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Ingredient file // Fat or oil

Canola Oil

Useful calories and essential fats, modest promises

Canola oil is the fat extracted from low-erucic rapeseed. It raises a food's calories and supplies linoleic acid and plant omega-3 ALA. In healthy dogs, one trial found no advantage over other plant oils for coat quality or the inflammatory markers it measured.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
Canola Oil
What it is
Oil extracted from canola seed, a type of rapeseed bred to contain very little erucic acid.
Made from
Seeds of canola plants
Main job
Calories and essential fats
Typical amount
Dog trials added 2 to 6% by food weight
Watch for
Total fat in dogs needing a restricted diet
Not the same as
Canola meal

Straight answer

Is Canola Oil safe for dogs?

Check the food's fat, then its promises

Canola oil partway down the list is an ordinary source of calories and essential fats. Check the finished food's fat level and nutritional adequacy statement, especially if your dog needs fat restriction. If the bag promises fish oil benefits, look for a separate source of EPA and DHA.

Why it is in the food
Calories and essential fats

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 11 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

9%

279 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 43 brands. 249 dry dog food, 23 wet dog food, 6 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 7. In the top five of 31 foods, so it is usually a supporting ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

95%

Almost always listed before the salt, so there is more of it than a pinch.

Price per lb

Foods with it $3.41
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 203 priced foods, 5% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

14%

of the foods that list it are from Blue. 43 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Oilseed processors crush canola for cooking oil and other uses. Pressing leaves oil in the seed cake, so many plants extract the rest with solvent. The remaining solids become canola meal for feed.8,10

  1. 01 // Source Canola seeds The seeds come from rapeseed varieties bred to keep erucic acid low.
  2. 02 // Process Heated and flaked Rollers break seed cells so oil releases more readily during pressing.
  3. 03 // Process Pressed and extracted Presses remove most oil; many plants use hexane to recover oil left in the seed cake.
  4. 04 // Process Refined Processors remove the solvent, filter out pigments, and use steam to reduce unwanted odors.
  5. 05 // Output Canola oil The finished liquid fat is separated from canola meal, the solids left after extraction.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

92

g/kg ALA

About 92 g of plant omega-3 ALA per kilogram of dry oil. It does not supply fish oil's EPA and DHA in comparable amounts.

Crude fat 98.5-100%5
Oleic acid 436-642 g/kg5
Linoleic acid 173-249 g/kg5
Alpha-linolenic acid 62-108 g/kg5

These dry matter ranges come from low-erucic rapeseed oil samples. Canola variety and growing conditions change the fatty acid mix; Canadian harvest data show erucic acid only as an average, not a measured range.4,5,10

Why it is in the bag

A real fat source, not filler

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Canola oil is nearly pure fat on a dry matter basis, so it raises a food's calories and supplies linoleic acid, which dogs need from food, plus some plant omega-3 ALA. On most labels it sits partway down the list, and dog trials used about 2 to 6% of the food, enough to deliver those fats. Makers also value a fat made at industrial scale. Its omega-3 does not stand in for fish oil's EPA and DHA.1,2,3,5,6,8

  1. 01

    Supplies essential fats

    Canola oil brings linoleic acid, which dogs need from food, and ALA, an omega-3 listed as required during growth and reproduction. Complete diets rarely leave dogs short of either.5,6

  2. 02

    Raises energy density

    Oil adds concentrated calories without protein or starch. In a small trial using canned food, adding canola oil increased dietary fat and measured fat digestibility.2,5

  3. 03

    Offers a large supply

    Processors make canola oil at industrial scale and sell the remaining meal for feed. That gives food makers a widely available fat for repeatable recipes.8

How much Dog studies added 2 to 6% canola oil by food weight or fed 8.2 g of oil per 100 g of total intake.1,2

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Canola oil supplies essential omega fats

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Canadian harvest oil averaged 17.9% linoleic acid and 9.1% ALA among its fatty acids. Dogs need linoleic acid from food at every life stage; ALA is listed as required for growth and reproduction. A label cannot show how much the recipe supplies.4,6,9

