Essential Fatty
Acids, or EFAs for short, are polyunsaturated fats that a dog cannot make
himself. Therefore, we need to provide EFAs, specifically OMega 3s and Omega
6s, in the diet in a usable form for optimum health. Since most foods,
whether you feed a raw or home cooked diet or a commercial dog food, have
plenty of the Omega 6s, this month I'd like to concentrate on the Omega 3s.
The Omega 3s we are interested in are ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic
acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Although all three are essential,
it is the EPA and its concentration that is most important. Plant sources,
such as flaxseed oil, are loaded with ALA, which the body converts to EPA
but this conversion does not happen in the skin. Marine fish body oils
(as opposed to cod liver oil) are high in EPA and DHA and no convering is
necessary. There is some evidence that low thyroid dogs are not efficient
converters of ALA and therefore, benefit more from a fish body oil supplement
than a plant oil supplement, such as flaxseed or hemp oil.
Although we often think an oil supplement is given for skin and coat, the
benefits of the Omega 3 EFAs are many. In addition to improving skin
and coat health, Omega 3s reduce inflammation, may prevent certain conditions,
promote a healthy immune system in developing fetuses, and are needed for
proper development of the retina and visual cortex. The Omega 3s may
slow down the development and spread of certain cancers. Supplementing
with Omega 3s is especially important for dogs with skin allergies and irritable
bowel syndrome or disease. Dogs fed reduced-calorie diets are often
deficient in both Omega 3s and Omega 6s.
There are many essential fatty acid supplements on the market but many contain
additional sources of the Omega 6s. Since we are trying to increase
the ratio of the Omega 3s to the Omega 6s, it is oreferable to give supplements
that only contain the Omega 3s. The simplest and most economical way
to increase the Omega 3s is to give cold pressed flaxseed oil and fish body
oil. These are readily available at your local health food store. For
a typical English Setter, weighing anywhere from 45 to 75 pounds, adding one
tablespoon od flaxseed oil three or four times a week to the food, with a
couple of fish body oil softgels thrown in is usually an adequate amount.
To preserve the mixture and aid the EFAs benefits in the body, 200-400
IU of vitamin E should be given whenever you use oil supplements.
Essential fatty acids are extremely fragile; quickly going rancid when exposed
to heat, light and air. Any Omega 3 oil supplement you purchase should
be in a dark sealed bottle, preferably refrigerated, and the soft gels should
be black or dark brown. Some people like to buy whole flaxseeds and
run them throught a coffee grinder to put on the food. Aproximately
three tablespoons of ground seeds equals one tablespoon of oil. This is a
great way to get the benefits of the whole seed, including its natural antioxidants.
However the seeds need to be fed immediately after grinding since once
again, they are exposed to light and air and will start to deteriorate. Fish
body oils are available in the softgels as I previously mentioned or in an
emulsified liquid form. I've found the liquid has a very fishy odour
and my dogs were not as likely to eat it on their food. However, they will
eat the softgels right out of my hand.
Reprinted with permission of the author; first
published in AKC Gazette English Setter Column, July 2000
