Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Dogs: Why Your Pet Needs Them

By August 10, 2022 Dog Diet, Dog Health, Dog Nutrition, Fish Oil for Dogs, Heart Support, Immune Support, Liver Support, Multivitamins & Minerals, Supplements for Dogs 0 Comments

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Dogs: Why Your Pet Needs Them

Omega 3 fatty acids for dogs are one of the most potent nutrients you can give to your pet. Numerous studies have demonstrated that they have a broad range of benefits for your pet’s health.

Omega fatty acids for dogs may help with your pet’s cognitive development, boost their immune systems, decrease inflammation, enhance their capacity to fight cancer and benefit their heart health.

Below we will look into the latest research into the effects of your dog’s regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Let’s examine why your dogs need them.

Table of Contents

Check out our Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs here.

What Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

Fat is an essential component of the canine diet. However, not all fat is produced equal. While certain fats are just used for energy, others are strongly linked to the health of our canine friends.

Fatty acids are the building blocks of all nutritious fats. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are the two main types of fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids include the following:

  • Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
  • Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omega-6 fatty acids include:

  • Linoleic acid (LA).
  • Gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
  • Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA).
  • Arachidonic acid (AA).

While animals may produce certain fatty acids from other nutrients, others must be obtained directly from the food consumed. These fatty acids are known as essential fatty acids for dogs (EFAs).

Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is required for all animals to have a healthy life. Other critical fatty acids for dogs include ALA and / or EPA and DHA. They are all omega-3 fatty acids.

Research has shown that EPA and DHA are the most effective regarding dog health advantages. While dogs’ metabolism can convert small quantities of the less powerful ALA to EPA and DHA, the process is inefficient.

As a result, it is advised to supplement your dog’s food with omega-3 fatty acids rich in accessible EPA and DHA.

Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Dogs

Some of the most essential aids are:

Supporting the Brain Development of Puppies

Puppies given large quantities of omega-3 fatty acids rich in DHA outperformed puppies on a poor omega-3 diet in various activities.

The young dogs in this research tested visual object distinction, memory, balance and coordination skills.

Helping Dogs With Arthritis by Reducing Inflammation

An extensive study has shown that omega-3 fatty acids high in EPA and DHA may be essential in treating canine arthritis.

Some of the trials’ dog owners reported that increasing their dogs’ diets with omega-3 fats resulted in dramatically decreased pain, lameness and joint severity.

Improving the Ability of Dogs to Fight Cancer

Omega-3 fatty acids have been demonstrated to reduce or even prevent the development and spread of some malignancies.

This impact was also validated in research involving 32 lymphoma-infected dogs. Adding omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA and DHA to their diet considerably enhanced their disease-free intervals and survival periods.

Benefitting the Immune System of Dogs

According to research, adding omega-3 fatty acids (high in EPA and DHA) to a canine’s diet improves their immune system.

The outcomes observed ranged from reducing the negative consequences of allergies induced by an overactive immune system response to significantly greater antibody titers after immunizations. That is why most scientists recommend taking fatty acid supplements for dogs with allergies.

Boosting the Heart Health of Dogs

Research, including dogs of various sexes, ages, breeds, sizes and weights, has revealed that omega-3 significantly impacts canines suffering from various cardiac diseases.

Positive benefits include increased heart function and hunger, decreased blood pressure, inflammation and muscular loss.

Consequently, those dogs had higher survival periods than those that did not get omega-3 fatty acids.

Improving the Health of Canines with Chronic Kidney Disease

Omega-3 fatty acids high in EPA and DHA have been shown to improve the health of dogs suffering from chronic renal disease.

The same research found that giving dogs omega-6-rich vegetable oils (safflower) dramatically worsened their condition.

Contributing to Dog’s Skin and Coat Health

The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on dogs suffering from allergies, atopy, pruritus and flea allergies have also been intensively studied over the past few decades.

These studies have proven that omega-3 fatty acids in a dog’s food help calm their overactive immune systems. This results in less itching and significant changes in their skin health and coat character.

Reducing Anxiety, Depression and Hyperactivity in Dogs

If your puppy suffers from anxiety, sadness, or hyperactivity, fatty acid supplements for dogs may be beneficial.

While the exact method by which omega-3 fatty acids influence behavior is unknown, they have been shown to alter neurotransmitters and influence neuroplasticity.

Indeed, fatty acids have been shown to impact the same pathways as anti-anxiety drugs, most notably fluoxetine, a routinely recommended therapy for anxiety problems in dogs.

The soothing effect was also demonstrated in a 2016 research on 24 worried Labradors. More data in the literature supports the use of omega-3 fatty acids as a possible treatment for depression, anxiety and hyperactivity in various species. It seems that this is also true for dogs.

Why Is It Important to Include Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Your Dog’s Diet?

Most dog meals, particularly kibble, are produced at very high temperatures. This is bad for temperature-sensitive omega-3 fatty acids.

Even if you give your dog a raw diet, there is a chance that he isn’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids if you don’t supplement his diet with seafood or marine oils.

