Fish Oil
- Thread starter ShadowCat
- Start date
Yes, it's a very safe and healthy thing to add to a dog's diet, and it is more useable by the body than for example flax oil.
Just make sure you buy a high quality product that is free of contaminants, not watered down and doesn't contain any artificial preservatives or stabilizers.
Additional omega 3 fatty acids in the diet increase the body's need for vitamin E, so you should supplement with approximately 100 IU per 25 lbs of body weight per day. Make sure you get a natural vitamin E supplement, anytime you read "dl-alpha tocopherol" it's synthetic and far less effective.
Since capsules are often messy to deal with and not all dogs eat them willingly, I generally recommend buying a liquid vitamin E supplement that's easy to dose with a dropper.
Just make sure you buy a high quality product that is free of contaminants, not watered down and doesn't contain any artificial preservatives or stabilizers.
Additional omega 3 fatty acids in the diet increase the body's need for vitamin E, so you should supplement with approximately 100 IU per 25 lbs of body weight per day. Make sure you get a natural vitamin E supplement, anytime you read "dl-alpha tocopherol" it's synthetic and far less effective.
Since capsules are often messy to deal with and not all dogs eat them willingly, I generally recommend buying a liquid vitamin E supplement that's easy to dose with a dropper.
Saying that fish oil is more useable than flax seed oil isn't true. The difference is mainly in the level of elongation of the fatty acids.
Flax seed oil, and nearly all plant-derived n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids consist mainly of 18:3n3 (linolenic acid). There is evidence that some mammals, including dogs, can convert this to longer-chain fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3, DHA). DHA is the omega-3 component of fish oil that has recently been shown to be vital to neural function and learning, as well as cardiac health, etc., etc., etc.
In addition to long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3s, fish oil also contains other long-chain fatty acids like arachidonic acid (20:4n6, AA or sometimes ARA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EA, 20:5n3). AA has been shown to be more important to growth and EA has roles in blood clotting.
So if you want to use flax oil--that is fine, too. Fish oil will provide a full spectrum of long-chain fatty acids that your dog will either use or discard as waste. You do NOT need to give anything to balance the omega-3 supplement, as animal-based diets are already very high in omega-6 fatty acids. These are compliments--too much omega-6 (very easy to obtain from normal diet) will create a deficiency in omega-3.
Flax seed oil, and nearly all plant-derived n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids consist mainly of 18:3n3 (linolenic acid). There is evidence that some mammals, including dogs, can convert this to longer-chain fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3, DHA). DHA is the omega-3 component of fish oil that has recently been shown to be vital to neural function and learning, as well as cardiac health, etc., etc., etc.
In addition to long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3s, fish oil also contains other long-chain fatty acids like arachidonic acid (20:4n6, AA or sometimes ARA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EA, 20:5n3). AA has been shown to be more important to growth and EA has roles in blood clotting.
So if you want to use flax oil--that is fine, too. Fish oil will provide a full spectrum of long-chain fatty acids that your dog will either use or discard as waste. You do NOT need to give anything to balance the omega-3 supplement, as animal-based diets are already very high in omega-6 fatty acids. These are compliments--too much omega-6 (very easy to obtain from normal diet) will create a deficiency in omega-3.
From a nutritional standpoint it's true. Flax seed oil and hemp oil supply omega 3 fatty acids that are "inactive", which means the dog's body must convert them to a usable form. Not all dogs can do this, some can, some can't and some have a limited capacity. It's a genetic thing.
Fish oils and cod liver oils do not need to be converted and any dog can utilize them.
Last but not least, arachidonic acid in excess amounts has pro-inflammatory properties.
Fish oils and cod liver oils do not need to be converted and any dog can utilize them.
Last but not least, arachidonic acid in excess amounts has pro-inflammatory properties.
Actually, from a nutritional standpoint the opposite might be true. Most (all?) dogs can synthesize DHA from linolenic acid. A recent study from the LMBB at NIH found that supplementing long-chain products inhibits this synthesis.
Right--as I said, no n-6 fatty acids need to be supplemented. Arachidonic acid is necessary during development (early studies with DHA-only supplementation resulted in growth problems) but supplementation after that is useless. That is why I cited that arachidonic acid and eicosapentanoic acid are less desireable supplements that are found in fish oils.
I'm saying that both--fish oil and flaxseed oil--are good supplements.
By the way, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are essential fatty acids--it's odd that you consider them inactive! Both have been shown to be vital to physiological function independent of their long-chain products.
Right--as I said, no n-6 fatty acids need to be supplemented. Arachidonic acid is necessary during development (early studies with DHA-only supplementation resulted in growth problems) but supplementation after that is useless. That is why I cited that arachidonic acid and eicosapentanoic acid are less desireable supplements that are found in fish oils.
I'm saying that both--fish oil and flaxseed oil--are good supplements.
By the way, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are essential fatty acids--it's odd that you consider them inactive! Both have been shown to be vital to physiological function independent of their long-chain products.
Sources please? 
That is correct, they are essential in themselves, but since not all dogs have the capacity to convert them to meet other fatty acid needs, we are looking at two different things here. Of course there is physiological function, but only for the particular EFA in question, not the possible product of conversion.
That is correct, they are essential in themselves, but since not all dogs have the capacity to convert them to meet other fatty acid needs, we are looking at two different things here. Of course there is physiological function, but only for the particular EFA in question, not the possible product of conversion.