  2. Brands say

    Canola oil adds digestible energy

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In an 8-dog crossover trial, adding 2 to 6% canola oil raised dietary fat and measured fat digestibility. The trial used canned food, so its result does not specify what happens in every kibble.2

  3. Brands say

    Canola oil makes a dog's coat shinier

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A 30-dog, 16-week trial had no group fed without added oil. Coat scores rose from a sunflower-oil washout baseline equally with canola, flaxseed and camelina, so the before-and-after change cannot be pinned on canola itself.1

  4. Brands say

    Canola oil reduces inflammation in dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    One 30-dog trial found no significant change in the inflammatory markers it measured after 16 weeks on canola or the other tested oils. Its healthy dogs faced no inflammatory challenge, so the result cannot settle effects in sick dogs.1

  5. Brands say

    Canola's omega-3 replaces fish oil

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Canola supplies ALA, while marine oil supplies EPA and DHA directly. In a separate 6-week dog trial, flaxseed ALA did not raise the blood EPA-plus-DHA index; marine oil did. Canola was not tested in that comparison.3,5,6

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It contributes calories and essential fatty acids, but no protein. Judge it as a fat. Its place on the ingredient list shows relative weight, not whether the complete food meets your dog's needs.5,6,9

  2. Q02

    Is rapeseed oil toxic to dogs?

    Not canola oil

    The concern comes from older rapeseed oils high in erucic acid. Canola's definition limits that fatty acid to below 2% of the oil; Canadian harvest samples averaged 0.02%. Those are composition facts, not a dog toxicity trial.4,10

  3. Q03

    Does hexane stay in the oil?

    Removed in processing

    Many processors use hexane to extract oil left after pressing, then remove and recycle the solvent before refining. Some plants press without solvent. The ingredient list does not reveal which process supplied the oil.8,9

  4. Q04

    Is it the same as fish oil?

    No

    Canola provides the plant omega-3 ALA. Fish oil provides EPA and DHA directly. A dog trial comparing flaxseed ALA with marine oil found the marine oil raised the blood EPA-plus-DHA index; the plant oil did not.3,5,6

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Blue 38 / 186
  2. Now Fresh 26 / 35
  3. Wellness 26 / 118
  4. Go! Solutions 19 / 46
  5. Natural Balance 16 / 48
  6. Instinct 12 / 98
  7. Canidae 11 / 35
  8. Simply Nourish 9 / 44
  9. Authority 9 / 34
  10. Earthborn Holistic 8 / 28

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 33 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #8 Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Salmon & Potato Formula Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Mixed Tocopherols 63%
  2. Peas 56%
  3. Natural Flavor 55%
  4. Flaxseed 47%
  5. Potatoes 29%
  6. Salmon 28%
  7. Pea Protein 24%
  8. Oatmeal 22%
  9. Brown Rice 20%
  10. Salmon Meal 20%
  11. Sweet Potatoes 19%
  12. Lentils 18%

