Omega FA have been a topic of health for some time now. We hear about these miracle components found in certain oils in regards to human health, but are they actually good for dogs and do they need to be added to our dog’s diets? Yes and Yes.
There are some commercial brands of food who claim to have omega FA in the food. The important thing to understand is how it is derived in the food and at what ratio the Omega 3 and Omega 6 are found. Most pet foods have large amounts of Omega 6 and therefore need to be supplemented with Omega 3. The ratio needs to be at 5 omega 6 to 1 Omega 3. Most pet foods have a 20:1 ratio.
Both types are beneficial and necessary for the health of our pets. However, omega 6 is known to be pro inflammatory. Some inflammation is a good thing and necessary, especially when fighting certain disease, but many of our pets are actually suffering from conditions which are caused by excess inflammation in the body. Omega 3 are know to be anti-inflammatory in nature, and therefore, when omegas are given at an appropriate ratio, the pet is going to benefit from both the needed inflammation and the anti inflammatory effects provided.
Commercial dog foods are created by cooking at very high heats. The oils would be destroyed if placed in the food before cooking, therefore the oils are sprayed onto the cooked kibble before packaging. If fed within the dates provided on the bag, this is effective, but many times owners buy food marked down in price thinking they are saving money. This food is typically marked down because it is about to go out of date, and once the sell by date is passed, the oils will often be rancid. This means the oils and Omegas will no longer be effective and the taste and safety of the food is questionable.
When supplementing with Omega you can choose different oils. For Omega 6 you can use safflower oil, canola and sunflower oil. Olive oil is also a good choice. For Omega 3 the best option is “wild” caught salmon oil. If you have a source that does not say wild caught, the oil is being extracted from the flesh of farm raised fish which are typically full of heavy metals. It is important to remember that it is the fish body oil, not liver oil (as in cod liver oil) which is the source of Omega 3.
Flax seed oil can also provide a source of Omega 3, but the body has to convert the omega 6 to omega 3. Humans are capable of doing this efficiently, but dogs are not as efficient. Therefore, this is not the first choice.
Another oil we often hear about being a miracle oil is coconut oil. Some animals may benefit from the shorter chain fatty acids which can be quickly absorbed for energy, but overall it does not have the effects most state it has.
I hope this has been a beneficial posting. The main points to remember are a 5:1 ratio of Omega 6:3. That omega 6 are pro inflammatory and omega 3 are potent anti inflammatories and that most commercial foods have a 20:1 ratio of omega 6:3 therefore we need to supplement Omega 3 oils in the diet.
{ 0 comments }
