What an Injured Wolf on a Remote Island Teaches Us About Dog Health Today

A remarkable new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences forces us to rethink what we believe about the ancient relationship between humans and wolves, and in doing so, it offers powerful insight into how we should care for dogs today.

Researchers uncovered the remains of true gray wolves on the small Baltic island of Stora Karlsö, a place wolves could not have reached on their own¹. These animals were not early dogs and showed no genetic markers of domestication, yet they lived alongside humans, ate the same marine-based diet, and in at least one case survived despite a severe injury that would have made hunting impossible.

The only reasonable explanation is that humans deliberately brought wolves to the island and sustained them there, suggesting a level of cooperation, tolerance, and care far more nuanced than the traditional domestication narrative allows. This discovery reminds us that the bond between humans and canines did not begin with obedience or ownership, but with coexistence, shared resources, and mutual benefits.

What Ancient Wolves Teach Us About Dog’s Biology Today

From a biological perspective, this study reinforces something integrative veterinarians have long understood: dogs are not simply manufactured pets shaped by convenience, but the living continuation of an ancient partnership rooted in shared environments, shared food sources, and shared survival strategies.

The wolves on Stora Karlsö consumed seals and fish, rich sources of marine omega-3 fatty acids, mirroring the diet of the humans who lived there. This is not a trivial detail. Omega-3 fats, particularly DHA and EPA, are foundational to canine neurological development, immune modulation, joint integrity, cardiovascular health, and emotional resilience. When we see ancient wolves thriving on marine fats provided by humans, it strengthens the argument that modern dogs still carry deep nutritional requirements shaped long before kibble existed.

Research consistently shows that dogs supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids experience reduced inflammation, improved cognitive function, healthier skin and coats, and even improved outcomes in chronic kidney disease and osteoarthritis. Studies such as those published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine² and Journal Veterinary Science continue to demonstrate measurable benefits of EPA and DHA in canine health, including reduced inflammatory markers and improved mobility³.

Isolation, Care, and the Nervous System Connection

One of the most striking elements of the study was the discovery that one wolf survived with a severely damaged limb, an injury that would have made independent hunting extremely difficult. Survival under these conditions strongly suggests provisioning by humans or a protected environment where the wolf did not need to hunt. This matters because physical care and nutritional support directly affect the nervous system, immune response, and healing capacity.

When dogs are supported with species-appropriate nutrition, daily movement, and emotional safety, their bodies are capable of remarkable repair even in the face of injury or chronic disease. Omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role here as well, decreasing inflammation, influencing pain perception, neuroinflammation, and synaptic signaling.

Research has documented how omega-3 supplementation can improve pain control and quality of life in dogs with musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative joint disease⁴. The ancient wolf with an injured limb survived not because it was weak, but because it was supported, a lesson we would do well to remember when caring for aging or injured dogs today.

Why I Prefer Homemade Diets or Minimally Processed Pet Foods

The sources and types of fat in your pet’s diet matter, a lot. While healthy fats, rich in EPA and DHA (that only come from algae or marine sources, including fish and seafood) are anti-inflammatory and therapeutic, fats that are exposed to extreme processing conditions, such as high heat used in kibble extrusion, become oxidized and harmful. These damaged fats generate toxic advanced lipid end products (ALEs), which are well known to contribute to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Unlike fresh, unprocessed fats that support cellular repair, brain function, and immune health, thermally damaged fats actively work against your pet’s body, silently undermining long-term wellness. Feeding ultra-processed pet food means feeding high levels of not just ALEs, but also advanced glycation end products (AGEs), both of which are potent pro-inflammatory compounds, contributing to the epidemic of pancreatitis and gut-related issues in pets. Research has also linked AGEs and ALEs to accelerated aging and the development of chronic diseases, including kidney dysfunction, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and cancer.

