If you are reading this, you already know that your dog needs a balanced diet that provides it with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. But no matter how much effort you put into preparing your pet’s meals, it’s very hard to ensure that all the necessary elements are absorbed through the food. This is why it is crucial to provide your dog with a high-quality supplement that will help boost its immune system, improve skin and fur conditions, heart and liver health and so much more.
What is Phytoplankton?

Phytoplankton are tiny, plant-like organisms that all MARPHYL® products are made of.
Here is a more detailed definition according to NASA:
Like land plants, phytoplankton has chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy. They consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Phytoplankton is the foundation of the aquatic food web, the primary producers, feeding everything from microscopic, animal-like zooplankton to multi-ton whales.
Marine phytoplankton is the foundation of life in the ocean. It has been created by nature and has been a keystone element of nutrition forever since. On land, the air we breathe is largely provided by the oxygen that is produced by marine phytoplankton through photosynthesis.
What are the benefits of phytoplankton?
Phytoplankton is rich in trace minerals, antioxidants, carotenoids, essential amino acids, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, DHA, EPA, macronutrients, proteins, fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 with a concentration of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C and E.
5 reasons why you should add MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton Natural Supplement to your dog’s diet
1. Pets need a supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids
Many people realize that their pets need Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet to help them with allergies, skin problems, heart and kidney disease, arthritis and other health issues. Unfortunately, many supplement Omega-3 fatty acids through fish oil, but it can be rather harmful to pets.
You should avoid fish oil because:
Fatty acids in fish oil are prone to oxidization which can cause inflammation.
Fish can contain mercury and other heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins.
Fish oil, in general, is a controversial topic because of the overfishing and the harm that the fishing industry does to the environment.
Phytoplankton is a perfect source of Omega-3 and fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), nearly double as in fish oil. According to the National Institute of Health, research has shown benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids for heart health, neurodevelopment, cancer prevention, joint issues, allergies and more.
2. Your dog has a trace minerals deficiency
Minerals like chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc are called trace minerals because your body requires very small amounts of them each day. These trace minerals are essential for the proper functioning of our dogs’ bodies (and ours, too).
Natural foods are the best source for both macro – and – trace minerals. But as you know it with your own diet, it’s very hard to accommodate all the necessary elements in every meal. That is why it is very important to supplement your 4-legged friend with trace minerals every day.
Some of the symptoms of trace minerals deficiency are:
Inflammatory disease
Bone, cartilage, ligament or tendon issues
Dull coat color
Skin and fur problems
Low immunity
Poor growth
Slow healing of wounds
Phytoplankton is rich in trace minerals that are easily absorbed by your dog’s digestive system.


3. Your dog needs antioxidants
“Eat Right” Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a good explanation of what antioxidants are:
Our bodies are battlegrounds against infection and diseases. Normal body functions, such as breathing or physical activity, and other lifestyle habits produce substances called free radicals that attack healthy cells. When these healthy cells are weakened, they are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Antioxidants — such as vitamins C and E and carotenoids, which include beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein — help protect healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals.
The majority of dogs are exposed to harmful environment pollutants such as pesticides, insecticides and even cigarette smoke. All of that causes free radicals to release and cause oxidation in the dogs’ bodies.
Phytoplankton is rich in antioxidants. When your dog’s diet has a sufficient amount of antioxidants, your friend has higher chances of avoiding arthritis and joint problems, skin rashes and allergies, respiratory problems, autoimmune disease, heart disease and cancer.
4. Phytoplankton is a source of Superoxide dismutases (SOD)
SODs are among the first line of defense in the detoxification of products resulting from oxidative stress. Research has shown a therapeutic potential of SOD for cancer, inflammatory diseases, aging, ischemia, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes.
5. Phytoplankton is full of nutrients that are easily absorbed
Phytoplankton is a whole food, which means that your dog’s body will be able to absorb all the vitamins and nutrients from it without the need to digest it first. It is especially valuable for the dogs that have digestive issues or bowel disease.
Also, the body absorbs and utilizes nutrients derived from natural plants more efficiently than it does from any synthetic nutrients.
Choose you Phytoplankton wisely

