my dog have diarrhea?
It can, at first. A lot of dogs get soft poop the first few days, while their stomach gets used to all the fat. Start with a smaller dose, half a teaspoon, and work your way up, so their stomach can adjust. If it doesn’t go away after a week, stop using it.
Does this have mercury in it?
No, it’s third-party tested, so they test for heavy metals, and there’s no mercury, or toxins, or anything bad in it. That’s one of the reasons it’s so expensive, because they test it.
My Top Takeaways on Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil
At the end of the day, this stuff works. It really does. It fixed Max’s dandruff, it stopped the scratching, it helped his joints, it made his coat shiny. It was exactly what the vet said it would be.
But it has a lot of flaws. The dropper is a huge hassle, the price is high, the first few days are a little rough with the soft poop. It’s not perfect, but it works.
I will say, though, it’s worth it, if you can afford it. That first month, before I added nothing, it worked perfectly. Max is so much happier now, he’s not scratching all the time, he can run and jump, no problem. That’s worth the $28, right? Even if I have to wash the dropper every night.
Final Thoughts on Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil
All in all, the Nordic Naturals Pet Cod Liver Oil has been great. It solved my biggest problem—Max’s dry skin and dandruff—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The soft poop went away, the hassle of the dropper is something I can live with, because it works.
If you’re dealing with the same thing, itchy skin, dandruff, joint problems, and you’re willing to spend a little money? It’s worth it. Just start with a small dose, so your dog’s stomach can get used to it.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.