In contrast, whole food diets that include bioavailable sources of EPA and DHA help reduce inflammation, support skin and joint health, and protect against cognitive decline. Prioritizing fresh, nutritionally balanced homemade or minimally processed pet food is one of the most powerful strategies to reduce inflammation and promote resilience in pets, which is why I wrote The Forever Dog Life recipe book, which optimizes the intake of omega-3 fatty acids in delicious recipes for dogs and cats that can be served raw or gently cooked.

A proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids is essential. Excess omega-6 without sufficient omega-3 can promote chronic inflammation, but according to science, omega-6s, in and of themselves, are not innately pro-inflammatory; it’s only when there’s a deficiency of DHA and EPA that inflammation ramps up.

While omega-6s are abundant in commercial pet foods, compared to EPA and DHA, which are intentionally missing or kept low in shelf-stable food products because they’re hard to stabilize and are prone to oxidation and rancidity. Annoyingly, AAFCO doesn’t recommend that pet food manufacturers encourage owners to add the deficient EPA and DHA at the time of feeding, so pets eating un-supplemented commercial pet food are all deficient in DHA and EPA.

According to what I see online, pet parents are also confused about effective sources of DHA and EPA; Ahi flower, camelina, flax, chia, hemp, coconut, olive, and walnut oil contain almost zero EPA and DHA, yet are often supplied by pet owners hoping to reduce inflammation in their pets’ bodies. Adequate, anti-inflammatory levels of EPA and DHA are only achieved when pets consume sufficient amounts of EPA and DHA-rich supplements or seafood.

Current AAFCO guidelines do not mandate the inclusion of EPA or DHA in dog or cat food. Instead, they accept ALA, the plant-based form of omega-3, to meet all omega-3 requirements. The problem is, ALA alone can’t⁵ ;. Flax, hemp, chia, ahi flower, camelina oil, and other “high omega-3” plant oils only contain ALA, and dogs and cats lack abundant Δ6-desaturase activity⁶, the enzyme needed to convert ALA to EPA and DHA.

This is why it’s so important to include pre-formed EPA and DHA from fish or marine sources to meet their nutritional needs. When purchasing marine-sourced oils (regardless of the source, such as Perna, squid, sardine, anchovy, krill, salmon, etc.), always look for third-party sustainability certification, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Spectacular Health Benefits of EPA & DHA

Supplementing pets with pre-formed EPA and DHA from marine (ocean) sources has been shown in peer-reviewed studies to support multiple areas of health. Key benefits include:

• Cognitive support: DHA-rich fish oil improved learning and memory in puppies, while nutrient blends containing fish oil, B-vitamins, antioxidants, and arginine enhanced executive and visuospatial function in senior dogs and cats⁷.
• Skin and coat health: A 10-week study showed that supplementing dogs with EPA (50 mg/kg) and DHA (35 mg/kg) significantly reduced clinical scores of atopic dermatitis⁸.
• Joint comfort and improved quality of life: A randomized 16-week trial using marine-derived EPA and DHA (approximately 70 mg/kg total) increased omega-3 index levels and reduced pain scores in small and medium dogs⁹.
• Cardiovascular protection: In dogs with naturally occurring heart failure, fish oil supplementation reduced inflammatory cytokines and improved overall clinical condition¹⁰.

How to Optimize Your Pet’s Intake of Omega 3’s

• Supplementation with EPA and DHA has well-documented benefits across multiple health areas. General dosing is 70 mg combined EPA + DHA per kg body weight per day for maintenance, with therapeutic dosing adjusted higher as prescribed by your vet.
• It’s important to refrigerate liquid/pour-on supplements after opening and use them within 30 days to prevent oxidation.
• Reduce reliance on ultra-processed kibble, which typically has a high omega-6 to omega-3 balance, increasing inflammation in the body.
• Coldwater, wild-caught fatty fish, like salmon, offer high levels of EPA and DHA, while smaller species like sardines, anchovies, and herring minimize mercury exposure.
• Supplement manufacturers often use molecular distillation and third-party testing to ensure safety and purity. Check website for details.

