I want to tell you something I don’t often share publicly.
In 2013, I was in Calgary visiting a friend when I was rear-ended in a car accident. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I was shaken but felt okay enough to make my way to the airport. I stopped at a little café inside the terminal, had some water — and then boarded my flight.
It wasn’t until I was somewhere over the Rockies that I realized I had left every single piece of my luggage, and everything in it, sitting in that café.
That moment wasn’t a travel distraction. It was the first sign of something more serious. I was diagnosed with a concussion and with something I hadn’t known was even possible: short-term visual memory loss.
I couldn’t hold onto snapshots of images or text. Reading was nearly impossible. My eye coordination was completely off. And for the first time in my life, I experienced a sudden-onset depression — which, I later learned, is a recognized consequence of head injuries, and one of the most alarming things I’ve ever been through.
My brain was injured, inflamed, and agitated. And the intricate network of neurons, nerves, and the protective barrier surrounding them was all caught in the same storm.
What I discovered during that recovery changed how I think about brain health — for people and for dogs — permanently.
DHA: The Foundation Your Brain, Nerves, and Their Guardian Are Built On
Before I tell you more, I want to give you a clear picture of what DHA actually does in the body — because I think most people only have half the story.
DHA — docosahexaenoic acid — is an omega-3 fatty acid classified as “essential,” meaning the body cannot produce meaningful amounts of it on its own. It must come from the diet. And it is not simply a nutrient that is “good for” the brain. It is, quite literally, one of the primary structural building blocks that the brain, the nervous system, and the blood-brain barrier are built from.
What DHA Does
In the brain itself:
DHA makes up approximately 30–40% of all the fatty acids in the brain’s grey matter. It is woven into the cell membranes of every neuron — the communicating cells of the brain.
Membrane flexibility, the speed and quality of signal transmission between neurons, the ability of synapses to form and strengthen — all of these depend on an adequate, consistent supply of DHA. Without it, neurons become rigid, communication slows, and the architecture of thinking, memory, and mood begins to degrade.
In the blood-brain barrier:
This is where the story of DHA and brain protection becomes even more remarkable — and where the blood-brain barrier (BBB) fits as one essential part of a larger picture.
The BBB is a highly selective membrane lining the blood vessels that feed the brain. It decides what gets in and what stays out — nutrients and oxygen in, toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory molecules out. DHA is a core structural fat in the BBB itself.
When DHA is adequate, the barrier holds tight and the brain is shielded. When it is depleted, the barrier weakens — and the brain becomes permeable to things it was never meant to encounter.
In the nerves:
DHA helps form and maintain myelin — the insulating sheath that wraps around nerve fibers and allows electrical signals to travel quickly and accurately. Think of myelin like the coating on an electrical wire. When it is healthy and intact, signals travel cleanly. When it is depleted or damaged, signals misfire, slow down, or don’t arrive at all.
This is why DHA deficiency can show up not only as cognitive fog, but as poor coordination, sensory sensitivity, slow reflexes, and emotional dysregulation.
In the retina:
The highest concentration of DHA in the entire body is found in the photoreceptor cells of the retina.
What the BBB Protects Against — and Why It Matters
Now that you understand DHA’s role throughout the whole system, the BBB piece makes even more sense.
When the blood-brain barrier is healthy and well-nourished with DHA, it:
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- Helps blocks heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental toxins from reaching brain tissue
- Keeps out pathogens — bacteria, viruses — that could trigger neurological inflammation
- Filters inflammatory molecules generated elsewhere in the body, slowing the cascade that leads to cognitive aging
- Regulates the precise delivery of nutrients and signals the brain relies on
- Protects the delicate neuronal environment that mood, memory, personality, and cognition depend on
When it breaks down — through DHA deficiency, chronic inflammation, toxin accumulation, or injury — harmful substances reach neurons that were never meant to encounter them. Combined with already-depleted neuronal membranes and fraying myelin, this is when you see the full picture of cognitive and neurological decline: memory loss, anxiety, coordination problems, behavioral changes, depression
In my case, the accident had triggered all of it at once — acutely. The depression, the visual memory loss, the inability to read or track text — these were not separate symptoms. They were one story: a brain starved of the structural fat it needed to function, communicate, and protect itself.
