Essential Fatty Acid Supplements For Dogs

Omega 3 fatty acid is a type of fat that has numerous health benefits both for canines and humans.

Essential fatty acid supplements for dogs. Omega 3 controls hormones that aid the immune system. It s polyunsaturated fat meaning that our furry friends are not physiologically capable of making their own. A prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled evaluation of the effects of an n 3 essential fatty acids supplement agepi ω3 on clinical signs and fatty acid concentrations in the erythrocyte membrane hair shafts and skin surface of dogs with poor quality coats prostaglandins leukot essent fatty acids. Omega 3 and omega 6 are mostly found in fish oils especially in those from cold water fatty fish such as salmon mackerel tuna herring and sardines.

Essential fatty acids for dogs include omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid is an example of an efa for dogs and cats require both linoleic and arachidonic efas. Essential fatty acid supplementation has been used in the management of sebaceous adenitis in some dogs in conjunction with topical shampoos as this approach is likely to be safer than using immunomodulating drugs that could have adverse effects. Omega 6 fatty acids are good supplements for conditions such as allergies diabetes osteoporosis cancer high blood pressure and heart disease.

Key omega 3 fatty acids are alpha linolenic acid ala eicosapentaenoic acid epa and docosahexaenoic acid dha. Essential omega 6 fatty acids include linoleic acid la gamma linolenic acid gla dihomo gamma linolenic acid dgla and arachidonic acid aa. As such dogs rely on their food to get this essential fatty acid. Coatex essential fatty acid supplement is administered as a solution to dry scaly or itchy skin.

However dogs are not very good at transforming ala into either epa or dha. By choosing omega 3 6 supplements for dogs you ensure that your dog will receive the necessary essential fatty acids. Fatty acids are further grouped into categories including omega 3 and omega 6 each with its own specific biochemical structure. Vegetable oils including flaxseed oil canola oil walnut oil and soybean oil can provide dogs with another omega 3 fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid ala which is a precursor to epa and dha.

Essential fatty acids are not only beneficial for humans but for dogs too. Omega 6 is the only fatty acid that can withstand the high heat in which dry commercial dog food is processed. You can also find efas in nuts and seeds such as flax seed chia seeds and walnuts and in plant oils including flax seed oil rapeseed oil and sunflower oil. Omega rich food supplements are particularly effective when it comes to helping your dog s dry skin.