Omega3 supplements come in different forms: triglyceride (TG), ethyl ester (EE), and phospholipid (PL). Phospholipid-based oils have been shown to raise the Omega3 Index faster and higher than TG or EE forms. TG and PL forms are closest to natural oil and well absorbed with food; EE variants are less expensive, but less bioavailable (and I’ve found they cause more GI symptoms, including bloating and belching). Check websites or email the company to ensure the oils you purchase are in the more bioavailable phospholipid form.

• Combined EPA + DHA should be 60–90 percent of the total fatty acids
• Choose PL (or minimally, TG) molecular forms
• Verify third-party testing for heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs
• Look for oxidation-resistant packaging (dark bottles, nitrogen-flush)
• Verify sustainably harvested sources such as MSC-certified krill or wild sardine

The Microbiome Bridge Between Wolves and Dogs

Equally important is what this study implies about the internal ecosystems of ancient wolves. A marine-based diet rich in omega-3 fats would have profoundly influenced the gut microbiome, shaping immune tolerance, metabolic efficiency, and behavioral stability. Modern research confirms that omega-3s support gut barrier integrity and beneficial microbial populations in dogs, reducing intestinal permeability and systemic inflammation. But nutrition alone is not the whole story.

Today’s dogs live in an environment radically different from that of their wolf ancestors, with antibiotic exposure, environmental toxins, chronic stress, and ultra-processed diets disrupting their microbiomes. This is where probiotics become essential, and not all probiotics are created equal. Research increasingly supports the use of both canine-derived and wolf-associated bacterial strains to restore microbial diversity and functional resilience.

Studies have shown that certain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains isolated from healthy dogs and wild canids are better able to colonize the canine gut, modulate immune responses, and reduce gastrointestinal disease compared to generic human strains. Including strains with evolutionary relevance honors the biological continuity between wolves and dogs rather than ignoring it.

Care That Aligns With Biology, Not Convenience

The wolves of Stora Karlsö were not dogs, yet they were not wild in the modern sense either. They occupied a liminal space shaped by human influence, dietary sharing, and likely social tolerance. This study suggests it was not a single moment of capture or control but a long series of experiments, relationships, and mutual adaptations.

Dogs thrive not when they are forced into artificial lifestyles, but when their care respects their evolutionary design. This includes diets rich in biologically appropriate fats, movement that engages both body and brain, microbiome support that reflects their ancestral exposure, and emotional environments that foster safety rather than chronic stress.

Lack of microbial diversity has been linked to allergies, autoimmune disease, anxiety, and metabolic dysfunction, making thoughtful probiotic support a cornerstone of preventive care.

Honoring the Ancient Contract With Modern Care

What this discovery ultimately offers is not just a fascinating glimpse into history, but a call to responsibility. Humans once chose to bring wolves onto a small island, feed them, protect them, and live alongside them despite the risks. That ancient choice set in motion a relationship that continues today every time we welcome a dog into our homes.

It means recognizing the value of omega-3 fats as more than supplements, but as essential components of neurological, immune, and emotional health. It means selecting probiotics that reflect the evolutionary heritage of the canine gut rather than treating all microbes as interchangeable. And it means remembering that dogs, like the wolves of Stora Karlsö, are resilient not because they are expendable, but because they are supported. When we care for dogs with this level of respect, we are not indulging them, we are fulfilling a promise that began thousands of years ago on a small island in the Baltic Sea.

About Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, CVH, CVA, CCRT

Veterinarian Dr. Karen Shaw Becker believes biologically appropriate food and an animal's immediate environment are essential in determining health, vitality, and lifespan. She has spent her career as a wildlife and exotic animal veterinarian and small animal clinician, empowering animal guardians to make intentional lifestyle decisions to enhance the well-being of their animals.