What Changed Everything
I tried many approaches during my recovery. But it wasn’t until we introduced FeelGood Omega – a toxin free squid oil with one of the highest levels of DHA — that my symptoms genuinely began to clear.
My visual memory returned. The depression lifted. My ability to navigate text came back. I started to feel like myself again.
DHA is not a drug. It didn’t manipulate or suppress my symptoms in a pharmaceutical sense. What it did was give my neurons, my myelin, my retinal cells, and my blood-brain barrier the structural raw material they needed to rebuild and calmed the inflammation. The body knew exactly what to do with it. I just had to provide enough of it, consistently, over time.
Why This Matters for Your Dog
Our and our dog’s brain face many ongoing challenges.
Processed food, environmental toxins, a diet dominated by omega-6 fats (the inflammatory kind) with minimal omega-3, chronic low-grade gut inflammation, and the natural process of aging all place steady, ongoing pressure on every layer of the system I’ve described — neurons, myelin, the retina, and the BBB.
Sadly, dogs eating commercial kibble are chronically low in DHA, and even if omega-3s were added during the kibble’s manufacturing process, they oxidize and go rancid before they even go in your dog’s bowl.
There’s no sudden crash, no dramatic event. Just a deterioration of the brain, nerves, and their protective barrier.
When DHA levels are maintained, we and dogs stay mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, well-coordinated, and cognitively present well into their senior years. When they’re not, you start to see the early signs: more sleeping, less engagement, confusion, anxiety, poor coordination, dull eyes, behavioral changes. Too often written off as old age. Too often, at least in part, preventable.
And it begins long before the senior years. DHA is critical during childhood and puppyhood — the first months and years of life is when the brain is growing fastest, laying down its entire foundational architecture. The neurons being built, the myelin being formed, the BBB being established — all of it requires a generous, consistent supply of DHA. Starting early and staying consistent is always the most effective strategy.
Why Calamari Oil — Not Fish Oil
When we developed FeelGood Omega, I spent nearly two years finding the cleanest, most DHA-rich marine oil available. The answer was calamari — squid oil.
Calamari oil has roughly double the DHA concentration of most fish oils. One teaspoon of FeelGood Omega delivers 920mg of DHA and 410mg of EPA — among the most potent per-serving levels available anywhere.
Squid sit low on the marine food chain, which means far less bioaccumulation of heavy metals like mercury and lead. This matters enormously — because heavy metals are themselves known to compromise the BBB and neurological function. You cannot protect your dog’s brain with an oil that introduces neurotoxic compounds at the same time. Every batch of FeelGood Omega is micro-filtered and third-party tested for heavy metals and toxins. That is non-negotiable for us.
Calamari is also the most sustainable marine omega-3 option available — squid populations are stable and robust. I feel good about giving it to Pax every day, adding a double dose in his veggies because he likes them better that way.
The Gut–Brain Connection
One more piece worth understanding: your dog’s gut health directly affects the health of their brain — including the BBB.
A healthy, diverse gut microbiome produces anti-inflammatory signals and short-chain fatty acids that help maintain the tight junctions of the BBB from the outside in. When the gut is inflamed or “leaky,” inflammatory signals travel through the bloodstream and weaken the brain’s barrier over time.
This is why I often recommend pairing FeelGood Omega with GutSense. These two supplements address the same underlying system from different angles — GutSense stabilizes the gut lining and microbiome, FeelGood Omega provides the structural DHA for neurons, myelin, and the BBB. Together, they create whole-system brain and nervous system protection.
Daily Brain-Protection Habits
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- Start early and stay consistent. DHA is not stored in large reserves in the body. It must be replenished daily. Sporadic supplementation does not give the brain or the body what it needs.
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Quality is as important as quantity. Rancid or low-DHA oil offers very little and may add oxidative stress. If it smells rancid, it is not doing what you hope.
Research also shows that offering double or even triple the “daily dose” increases the benefits. Pax gets double the label dose and I take 3000mg (3g) daily. -
Give it time. Neurological changes — at the level of membranes, myelin, and the BBB — take months, not days. Most people notice meaningful shifts in energy and engagement within 4–8 weeks, but the deeper structural work happens over consistent months of daily use.
