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Omega Fatty Acids
In The Canine Diet
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FATTY ACIDS
in the dog and cat diet... these essential dietary ingredients are often
overlooked when it comes to pet foods.
Learn more about Omega Fatty acids and pet nutrition...
You have read about them, seen advertisements about them and maybe
even have taken some yourself; but what do you really 
know about FATTY ACIDS and nutrition? What happens if too
much is ingested... or too little? Did you know that over 70
have been discovered in nature? You have heard them be called
“essential” Fatty Acids and that is exactly what they are… essential for
you and your pets to consume in the diet in order to achieve good health.
Let’s pretend we know nothing about these fats... on this page we'll give
the subject a good study to find out why we need to be aware of the significant
role Fatty Aids play in our zofamily’s health. (Pronounced
like "So Family", a zofamily is the term used for any human family
that considers its pets to be a part of the real family.)Pets and humans
eat to live. It also just happens to be enjoyable. Humans and
dogs are Omnivores, that is we and dogs can utilize either plant or
animal sources exclusively and still survive. Cats are true Carnivores
because they HAVE to consume meat to survive and will not live long on plant-only
sources of food. One of the necessary elements of a health promoting
diet for us humans, for dogs, and for cats is fats. There are all
kinds of biologically active fats and each one plays a role in the biochemical
pathways within us that keep us (the zofamily) alive. Some fats can
be digested and split up into smaller fat items and those smaller fat items
contribute their fair share in the health of the individual. Without
Fatty Acids in proper ratios, we're all in trouble!
Fatty Acids (there are over 70 of them!) are important for a wide array
of cell structure components and for many chemical reactions in the body
including hormonal and energy activities. Fatty Acids play a vital
role in establishing a healthy lipid barrier in the skin to block irritants
and infections. In an animal's body (and ours) the liver and other tissues
can make many of the fatty acids that are required for the body's chemical
factory to operate. In dogs, though, there is one that they cannot
make... Linoleic Acid (also called Omega6 Fatty Acid). So THAT is called
an ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID because the dog needs to consume it from dietary
sources. With adequate Omega6 in the dog's diet the other fatty acids
needed for metabolism can be created internally. In cats there are
two ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, Linoleic and Arachidonic Acids. And since
Arachidonic Acid is only present in animal tissues, cats must consume meat
as a source for this chemical. See an interesting article on
cat nutrient requirements and how they are different from a canine's.
Fatty Acids have a long Carbon atom
backbone
to which are attached Hydrogen atoms and few Oxygen atoms.
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Let’s take a look at the structure
of the two most important Fatty Acids that the zofamily needs, Omega 3 and
Omega 6 Fatty Acids: The word Omega is a chemistry term indicating
where the unsaturated (missing a Hydrogen atom) double bond is on the long
chain of carbon atoms making up the backbone of the Fatty Acid molecule.
Omega 3 means the unsaturated double bond is three carbon atoms from the
end of the long molecule and Omega 6 means the double bond is 6 carbon atoms
from the end of the Fatty Acid molecule. What seems to us to be an
insignificant difference between structures of a chemical can really make
a huge difference in the chemical’s activity… just like changing one
single letter’s placement in a sentence can change the entire meaning of
the sentence.
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CAN THEY BE OVERUSED?
Yes, because Fatty Acids do have specific effects on the body; consuming
too much and in an incorrect ratio may lead to clotting problems and relative
deficiencies of Vitamin E and other vitamins. It has been determined
that Omega Fatty Acids need to be consumed by dogs and humans (and presumably
by cats) in an optimum ratio for the ideal health benefits to be active.
Too much of one, not enough of another, and the zofamily will pay the
price with less than optimum health. The Iams Company has pioneered
Fatty Acid research in animals and they have found that supplementing
a diet with large amounts of Omega3 fatty acids (for example, a diet with
nearly equal amounts of Omega6 to Omega3 fatty acids) may lead to health
problems in dogs and cats. They have determined that a higher
amount of Omega6 than Omega3, in a ratio of from between 5:1 to 10:1, has
the optimum observable health effects.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN A DEFICIENCY OCCURS?
