Choosing The Right Source Of Omega 3
One of the most popular supplements on the pet health market today is undoubtedly omega And quite rightly so, omega 3 fatty acids are essential to your dog's good health and well-being. Providing a plethora of benefits like;
1.Protects the heart.
Omega 3 has been found to reduce the heart’s vulnerability to developing an irregular heart rhythm, called atrial fibrillation. Additionally, it can act as an anti-coagulant and prevent blood clots from forming in cats with heart disease.
2.Provides support for dry, flaky skin in allergy pets.
Giving omega 3 to pets with allergies may reduce their itching by decreasing their body’s production or release of potent stimulators of inflammation, called cytokines.
3.Helps slow down the progression of kidney disease.
In failing kidneys, omega 3 may lower elevated blood pressure, decrease undesired protein loss in urine, and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory substances that aggravate kidneys.
In a study of 146 cats with kidney disease, cats fed diets supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids lived a median of 17 months compared to 7 months for those who were not supplemented.
4.Aids arthritic joints.
Omega 3 decreases the production of potent prostaglandins that stimulate inflammation in the joints. Arthritic dogs and cats given fish oil are more comfortable and agile than those not supplemented.
6.Improves neurologic development and cognitive function.
A Hill’s Pet Nutrition 2012 study found supplementing puppies with DHA increased their ability to learn and retain certain skills when compared to those not receiving additional DHA.
Older pets suffering from cognitive dysfunction had improved recognition of family members and other dogs when supplemented with omega 3. Additionally, it decreased pattern-pacing behaviour in these pets.
7.Lowers blood triglyceride levels.
Supplementing patients with omega 3 may decrease harmful triglyceride levels in some patients. This is especially critical in pets suffering from heart disease, pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease.
But not all sources of omega 3 were created equal.
There are three types of Omega 3s. They include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). Dogs specifically need EPA and DHA.
The most potent source of EPA and DHA is fish oil. You can provide EPA and DHA by giving fish oil supplements, whole fish (anchovies, sardines), green-lipped mussels or Algae oil.
Other sources like those found in chia, flaxseed, flax meal or flaxseed oil etc are not good sources of EPA or DHA in pets. Flaxseed products contain high concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid, (ALA). Dogs have a very limited ability in converting ALA to DHA or EPA and as such, the omega 3 fatty acids will not provide much benefit for your dog's health.
"Typically, only 1% to 10% of ALA in the dog’s diet will be converted to EPA, while much less than 1% will be converted to DHA. So plant oils are typically considered a poor source of EPA. But some plant oils can still supply some anti-inflammatory omega fats." - Writes Dana Scott
The main problems with fish oil
You have to be very careful with fish oils. What you need to know is that it turns rancid VERY quickly. This means if you were to buy a 1L bottle or even a 500Ml, it would turn rancid before you even finished as most of the bottles have no airlock (it would go rancid most likely after the first use.)
Fish accumulate toxins in their fat and skin - polluted by heavy metals, environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals like Polychlorinated Biphenyls.
These toxins and pollutants can cause a wide range of health issues for your dog such as;
leaky gut
lowered immune system
cancers
liver and or kidney damage
neurological issues
endocrine issues
blindness
Some fish oils may be radioactive:
A report on Forbes.com claims that the radioactive isotope iodine 131 has been found in California kelp and some fish oil samples. About 70% of fish caught in Japan contain radioactive caesium; 20% of Japanese fish exported to Canada exceed isotope ceilings for food.
Fish oil isn't sustainable:
While climate change and toxic dumps damage our oceans, overexploitation of resources may be its largest direct threat. Overfishing reduces species diversity, unbalances ecosystems and challenges species survivability. This includes the common sources of fish oil, salmon, krill, squid etc.
So what's the best omega 3 supplement?
There's no one size fits all answer to this as like we always say, every dog and pet owner are individual. and as such our recommendation would be to feed the best and cleanest source of omega 3 you can afford.
Fresh wild-caught fish;
Stick to the Cold-water oily & fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines - the smaller the fish the lesser the accumulation of mercury.
(see below our recommended fish to feed guide - though not all fish are high sources of omega 3)
Algae Oil:
Whilst this is a renewable plant source of omega 3 (and the only plant source I recommend) - it is a rich source of both EPA & DHA and recent research in 2019 found that DHA supplementation increases plasma EPA by as much as 130% Earth-friendly and renewable microalgae provide EPA and DHA without the risk of mercury, dioxin, PCBs and radiation.(Metherel AH, Irfan M, Klingel SL, Mutch DM, Bazinet RP. Compound-specific isotope analysis reveals no retroconversion of DHA to EPA but substantial conversion of EPA to DHA following supplementation: a randomized control trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Oct 1;110(4):823-831. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz097. PMID: 31204771.)
Our top choice would be; Adored beast's potent sea omega 3.
Green-lipped mussels:
Like fish oil, green-lipped mussels have a concentrated omega fatty acid content. They are loaded with EPA and DHA, and In addition to EPA and DHA, GLMs contain one more omega-3 fatty acid known as ETA (Eicosatetraenoic Acid). ETA inhibits cyclooxygenase, the enzyme triggering inflammation. GLMs have a wide array of health benefits like anti-inflammatory, supporting joints etc as well as a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals like vitamins (C, B12, and E) and minerals (copper, manganese, iodine, selenium, zinc). They also contain phophospholipids, which makes them more bioavailable than fish oil. A 1997 study by researchers at the University of Queensland found that its bioavailability makes green-lipped mussel extract 247 times more potent than salmon oil.
These ingredients are critical for many body functions and support the dog‘s overall health.
Our top choice would be; Four leaf rover safe sea.
If you wish to use fish oil;
Lastly, if you do still want to use fish oil - keep in mind that fish oil goes rancid very quickly and very easily too. This happens when the oil reacts with oxygen. This process is called oxidation and is a chemical reaction of the fatty acids EPA and DHA with oxygen molecules in the air.
Because oxidation begins when the oil comes in contact with oxygen, We always advise people to buy fish oil in specialised bottles that either have an airlock or are in an aluminium or glass bottle and never plastic - (so they aren't affected by air and sunlight).
As soon as it is opened, it should be stored in the fridge because other factors such as light exposure and warm temperature can further accelerate the oxidation process. A dark, cool place is therefore the best spot to store your dog's omega – 3 supplement.
If you still want to buy fish oil, our top choice would be (as a last resort) Green & Wilds, Baie Run or Nutrasea. If you are choosing salmon oil, always choose wild-sourced salmon oil.
You should also only ever buy fish oil in quantities that you would use within a month of purchase - if you do, ensure you are discarding the oil after a month of purchasing. Should you feed your dog rancid fish oil -you would be doing far more harm than good.