This is especially important when you are addressing an injury, inflammation or cognitive symptoms such as dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
- Don’t wait for symptoms. Depletion is gradual, doggy and human dementia are real and prevention is always more powerful than intervention. That is my mantra.
Honestly, I didn’t expect a car accident in Calgary to become one of the most formative experiences of my work and my personal health journey. But sometimes the difficult things teach us the most.
I take FeelGood Omega H+ every single day and I give FeelGood Omega to Pax daily. Not because either of us is unwell — but because there is a body of research showing, how important it is for health and longevity.
Learn more about FeelGood Omega here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does omega-3 actually do for my dog’s brain?
Omega-3 fatty acids — especially DHA — are the primary structural fat making up your dog’s brain tissue and the blood-brain barrier. Think of DHA as the building material that keeps brain cell membranes flexible, communication between neurons sharp, and the protective barrier around the brain strong. Without enough DHA, the brain ages faster, inflammation rises, and cognitive function declines.
What’s the difference between EPA and DHA — do both matter for the brain?
DHA is the primary structural omega-3 in the brain — it’s literally built into the cell membranes of neurons and the blood-brain barrier itself. EPA plays a complementary anti-inflammatory role, reducing the brain inflammation that accelerates cognitive aging. Both matter, but DHA is the one most critically linked to brain structure and the blood-brain barrier specifically. That’s why we chose calamari oil, which has an unusually high DHA-to-EPA ratio.
Why is calamari/squid oil better than regular fish oil for brain health?
Calamari oil contains significantly higher concentrations of DHA compared to most fish oils, making it the superior choice for brain and blood-brain barrier support specifically. It also comes from a smaller marine animal lower on the food chain, which means far less accumulation of heavy metals and toxins — protecting the very barrier you are trying to strengthen. FeelGood Omega is micro-filtered and tested toxin-free for that exact reason.
How much FeelGood Omega should I give my dog?
The basic dosing is weight-based, consider 2 – 3x the dose for the greatest effect of the following label dosage which I do for Pax:
¼ tsp for dogs under 22 lbs
½ tsp for 23–55 lbs
1 tsp for 56–110 lbs
1¼ tsp for dogs over 110 lbs
When should I start giving omega-3 for brain health — is it too late for my senior dog?
It is never too late, but starting early in puppyhood or childhood is always better. DHA is critical at every life stage — from puppyhood for brain development, through adulthood for maintenance, to the senior years for protecting against cognitive decline. Many guardians notice meaningful improvements in senior dogs’ alertness and engagement within weeks of consistent supplementation. Think of it as long-term maintenance for the brain, not an emergency fix.
Does omega-3 help with canine dementia (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction)?
Yes, and there is solid science behind it. Multiple studies show dogs supplemented with DHA and EPA demonstrate improved learning ability, memory, and psychomotor control compared to unsupplemented dogs. DHA specifically has neuroprotective properties that support neuron survival and the health of the blood-brain barrier — the shield that keeps harmful substances out of the brain. Early and consistent supplementation is the most effective strategy.
What is the blood-brain barrier, and why does it matter for my dog?
The blood-brain barrier is a highly selective protective shield between the bloodstream and the brain. It decides what gets in and what stays out — letting in nutrients like oxygen and DHA while blocking toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory molecules. When this barrier is compromised — by poor diet, environmental toxins, chronic inflammation, or aging — harmful substances leak into the brain, accelerating cognitive decline and neurological problems. Keeping the BBB strong is one of the most important, and under appreciated, acts of love for your dog’s long-term brain health.
Can I give the same omega-3 product to myself and my dog?
Yes.
How long does it take to notice a difference in my dog’s brain function?
Many guardians notice changes — a little more spark, better sleep, improved engagement — within 4 to 8 weeks of daily supplementation. Meaningful structural changes at the level of the blood-brain barrier and brain cell membranes take longer, typically 3 to 6 months of consistent use. This is a lifetime investment in brain resilience.
Are there any side effects of giving omega-3 for brain health?
FeelGood Omega is extremely well tolerated. This supplement is safe for long-term daily use.