When you chose a Phytoplankton supplement, it is very important that you pay attention to these factors:
How is it sourced?
Marine phytoplankton is found in all oceans around the world, but it thrives in the waters of the Strait of Georgia on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The pristine waters of the Strait offer a unique marine environment, like no other in the world. The water from snowmelt in the mountains of Western Canada provide a high content of minerals and nutrients contributing to an abundant and diverse production of marine phytoplankton. This area is among the most biologically productive marine ecosystems in the world for phytoplankton, fish, marine plants and mammals. We source MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton from this body of water.
Is it sustainable and eco-friendly?
MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton respects the ocean, the phytoplankton natural source, and maintains the balance of phytoplankton in the Pacific Ocean.
The ocean water gets pumped into tanks adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, where the phytoplankton naturally reproduces in big quantities (more than 100 million per tank). This reproduction process occurs on Vancouver Island under natural sunlight and environment.

During the harvesting and growing stage – in big quantities – of this amazing form of life, the process removes tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, which is shown as a massive production of oxygen. A tank of one million litres of ocean water can produce the equivalent oxygen of one forest hectare. The process releases the oxygen equivalent to a 7-hectare forest. When the water first comes in, one millimetre of water contains approximately 800 cells of marine phytoplankton, which will start multiplying as a result of the natural sunlight and the natural surrounding environment. At the harvesting stage, one millimetre of water has approximately 128,000,000 cells of marine phytoplankton. The remaining water is released back into the ocean with the same amount of phytoplankton that was originally taken, as this original number of cells per millimetre belongs to the local marine ecosystem. The production plays an important role in the marine environment.
The above process does not affect in any way the natural balance of the surrounding marine ecosystem nor any living creature.

What is the supplement comprised of?
With confidence, we can say that MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton is superior to every other types of phytoplankton available in the market. MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton represents all the phytoplankton species available in the waters of Western Canada, while other types available in the market represent only one specific species and are often raised artificially. Therefore our product is the only one that provides all the nutrients and benefits of up to eighty different types of marine phytoplankton.
Dosage
As Phytoplankton is packed with nutrients, you need to add very little of it to your dogs daily diet.
For a dog of 55lbs (25kg) you need between 1/4 and 1/2 of a capsule (or 1/8 to 1/16 of a teaspoon) of MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton Natural Supplement.