On the shelf

Foods that list Canola Oil

279 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Diamond>Care Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDiamond CareDiamond>Care Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Alaska Pollock & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Alaska Pollock & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost PeakBoost+ Kibble Real Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost PeakBoost+ Kibble Real Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog FoodNature's RecipeNature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelDiamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula for Adult Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula for Adult Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelPure Balance Grain-Free & Poultry-Free Lamb & Fava Bean Recipe Dry Dog FoodPure BalancePure Balance Grain-Free & Poultry-Free Lamb & Fava Bean Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Small Breed Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Small Breed Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelZignature Inception Pork Formula Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Inception Pork Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelZignature Inception Fish Formula Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Inception Fish Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the label
Show 48 more
Nulo FreeStyle Limited+ Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHorizon Taiga XL - Dry Dog FoodHorizonHorizon Taiga XL - Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelTaste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe with Wild Boar Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe with Wild Boar Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutroNutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Bison Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Bison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Gut Health Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken for Gut Health Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Lamb Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Lamb Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Dog FoodInstinctInstinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Meadow Feast Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelCanidae Under The Sun Grain-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodCanidaeCanidae Under The Sun Grain-Free Lamb Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelKirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Turkey and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodKirkland SignatureKirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Turkey and Sweet Potato Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNature’s Recipe Original Stew Chicken, Rice & Barley Wet Dog FoodNature's RecipeNature’s Recipe Original Stew Chicken, Rice & Barley Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelHealth Extension Digestive Support, Chicken & Pumpkin Entrée in Gravy Wet Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension Digestive Support, Chicken & Pumpkin Entrée in Gravy Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelAuthority Sensitive Stomach & Skin Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodAuthorityAuthority Sensitive Stomach & Skin Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelAnnamaet Manitok Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet Manitok Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBlackwood Small Breed Grain Free Turkey & Lentils Dry Dog FoodBlackwoodBlackwood Small Breed Grain Free Turkey & Lentils Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Lamb Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Lamb Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness CORE Ocean Whitefish & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE Ocean Whitefish & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness CORE Grain Free Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE Grain Free Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelHorizon Pulsar WG Salmon - Dry Dog FoodHorizonHorizon Pulsar WG Salmon - Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Large Breed Puppy Salmon Dry Dog FoodGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Large Breed Puppy Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Large Breed Salmon Dry Dog FoodGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Large Breed Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelGo! Solutions Digestion + Gut Health Salmon with Grains Dry Dog FoodGo! SolutionsGo! Solutions Digestion + Gut Health Salmon with Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Six Small Breed Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Small Breed Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Six Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Sustainably-Sourced Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Six Free-Range Lamb Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Free-Range Lamb Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Six Cage-Free Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Six Cage-Free Duck Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Wholesome Grains Ocean Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Wholesome Grains Ocean Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelWellness Core Ocean Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Ocean Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelTaste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe with Smoked Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe with Smoked Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelTaste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Recipe with Smoked Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Pacific Stream Canine Recipe with Smoked Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelStella & Chewy’s Wild-Caught Whitefish, Ancient Grains & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog FoodStella & Chewy'sStella & Chewy’s Wild-Caught Whitefish, Ancient Grains & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNow Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodNow FreshNow Fresh Grain-Free Puppy Dog Food Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Pollock Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Pollock Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Turkey Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Turkey Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the label

On labels as

Organic canola oil: what changes

One page covers every name. Here is what each label word adds, and whether it changes anything for your dog.

Organic canola oil

Matters for your dog A little

Organic Canola Oil

What it means The USDA National Organic Program defines it. Seed must be grown without excluded methods such as genetic engineering and without most synthetic substances, and organic oil cannot be processed with a volatile synthetic solvent such as hexane. It promises nothing about fatty acid content.

For your dog USDA says more than 90% of US canola comes from genetically engineered varieties, so organic oil is a real difference in how the seed was grown. Conventional processors remove and recycle hexane before refining. We found no study showing different fats in organic canola oil and no dog study of a health effect.8,11,12,13

  1. Strong
  2. Some
  3. Thin
  4. None

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Effects of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative markers, transepidermal water loss, and coat quality in healthy adult dogs Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023 // Journal
  2. 2 Apparent total tract digestibility, fecal characteristics, and blood parameters of healthy adult dogs fed high-fat diets Journal of Animal Science, 2020 // Journal
  3. 3 Enhanced omega-3 index after long- versus short-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in dogs Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2021 // Journal
  4. 4 Quality data of Canadian canola 2023 Canadian Grain Commission, 2023 // Government
  5. 5 Rapeseed oil Feedtables (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ), n.d. // Database
  6. 6 Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024 // Book
  7. 7 Pancreatitis in Dogs and Cats Merck Veterinary Manual, n.d. // Book
  8. 8 Processing Canola Canola Council of Canada, n.d. // Industry
  9. 9 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  10. 10 Canola Oil Properties Oklahoma State University Extension, 2018 // University
  11. 11 7 CFR § 205.270 Organic handling requirements Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (US Code of Federal Regulations), n.d. // Regulator
  12. 12 7 CFR § 205.105 Allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients in organic production and handling Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (US Code of Federal Regulations), n.d. // Regulator
  13. 13 Biotechnology USDA Economic Research Service, n.d. // Regulator
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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