If enough Linoleic Acid (Omega6) is present in the dog's diet, the other
fatty acids can be synthesized within the dog. The simplest way
to assess the possibility a deficiency is to take a close look at your
pet... really up-close! If the skin is dry and flaky and the coat
actually feels greasy and dull and has a coarse texture, there's an excellent
chance the pet is not getting high
quality fats in the diet. Remember, the coat may actually
feel oily or greasy and have a rancid odor and yet dog may have
a fat intake deficit. This effect is common in dogs on cheap "reducing"
diets because the first thing a manufacturer does in formulating a "reduced
calorie diet" is to cut the total fat content of the diet to reduce total
calories. The dog or cat may not even loose weight but the potential
for a Fatty Acid deficiency is quite probable.
This photo on the left is typical of a dog that has a Fatty Acid deficiency
in its diet. It has been fed a generic, cheap, corn-based food for
a long time and the dog did not look good, the coat was dull and coarse and
the poor dog was always itching and scratching. You can easily guess
how it must have felt, too. Within two weeks on a high quality diet
(meat is the first ingredient listed) this dog will look entirely different!
Supplemental fatty acids can speed recovery from these deficient states.
Many types of dermatological problems are avoided if the dog or cat is consuming
an optimum diet. In some cases, adding a supplement such as DermCaps,
a popular Omega Fatty Acid supplement with a number of beneficial ingredients,
is the key factor in avoiding repeated episodes of Hot Spots and other
skin afflictions. If your dog or cat seems to lack good coat and
skin health, consider upgrading the diet to a meat-based ingredient formula
and adding a supplement such as DermCaps.
Some of the defects attributed to
Fatty Acid deficiencies are the following:
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Eczema-like skin eruptions
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Loss of hair
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Behavioral disturbances
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Kidney degeneration
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Susceptibility to infections
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Failure of wound healing
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Liver degeneration
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Arthritis-like conditions
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Heart and circulatory problems
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Drying up of glands
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Sterility in males
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Miscarriage in females
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Growth retardation
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Weakness
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Impairment of vision and learning ability
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Sources of Omega 6 Fatty Acid...
Plants are an excellent source of Linoleic Acid. Because of the
first double bond occurring at the 6th carbon atom, Linoleic Acid
is sometimes referred to as Omega6 Fatty Acid. Omega6 is found in safflower,
sunflower, corn and evening primrose oils and Borage oil. It is also present
in poultry fat and pork fat but very little is present in beef or butter
fat. Found in common pet food ingredients such as corn and chicken
fat, it is a required nutritional component of the canine and feline diet.
It cannot be synthesized within a dog or cat’s body so it must be consumed
in some form of food so that other fatty acids can then be synthesized internally.
It is essential for normal skin and coat health, for growth, cell membrane
integrity and fat-soluble vitamin interactions.
Sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids…
Because of the first double bond occurs at the 3rd carbon atom, Linolenic
Acid is sometimes referred to as Omega3 Fatty Acid. It's exact
role in canine and feline nutrition is still not completely understood.
It is very unstable unless kept cool and away from light and oxygen.
Fish oils, especially cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut,
and herring, and in animals that feed on these fish, are the primary dietary
source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found
in oils from some plants (canola and flax). Flaxseeds are rich in
omega-3FAs. Walnuts and soybeans also contain significant amounts as well
as freshly ground wheat germ.
Sources of both Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Dried beans, such as great northern, kidney, navy and soybeans are
inexpensive sources of both Omega6 and Omega3 Essential Fatty Acids. Certain
fish are very rich in EFAs. The body can convert EFAs from fish more easily
than from other sources.
Sources of Arachidonic Acid…
This essential fatty acid for felines is present in some fish oils,
pork fat and poultry fat.
Definitions:
To help understand all this Fatty Acid dialogue, here are some definitions
to which you can refer when a precise meaning is required:
Linolenic Acid has 18 carbon atoms and is called Omega3 Fatty
Acid.
Linoleic Acid has 18 carbon atoms and is called Omega6 Fatty Acid.
Arachidonic Acid is has 20 carbon atoms and is present only in
animal fats.
An OIL is a lipid substance that is liquid at 25° C which
is 77° Fahrenheit. Oils are liquid at room temperature
and usually are polyunsaturated.
A FAT is a lipid substance that is solid at 25° C which
is 77° Fahrenheit. Fats are solids at room temperature
and are usually saturated.
EFA stands for Essential Fatty Acids. An Essential
Fatty Acid is one that an individual must ingest in order to survive.