Maintaining an Ideal Omega-3 to Omega-6 Fatty Acid Ratio

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential. But it is also critical to maintain a certain dietary ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. Imbalances between the two might potentially cause health issues in your pet.

Commercial dog food is often heavy in omega-6 and low in omega-3. Suppose you are not currently supplementing your dog’s diet with fish or omega-3 fatty acids.

In that case, it is reasonable to assume that the balance of the two fatty acids is not optimal. As a result, omega-3 fatty acids should be included.

Best Omega-3 Supplements for Dogs

The most potent and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids for your dog’s health include the following marks:

  • The omega-3 fatty acids most advantageous to dog health are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
  • Many sources of omega-3 fatty acids also include omega-6 fatty acids simultaneously. Because most dogs already consume too much omega-6 in their food, choosing a supplement with a high omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is critical.

In addition to the above, your omega-3 fatty acid supplement for dogs should be devoid of chemicals and contaminants. They should ideally be gathered sustainably as well.

Land-living animal fats, such as ruminants and poultry, are rich in omega-6 and low in omega-3. As a result, they are not a viable source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in plant oils such as flaxseed and canola. However, omega-3 in these oils is abundant in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and lacks EPA and DHA. This deters plant oils from providing your dog with the necessary health advantages.

Fish and other marine sources include omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA / DHA and low in ALA.

In an ideal world, various fish provide your dogs with the omega-3 fatty acids they require. Unfortunately, industrial chemicals and pollution have contaminated a substantial portion of our fish supply.

Toxins, including heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, are known to build in big carnivorous fish higher up the food chain, such as mackerel, sea bass and tuna. This is why feeding these fish to our pets is no longer advised.

Healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acid Sources High in EPA and DHA

Anchovies and sardines are examples of small, fatty saltwater fish. Both fish are krill feeders with relatively limited life spans.

As a result, unlike bigger, longer-living predatory fish, they do not accumulate contaminants. You may prepare these fish uncooked, frozen, dried or canned (if packaged in water, not oil).

Anchovy or sardine oil is a kind of fish oil (not from larger fish like herring, mackerel, salmon, etc.). Capsules are preferred over oils in bottles or pump dispensers, which may rapidly get rancid.

Krill oil is derived from tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that are abundant in the world’s seas. Krill feed on phytoplankton at the very bottom of the aquatic food chain. Capsules, once again, are preferred to bottles or pump dispensers.

Phytoplankton as a dietary supplement is usually in the form of a powder. It is formed from tiny single-celled plants that float near the ocean’s surface.

Aquacultures may also be used to cultivate phytoplankton. The sole plant-based (vegetarian or vegan) source of omega-3 fatty acids high in EPA and DHA is phytoplankton.

So, as you can also see, we can assume that natural fatty acids for dogs are the best thing we can add to our puppy’s diet.

The Takeaway

The appropriate omega-3 fatty acids may give significant health advantages for pets. It is advised to use omega-3 fatty acid sources rich in EPA and DHA.

At the same time, they should be low in omega-6 since it is necessary to boost the omega-fatty acid ratio in the diet in favor of omega-3.

Tiny fatty fish like anchovies or sardines, fish oils produced from these small fish, krill oil or phytoplankton are the most acceptable fatty acid food for dogs.

Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs

Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs

Check out our Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs here.

Nutrition Strength Omega 3 Wild Fish Oil for Dogs, EPA and DHA Fatty Acids, Skin, Coat and Allergy Support, Hip & Joint and Arthritis Dog Supplement, 180 Soft Gels are premium chewable tablets, specially made to provide the optimal fish oil for dogs dosage.

Our delicious fish oil pills for dogs are produced with the highest quality ingredients available, which can help confer:

  • Joint issues. Omega 3 fatty acids derived from fish oil may lead to big increases in dogs’ activity scores. Improved joint function helps dogs fight the typical arthritis issues that come with aging.
  • Skin health, itchy skin defense and coat’s overall health. Research into Omega-3 fatty acids in dogs has consistently linked them to significant improvements in coat health, pruritus and alopecia. Omega-3 fish oil for dogs has also been shown to be much more effective than flax oil in cases of inflammatory skin disorders.
  • Heart and cardiovascular benefits. Studies have also found that Omega-3 fatty acids may help dogs improve cardiac remodeling, regulate blood pressure and sustain a healthy heart rate.
  • Cognitive function neurological health. Research shows that DHA can lead to improvements in dogs’ memory, agility and learning ability. Many of the studied dogs have also shown improvements in pacing issues and excessive licking.
  • Vitamin E included in the formula. Vitamin E helps to balance your dog’s internal chemistry, with Omega-3 for dogs being introduced into their diet. Vitamin E helps prevent lipid peroxidation of body fat to limit adverse side effects. Note that some Omega-3 products may not necessarily have Vitamin E included.

In order to get the most out of our Omega fish oil soft gels, please use the recommended dosage for your pet, but feel free to adjust it as needed. Don’t worry, our fish oil is perfectly safe for dogs and has been specifically formulated to be safe for long-term use, even at a higher dosage.

Image source: Wikimedia / Soccersmp.

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