"Omega 3”- A Pawsitively Essential Nutrient for Your Dog!

“Omega 3”- A Pawsitively Essential Nutrient for Your Dog!

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat found in foods such as fish, nuts, and some vegetable oils. They are essential for human health, but the body can’t make them, so they must be obtained from food.

What are the types of omega-3 fatty acids for dogs?

So, the main types of omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. (ALA, EPA, and DHA).

How Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Essential for Your Dog’s Health?

Supporting the brain development of puppies-play an important role in brain development and may help to improve cognitive function in dogs, especially puppies.

Helping dogs with arthritis by reducing inflammation
Improving your canine companion’s ability to fight cancer
Benefiting the immune system of dogs
Boosting the heart and kidney health of canines
Improving the skin and coat health of dogs
Helping dogs by reducing anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity

Eye health: Omega-3 fatty acids can help to protect the eyes from inflammation and degeneration, which may help to prevent certain eye conditions such as dry eye, cataracts, and certain types of blindness.

Heart health: They have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help to lower the risk of heart disease in dogs.

There are several dog foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids High in EPA and DHA.

Some examples include:

Small fatty ocean fish like anchovies or sardines. Both fish feed from krill and have relatively short life spans. They, therefore, do not harbor pollutants like larger, longer-living carnivorous fish. You can feed these fish raw, frozen, dehydrated, or canned (if packed in water, not oil).¹⁸
Fish oil made from anchovies or sardines (not from larger fish like herring, mackerel, salmon, etc.). The use of capsules is preferable over oils in bottles or pump dispensers, as the latter can easily get rancid.
Krill oil is made of small, shrimp-like crustaceans living in large amounts in the oceans of the world. Krill is feeding from phytoplankton, which places them at the very bottom of the aquatic food chain. Again, capsules are preferable over bottles or pump dispensers.
Phytoplankton as a food supplement typically comes in form of a powder. It is derived from microscopic, single-celled plants that drift near the ocean’s surface. Phytoplankton can also be grown in aquaculture. Phytoplankton is the only recommendable plant-based (vegetarian or vegan) source of omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA and DHA.
Plant sources like flaxseed or chia seeds

Supplements: Some dog food brands offer supplements that can be added to a dog’s food to increase its omega-3 intakes, such as fish oil or krill oil.

Homemade food: you can also prepare homemade dog food with ingredients rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish or flaxseed oil.

Why is omega-3 good for adult dogs?- Get a full pamper session every time you eat a meal!

When your dog is in their adult years, it’s all about keeping them in the best shape possible so that they age gracefully, feels healthy, and stays by your side for as long as possible.

Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for adult dogs because they help to support

Healthy skin and coat,
Reduce inflammation,
Support joint health,
Keeping dandruff at bay and stopping any incessant itchiness,
Help to improve cognitive function,
Support heart health, and
Reduce the risk of certain diseases.

But they are not as easily absorbed by the dog’s body. Always consult with a veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet

Why is omega-3 good for senior dogs?

As your pooch starts to reach their senior years, they might start experiencing some of the aches and pains that often come with old age.

Degenerative diseases such as arthritis are prevalent among the senior population, and this can cause pain, discomfort, and severely stiff, creaky joints.

Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for senior dogs because they help to reduce inflammation, which can help to reduce pain and stiffness associated with joint problems and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids also help to improve cognitive function, which can help to reduce age-related cognitive decline.

Also, as we know, omega-3s help to boost the immune system, and this is exactly what your pooch wants in their old age, the stronger their immune system the easier they’ll be able to fight off illnesses that could otherwise have a super detrimental impact on their health.

Finally, omega-3 fatty acids can help to improve the overall health of the skin and coat, which can help to reduce itching and irritation.

How do I know if my dog has an omega-3 deficiency?

Spotting an omega-3 deficiency is pretty much impossible for pooch parents as there isn’t one distinguishable symptom.

If you know your dog isn’t getting any omega-3 fatty acids in their day-to-day diet, look out for things like a lack of vitality (in both appearance and general well-being), a dull, dry coat, muscle weakness, discomfort when moving around, and other general health issues.

How can I make sure my dog is getting enough omega-3?

It’s essential that your dog is getting this ultra-talented, incredibly important nutrient into their body in some way. This can either be done through food sources rich in omega-3s, or through the use of supplements. Of course, if you can get everything your dog needs to occur naturally within their dinners, then that’s the best way to go.

And finally,

Fatty acids are an integral component of good overall health. They work to store energy, help the body absorb vitamins, and help to manage hormones.

Despite being called ‘fatty’, they won’t be causing your pooch to pile on the pounds.

Whatever food your dog is tucking into, you need to make sure it’s got a high-quality source of omega-3 packed into it.