Does your dog have dry, itchy or flaky skin or a dry looking coat?

 

What about brittle nails, joint pain from arthritis or other degenerative diseases, anxiety, heart or digestive issues?

 

If the answer to any of these is YES, your dog might benefit from an omega-3 fish oil supplement.

Fish oil is gaining popularity as an important supplement to add to your dog’s diet, no matter what type of diet you feed.  It is a rich source of the two essential omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), found in the fatty tissues of cold water, oily fish.

Proven benefits from EPA and DHA include:

• improving the coat and skin,

 

• reducing inflammation from conditions such as arthritis and allergies,

 

• regulating the immune system,

 

• improving mental function in older dogs,

 

• lowering blood pressure, and

 

• promoting weight loss.

Both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are a fundamental dietary requirement as they control important hormones in the body. But the body can’t make them; instead they have to come from diet, hence the term essential. If your dog eats too much or too little of one or the other, the hormones and immune system may be out of balance. The ratio is very important.

Dogs with allergies, auto-immune or inflammatory conditions need more omega-3 fatty acids in their diets. Omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation, which is not desirable for dogs with allergies or joint pain but is beneficial if your dog has an infection.

So what is the optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids?

That’s still being researched, but current recommendations are between 10:1 to 5:1 of omega-6’s to omega-3’s.

Unfortunately, because of what they are fed, most dogs consume far too many omega-6’s and too few omega-3’s. Most pet foods contain much more omega-6’s simply because they are more prevalent in the foods dogs typically eat (and humans as well). Some pet food manufacturers add omega-3’s to their foods to attempt to reduce the ratios. But fatty acids are also very vulnerable to heat and oxygen and can be damaged or lose their bio-availability during the cooking or canning process. That’s why omega-3 supplementation is even more important.

What should you look for in an omega-3 supplement?

• A product in a dark glass or aluminum bottle, not a plastic or clear bottle.  Fish oil needs to be protected from light, plus you don’t want to chance BPA’s from the plastic leaching into the oil.

 

• Pharmaceutical human grade.

 

• Products that list the amount of EPA and DHA in milligrams instead of percentages.

 

• Testing and certification by an independent agency.

 

• Vitamin E added to the product. This is because increasing intake of fish oil can mean a decrease of vitamin E.

 

• No added filler oils.

 

• Oils that come from Norway ideally, but at least, ones that come from the North Atlantic.

How much EPA and DHA should you give your dog each day?

From the research I’ve done, healthy dogs can be given 100 to 150 mg of each per 10 pounds of body weight per day.

There are tons of fish oil products on the market, so how do you choose one that’s right for your dog?

Do your homework. We’ve done our research, and the product we like best, and give to our own dogs are the oils from Iceland Pure. They make several different types of oils, and recommend rotating them.

How long will it take before you notice a difference?

Most reports say within 3 to 4 weeks, you should begin to see signs of improvement such as reduced itchy skin, better digestion, and reduced anxiety.

In our opinion, giving your dog a fish oil supplement is worth it. But if there’s any question, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian. And if you have any questions about fish oil, or other supplements, please contact us.

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Rocky's Retreat | 2826 Shader Rd. Orlando FL 32808 | info@rockysretreat.com | (407) 295-3888