Saturated Fatty Acids are those that have no chemical bonds left
unattended, that is, they have no “double bonds” between their carbon backbone
waiting to trap such atoms as hydrogen.
Unsaturated Fatty Acids are those that have chemical spaces that
will attract more hydrogen atoms and do have “double bonds” along their carbon
backbones.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids have only one place where there is
a “double bond” along the carbon backbone.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids have more than one place where there
is a “double bond” along the carbon backbone. All the essential
fatty acids are polyunsaturated.
GLA is gamma linoleic acid which is the active form of Linoleic
Acid.
Linoleic Acid (Omega6) maintains skin and coat condition in dogs and
cats. Without enough linoleic acid dogs and cats may experience dull,
dry coat, hair loss, greasy skin and increased susceptibility to skin
inflammation. When the skin is already irritated due to insufficient high
quality fat sources in the diet, any additional irritant such as
pollen, dust, bacteria or dampness can trigger intense itching. That's
why supplements that contain Fatty Acids can often have very noticeable
beneficial effects in alleviating itching in pets. Cats also require another
fatty acid, Arachidonic Acid, for normal skin and coat health. Therefore,
in cats Arachidonic Acid is an Essential Fatty Acid; as mentioned earlier,
dogs can make their own Arachidonic Acid from Omega3 Fatty Acid.
Linolenic Acid (Omega3) also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by
stimulating the production of certain hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.
Omega3s are found in fatty tissues of all wild animals but appear to be
somewhat deficient in domestic livestock such as beef cattle.
Over 2,000 studies have been done on Omega3 Fatty Acids and their effect
on human and animal health. It appears that sufficient amounts of Omega3
can lower blood pressure, reduce the clotting of blood platelets and therefore
reduce blood clots, and reduce abnormal heart beating (arrhythmia).
Proper ratios of Fatty Acids in the diet appear to be important in optimal
health of the individual.
reprinted with kind permission from Dr Dunn
FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS
Contact: Jason L.Jenkins Senior Information
Specialist, U. Missouri
Sept. 2001
MU RESEARCHER CAUTIONS AGAINST HIGH DOSES OF FISH
OIL SUPPLEMENTS
Large Amounts Might Compromise Disease Resistance
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Known
as a cholesterol reducer and a protective agent for the heart, Omega-3 fatty
acids -- also known as fish oils -- have received much attention from scientists
in the past two decades. However, for all their benefits, a University
of Missouri-Columbia researcher recommends that those with weakened immune
systems should avoid large doses of fish oil.
"When the benefits of fish oil were first recognized, they were thought
to be a 'magic bullet,'" said Kevin Fritsche, associate professor of animal
and nutritional sciences. "However, the influence Omega-3 fatty acids
have on immune cell function indicates that under some circumstances, disease
resistance is impaired."
Fritsche has studied Omega-3 fatty acids since 1982. Interest
in the oils began after researchers discovered that Greenland Eskimos had
a low incidence of death caused by cardiovascular diseases, despite the fact
that their diet of marine fish was high in fat and cholesterol. Soon
after this finding, other health benefits started to be uncovered.
"Among the benefits researchers found was that, in large amounts, Omega-3s
had an anti-inflammatory effect," he said.
"While this in itself can be beneficial to those suffering from inflammatory
diseases such as arthritis, our research indicates that those with weakened
immune systems, such as the elderly, could be at risk if they are taking
large amounts of fish oil for
therapeutic reasons."
Fritsche explained that inflammation plays a key role in the body's
defense against infection. It acts like an alarm, notifying the immune
system that an infectious agent, such as bacteria, has been detected.
In addition, inflammation is designed to help slow the spread of the infection
through the body.
In his research, Fritsche studied how mice responded to bacterial infection
after being fed diets containing varied levels of two specific Omega-3 fatty
acids. He found that mice fed diets containing fish oils responded
slower to infection and were more likely to die from the infection than mice
fed diets containing no fish oil.
"It appears fish oil causes a decrease in the production of a molecule
that helps to shape the immune response, but we don't know what the long-term
consequences are to the immune system," he said. "Our goal now is
to determine why and how this impairment of the immune system occurs.
If we can figure out the mechanisms behind it, we might be able to prevent
it."
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The above information is simply informational.
It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist
you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian
for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
