Omega 3: All You Need to Know
Many fats have negativity surrounding them but in fact, come in at one of the most important macronutrients in your doggie diet.
We’re going to focus on an essential fatty acid that is just that; essential when considering your dog’s nutrition.
OMEGA 3.
You’ll see this element regularly paired with its friend, omega 6. This is because they are the two primary groups of fatty acids. Together, they are an important duo and work to balance each other out. The problem that we have is when they become unbalanced.
Many commercial dog foods are high in omega 6 and low in omega 3 – this causes an imbalance and opens gateways for unwanted diseases in a dog’s body. Even some parents that opt for a raw diet for their furry friends often miss the necessary amount of omega 3 needed for optimal health.
Omega 3 fatty acids include:
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
When it comes to health benefits for your dog, research has shown that EPAs and DHAs are the most powerful.
What Does it do?
Omega 3 has a magnitude of benefits to your dog’s health.
- By having an alleviating effect on over-reactive immune systems, it is most commonly known for its ability to restore skin health and maintain coat shine.
- A mix of EPAs and DHAs positively affect and boost the immune system, in turn allowing allergies and hotspots to be minimised.
- In promoting your dog’s natural anti-inflammatory response, omega 3 can also reduce blood pressure – thus improving heart function as well as appetite.
- On top of these benefits, omega 3 also assists with hyperactivity and anxiety, sustains cognitive function and supports brain development, especially in puppies.
Where Can Omega 3 Be Found?
Omega 3 is most commonly found in but not limited to fish, fish oil and phytoplankton.
Ideally, feeding these suggestions to your dog would be enough. Unfortunately, many of these options are now tainted with toxic elements that are in fact more detrimental to your doggie’s health.
Omega supplements that are particularly high in EPAs and DHAs are becoming increasingly popular. This may be because they are an easy way to ensure that your dog benefits from all of the above.
It is important to remember that although omegas are extremely important in any dog diet, they do in fact hold calories!
You may want reduce the rest of your dog’s calorie intake accordingly when including your source of omega 3. This is especially recommended for overweight dogs.
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Remember, if you have any questions then our team are always happy to help – we’d love to hear from you.