Stay tuned for more informative articles like this one by following MARPHYL Marine Phytoplakton on Instagram and Facebook and by subscribing to our Newsletter.
Do you have a question about phytoplankton? Or maybe you want to suggest a person or a topic for our next blog post? Leave a comment below!
Arantza and Benjamin, founders of MARPHYL Marine Phytoplankton
I always thought that dogs benefit from animal omega rather than plant because the conversion would be limited.
Hi Linda,
Here is a fantastic article that states a lot of research on this topic and explains how dogs benefit from plant-based Omega-3 fats https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-dogs-convert-plant-based-omega-3-fats/.
Please let us know if you have any other questions, we are always happy to answer!
What does it taste like (fishy) and can I take it also?
Hi Kendall,
This a 100% natural supplement that we primarily sell for human consumption. Please find more information here https://marphyl.com/product/supplement/
Therefore, we definitely recommend you to take it. And your dog, of course, too.
The supplement is made of Phytoplankton which is a microalgae.Hence the supplement tastes like seaweed/algae. But the amount that you need to take daily is very small, you don’t really feel the taste. If you take the capsules, you just swallow them and don;t taste much. And with the powder, we usually mix it into our food. smoothies, drinks. So you don’t feel any taste either.
What is the weight or age requirement for use on dogs? I have a three month old and a two year old golden retriever that itch and chewy their feet. Would this program work? And how long would a bottle of 60 last?
Hi! There is no age limitation for dogs. We’ve been giving phytoplankton to our own dog Atticus since we adopted him at 2 months old.
We recommend 1/2 of a capsule for a mid-size dog (like our Atticus https://www.instagram.com/p/B29pLpnlEMU/).
For a puppy, the dosage should be even lower (1/4 of a capsule).
Out bottles contain 30 capsules, you can estimate your usage based on that.
Also, we sell the supplement in form of a powder which will be easier to use with dogs. You can just sprinkle the powder on dogs’ food.
Is this product not able to be given to cats? If so it must be a hard to measure? Have ordered the pills for my dog & myself. But since we are ALL seniors would love to offer to my cat as well. Please advise, Thank you
Hi! Thank you for using our product. We are happy to hear that you and your dog use it.
Indeed, it can be given to cats (many of our customers do that). For an average sized cat we suggest a dose of quarter of a capsule. If you find it hard to measure such size each time maybe you could mix 4 portions of food with one capsule of the powder and serve it over 4 meals?
Could marine phytoplankton help my dog with cushing’s disease?
Hi! We are sorry to hear that your dog is suffering from Cushing’s disease.
Phytoplankton is a great source of minerals, nutrients and vitamins which can be beneficial for your dog’s overall health. But as Kushing’s disease is a serious condition, it needs targeted treatment. We advise you consult a professional who can advise you on necessary medication.”
What is the salinity content in this product? Do you know if it would effect heart disease or high blood pressure?
Hi,
There is some sodium naturally in the product, but the quantities are very small. It won’t affect any heart disease or high blood pressure.
Is this bad for kidneys
Hi, no it is not.
Hello. I have ordered three bottles of your phytoplankton. 🙂 I and my dog eat a different brand of phytoplankton right now and we love it, but switching to this because its more pure and clean. Is this product GMO free and Vegan? And is it filtered using ocean water? Thanks in advance!
Hi! Thank you for purchasing our product. Indeed, it is fully vegan and non-GMO. Our tanks where we harvest the phytoplankton are situated in the ocean. You can find out more about our quality control process here https://marphyl.com/quality-control-is-our-1-priority/
Please let us know if you have any other questions, we are always happy to help!
Hello, I’m wondering the dose for 11 years old pug who just diagnose brain tumor weight 11 lbs. Thank you !
Hi! Sorry we missed your question.
For a small dog like a pug we recommend a dosage of 1/4 of a capsule a day.
How it is given to dogs? Straight in food? Mixed with something else? Thankyou
Hi, the easiest way is to mix it with any food.
Should I incorporate a probiotic in my dogs diet or is phytoplankton efficient? In terms of the benefits like a good gut bacteria ? If yes what are the best probiotics? I live in Canada; so preferably Canadian brands. What would be a recommend dosage for a 7 year old , 35 lb beagle.
Thank you so much!
Hi, we wouldn’t be able to give you advise on probiotics. Out Natural Supplements is rich in trace minerals, antioxidants, carotenoids, essential amino acids, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, DHA, EPA, macronutrients, proteins, fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 with a concentration of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C and E. If you would like to supplement specifically probiotics, you would need to add them to your dog’s diet in addition to our Supplement. Hope that helps.
In terms of the dosage of our Natural Supplement, we recommend 1/3 of a capsule for a small dog like a beagle.
Hello, I’m ridding intestinal worms and parasites, they of course rob you of nutrition which is why I’ve come across phytoplankton, my question is, is it safe to take this during the process of eliminating intestinal worms and parasites?
I’m hoping it doesn’t feed them and give them more power to live.
Hi, thank you for this question. We wouldn’t be comfortable giving you advise on such a particular matter, we recommend you consult your doctor about that.
I have a 2 yo, 60 lb retriever that was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease about 14 months ago. I’ve been supplementing her diet (dehydrated mix plus proteins and oil). Can I continue adding the Omega 3 oil (it’s a combination of mackerel anchovies sardines and herring) to her food if I also start her on the phytoplankton? Can she get too much Omega 3 by giving her both? Thank you!
Hi, feel free to add our Phytoplankton to your dog’s diet. There won’t be too much Omega-3.
Thank you for choosing MARPHYL! Let us know if you have any other questions, we are always happy to help.
Hello, how much phosphorus does Phytoplankton supplements contain. Need to restrict the intake of phosphorus do to kidney insufficiency.
Thanks for your help!
W. Lane
Hi, the phosphorus amount is 3185 mg/kg
Hi there,
What dosage should I give to my 70 lb labradoodle?
For a dog of 55lbs (25kg) you need between 1/4 and 1/2 of a capsule (or 1/8 to 1/16 of a teaspoon) of MARPHYL® Marine Phytoplankton Natural Supplement.
For a 70lb dog we recommend 1/2-2/3 or a capsule or around 1/6 of a teaspoon.