What is the MFSD2A transporter — how does DHA actually get into the brain?
The blood-brain barrier does not just let nutrients in freely — it has “bouncers.” For DHA, the bouncer is a protein called MFSD2A, a dedicated transporter that physically carries DHA molecules across the barrier and into the brain. Research shows that without this protein, brain DHA levels drop by 80–90%, and animals develop neuronal loss and cognitive deficits.
How does gut health connect to the blood-brain barrier in dogs?
This is one of the most exciting frontiers in canine health, and it connects two of the pillars in Dr. Dobias’s approach — gut support and omega-3. A healthy gut microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids that signal the BBB to stay tight and intact. When the gut is inflamed or “leaky,” that inflammation can travel through the bloodstream and weaken the BBB from the outside in. This is why combining GutSense and FeelGood Omega is such a powerful strategy — you are protecting the brain from both ends.
Can omega-3 help with dog anxiety and behavioral issues, not just memory?
Sometimes. The blood-brain barrier and its integrity are directly connected to emotional regulation — when the BBB is compromised and inflammation reaches the brain, it affects mood, stress response, and fear processing, not just memory. DHA and EPA both support the anti-inflammatory pathways that help keep emotional reactivity in check. Many guardians supplementing for physical health notice calmer, more relaxed dogs as a secondary benefit.
Should I give omega-3 to a puppy to support brain development?
Yes, and this is one of the most important windows. The first year of life is when the brain is growing fastest and laying down its foundational architecture — and DHA is the primary building block. Omega-3 is relevant at every life stage, but the puppy period is arguably the highest-priority time to ensure consistent, adequate DHA intake. Starting FeelGood Omega from early puppyhood helps build a brain that is wired for resilience from the start.
Can omega-3 help dogs recovering from neurological injury, seizures, or stroke?
General research suggests DHA has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties that may support recovery following neurological events, including reducing injury-related inflammation in the brain. However, in any situation involving seizures, stroke, or acute neurological conditions, we strongly recommend working closely with a veterinarian before adjusting supplementation.
Does heavy metal or toxin exposure damage the blood-brain barrier in dogs?
This is an important, and somewhat under-explored connection. Toxins and heavy metals in the environment and food supply can compromise the integrity of the BBB, making it “leaky” and allowing harmful substances into the brain. This is exactly why Dr. Dobias recommends both supporting detox pathways (LiverTune) and actively rebuilding the BBB through consistent DHA intake (FeelGood Omega). A clean liver reduces the toxic load in the blood; DHA strengthens the barrier that protects the brain from what remains.
Is algae-based DHA just as good as calamari oil for my dog’s brain?
Algae oil is where fish and squid get their DHA in the first place — algae is the original source. However, most commercially available algae oils for pets are significantly lower in DHA concentration than calamari oil, meaning you would need to give more to achieve the same brain-supporting dose. FeelGood Omega is micro-filtered calamari oil with confirmed EPA (≥410mg) and DHA (≥920mg) per teaspoon, tested toxin-free — a difficult benchmark to match in the algae oil market.
My senior dog sleeps all day — could low omega-3 be part of the reason?
It could be a contributing factor. Lethargy, reduced engagement, and excessive sleeping are among the early signs of canine cognitive dysfunction — and DHA deficiency is a recognized factor in cognitive decline. Rather than immediately attributing it to “old age,” it is worth supporting the brain with consistent, high-DHA omega-3 and monitoring for changes over 4–8 weeks. That said, sudden changes in energy or sleep should always be evaluated by a vet to rule out other causes.
Is omega-3 safe to give alongside medications like Apoquel or NSAIDs?
General guidance is that omega-3 is considered very safe and may in fact reduce the needed dose of anti-inflammatory medications over time. Some sources suggest that high-dose omega-3 can may have mild blood-thinning properties. However, we have not seen this in practice and consider standard maintenance doses safe.
Can omega-3 reduce seizure frequency in dogs?
While we can’t make specific claims about seizure management, omega-3 fatty acids are known to have neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain, and some early human research suggests they may support neurological stability. For dogs with a seizure history, we strongly recommend using higher doses omega-3 as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Scientific References
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