Essential Fatty Acids

EFA's are Very Important to Your Dog's Health

What are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)?

Also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6, EFAs are essential to the body. They aid in the generation of cell membranes and hormones and are vital to the maintenance of normal cell structure, brain, and body function. EFAs are not produced by the body, so they must be supplied by diet.

Omega-3 and omega-6 can be found in the leafy plants consumed by roaming animals. EFAs are also found in a variety of vegetable oils, for example, flax-seed oil, and fish body oils like herring and salmon.

Processed and Even Natural Diets are Deficient in Omega 3s

The fat in wild game and grazing animals contains roughly seven times more omega-3 fatty acids than the fat of animals raised for commercial meat primarily because domestic livestock eat mostly grain, as opposed to a fresh, green diet. As a result, when domestic cows, pigs, and chickens are deprived of leafy greens, their meat and eggs also become low in omega-3s.

Switching livestock from their natural diet of grass to large amounts of grain is one way our pet's modern diet is deficient of these essential fats.

Also problematic is the fact that the processing or cooking of EFAs turns them into trans-fatty acids. The high processing temperatures used in the manufacturing of kibble force unsaturated fat molecules to change from healthy to harmful. This means that although some dog foods claim to contain EFAs (or sometimes called DHA) the extrusion or baking process that the kibble undergoes renders them ineffective.

What EFAs Do For Your Dog

If your dog's coat is dull or brittle, if your dog is scratching frequently, gets dandruff, hot spot, rashes, or if you dog is prone to yeast and fungal infections they may be deficient in EFAs!

In addition to dermatological conditions, a variety of other abnormalities are seen in EFA-deficient dogs including: poor growth rates, weight loss, poor wound healing, and increased susceptibility to infections.

It is becoming increasingly clear that a much wider range of ailments may respond positively to the dietary supplementation of EFAs in animals including: cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal problems, as well as arthritis and certain renal disorders.

How to Add EFAs to Your Dog's Diet

Supplementing EFAs can be done by adding oils to your dog's diet. The best oils to use to include omega-3s in your dog's diet are fish oils, such as herring or salmond oil.

NOTE: It is important to use whole fish body oils as opposed to fish liver oil. Oils, like cod liver oil, contain high amounts of vitamins A and D and can cause toxicity if given in high amounts.

For omega 6s the best oil to give is evening primrose oil. The best way to add omega 3s and omega 6s to your dog's diet is with an oil supplement specifically designed for pets. Many health food stores, as well as Ren's Pet Depot and Ryan's Quality Pet Foods carry oil blends that can be added to your dog's diet on a daily basis.