Botanical Omegas: Why Borage Oil Deserves a Place in Your Pet’s Diet

Botanical Omegas: Why Borage Oil Deserves a Place in Your Pet’s Diet

When people think about omega supplements for pets, they usually think of fish oil — rich in EPA and DHA, well-known for skin, coat, and joint support.

But there’s another important player in the omega family that’s quietly gaining attention in veterinary dermatology and nutrition:

👉 Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) — a special omega-6 fatty acid found in certain plant oils, especially borage oil.

While most omega-6 fats are already abundant in modern diets, GLA is different. It has a unique metabolic pathway and potential to support the skin barrier and help maintain a normal inflammatory response, especially when combined with omega-3s.

Let’s look at why borage oil is interesting — and where the science currently stands.

1.What is Borage Oil and Why Is It Different?

Borage oil comes from the seeds of the borage plant (Borago officinalis), sometimes called starflower. It’s one of the richest known natural sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) — typically around 20–25% GLA, higher than evening primrose or black currant oil. Carnivora+1

GLA is not the same as the more common omega-6s (like linoleic acid) found in many pet foods. In the body, GLA is converted to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which can be further metabolized into compounds that help support a balanced inflammatory response and healthy skin barrier function. ResearchGate

In simple terms:

  • Most omega-6s: easy to get from food, but can be pro-inflammatory in excess.
  • GLA from borage: harder to get, and can have a modulating / balancing role in skin and immune function when used appropriately.

2. GLA, Skin Health, and the Barrier From Within

Healthy skin isn’t just about what you put on your pet — it’s heavily influenced by what goes in their bowl.

Essential fatty acids (including GLA) are incorporated into cell membranes and the lipid layer of the skin, affecting: ResearchGate+2PMC+2

  • Moisture retention
  • Barrier integrity
  • Shedding and flakiness
  • Susceptibility to irritants

Some veterinary nutrition reviews on canine skin disease note that supplementation with essential fatty acids — often combining fish oil with evening primrose or borage oil — can reduce the severity of skin signs and may decrease the need for steroids in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Wiley Online Library+3PMC+3MDPI+3

Reported benefits (always gradual, not overnight) include:

  • Softer, less “harsh” coat feel
  • Reduced dryness and flakiness
  • Less itchiness related to dry or irritated skin
  • Improved overall coat quality in some dogs and cats

However, responses vary from pet to pet, and fatty acids are supportive — not a magic cure.

3. What Does the Research Say About Borage Oil Specifically?

🧪 Human eczema / atopic dermatitis

Borage oil has been studied quite a bit in humans with atopic eczema, both on its own and combined with evening primrose oil:

  • A Cochrane systematic review of clinical trials found no consistent benefit of oral borage oil or evening primrose oil over placebo for eczema symptoms, although both were generally well tolerated. Cochrane+2Cochrane Library+2
  • A later narrative review of borage oil for atopic dermatitis reached similar conclusions: some small trials showed improvements, others did not; overall, evidence is mixed and not strong enough to recommend borage oil as a stand-alone treatment. ScienceDirect

So for humans with eczema, the current consensus is: borage oil is interesting, may help some individuals, but evidence is inconsistent.

🐶 Dogs and essential fatty acid combinations (including borage oil)

In dogs, the focus has been less on borage oil alone and more on EFA blends (e.g., borage seed oil + fish oil) as adjuncts in managing atopic dermatitis and dry skin:

  • A randomized, controlled clinical trial in dogs with atopic dermatitis found that supplementation with a combination of borage seed oil and fish oil had a steroid-sparing effect — dogs receiving the EFA blend required less prednisolone to maintain control. avmajournals.avma.org+3Wiley Online Library+3ResearchGate+3
  • The ACVD (American College of Veterinary Dermatology) task force review on canine atopic dermatitis concluded that essential fatty acids (including combinations with borage or evening primrose oil) can be modestly beneficial in many cases and may reduce drug requirements, though they are not effective for every dog and should be viewed as part of a multi-modal plan. ResearchGate+2Wiley Online Library+2
  • A 2020 review on nutritional supplementation for canine skin diseases also notes that EFA blends, particularly those combining omega-3 and specific omega-6 sources like GLA, show supportive benefits for skin health, with relatively low risk when properly formulated. PMC+1

In other words:

for dogs, borage oil seems most useful as part of a carefully balanced fatty acid blend, especially alongside omega-3s.

4. Safety and Quality Considerations for Borage Oil

Borage as a plant can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are potentially hepatotoxic (harmful to the liver) at certain levels. Reputable human supplement guidance stresses the importance of using PA-free, properly purified borage oil, with third-party testing. Health

For pets, that means:

•    Only using borage oil from manufacturers who purify and test their oils
•    Avoiding crude or unknown-origin borage products
•    Using veterinary-formulated or veterinary-reviewed products when possible

As with any supplement, it’s wise to:

•    Follow label dosing carefully
•    Introduce gradually
•    Monitor for digestive upset
•    Discuss with your veterinarian, especially if your pet has liver disease or is on medications

5. Why Borage Oil Works Best With Fish Oil, Not Instead of It

Borage oil is not a replacement for fish oil — it’s a partner.

Together, they offer marine + botanical synergy:

Fish oil (EPA & DHA)

  • Helps support normal inflammatory responses
  • Supports joint comfort and skin calmness
  • Is usually lacking in kibble-heavy diets

Borage oil (GLA)

  • Enriches the skin barrier lipid layer
  • Supports moisture retention and coat texture
  • Is rarely present in meaningful amounts in regular diets Carnivora+1

When thoughtfully combined in the right ratio, high-quality fish oil + borage oil blends can provide more complete fatty acid support than either one alone — particularly for pets with dry, sensitive, or atopy-prone skin.

Final Thoughts: A Botanical Omega With Real Potential (and Real Nuance)

Borage oil is not a miracle cure, and the research — especially in humans — is clear that it doesn’t “fix” eczema on its own.

But that doesn’t mean it has no value.

In pets, especially dogs, GLA-containing oils like borage appear most helpful as part of an integrated approach:

•    Balanced diet
•    High-quality omega-3s (fish oil)
•    Thoughtful GLA support (borage or similar)
•    Regular vet care and skin monitoring

For a pet parent who values science, transparency, and gentle long-term support, botanical omegas like borage oil deserve a serious look — particularly when:

•    The product is PA-free and third-party tested
•    GLA content is clearly disclosed
•    The oil is cold-pressed and combined with clean, well-sourced fish oil

In the end, your pet’s skin and coat are often the first places you’ll see whether your omega choices are working.

📚 References & Further Reading (All Related to Borage Oil / GLA)

 

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