Benefits of Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Dogs
As a pet parent, it’s essential to ensure that your furry friend gets all the necessary nutrients to maintain good health. Two crucial nutrients that dogs need are Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that are essential for dogs but can not be produced by their body and hence, the requirement needs to be fulfilled by diet or Omega supplements. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are considered essential for a dog’s health.
Fatty acids like amino acids are one of the fundamental building blocks of life. Amino acids are used to make proteins while fatty acids perform a whole range of different tasks in both plants and animals. At the simplest level, fatty acids in the form of oils and fats are a good way to store energy for future use, since weight for weight fats and oils retain more energy than either protein or carbohydrate. For example, plants store energy for seed development in the form of oil (eg rapeseed oil or soya oil) while mammals store energy in the form of adipose fat or cod in the form of oil in their livers. However, in addition to simple storage, fatty acids play a vital role in many biological structures and functions. Possibly the most important is as one of the fundamental components in membranes. Biological membranes form the walls of all cells, whether simple single-celled algae or complex specialised cells such as nerves, muscle-cells or blood-vessel cells. These membranes must be semi-permeable, allowing passage through of some molecules while restricting the passage of others. The properties of the membrane formed will depend on the nature of the fatty acids incorporated. Fatty acids come in a variety of forms but all have the common feature of being a chain of carbon atoms. These carbon chains can be only a few carbon atoms long or they can be between 18 and 24 carbon atoms long. The latter are then called long-chained fatty acids and these are the ones that are particularly important for inclusion in membranes. In addition to the number of carbon atoms, the number of double bonds in the chain is also important. The more double bonds there are, the less ‘saturated’, and the more ‘unsaturated’, is the fatty acid. And where the first double bond in the chain occurs also affects its properties; if it occurs 6 bonds in from the end of the chain it is called omega-6, while if it is 3 bonds in it is called omega-3. Plants and animals can synthesise many different fatty acids which perform a wide variety of different functions, the simplest fatty acids so formed are saturated fats such as palmitic acid (16:0 where 16 is the number of carbon atoms and 0 is the number of double bonds). These saturated fatty acids can have additional carbon atoms added and double bonds formed by means of different enzymes to produce a wide range of different fatty acids. However, only plants can produce fatty acids in the omega-6 and omega-3 series, which is why these have been called the essential fatty acids, see Figure 1. Animals depend on getting these essential fatty acids through their diet. Plants can also convert omega-6 fatty acids into omega-3 fatty acids and vice a versa, whereas animals lack the ability to do this and they must obtain adequate quantities of both types from what they eat. In general, plant leaves and algae are a good source of omega-3 fats while seeds are a good source of omega-6 fats.
What is Omega-3 and Omega-6?
Omega-3 and omega-6 are both considered fats, which are necessary for energy and a balanced diet. However, they are specifically classified as a polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) and an essential fatty acid because your dog’s body is unable to produce such fatty acids on its own. The only way dogs can obtain such fatty acids is through the food they consume. Which is why paying attention to the quality and balance of these fats is essential for health be.
Types of Omega-6 Fatty Acids Include:
-
- Arachidonic acid
- Linoleic acid
Natural foods such as lean meat, egg yolks and some fish oils are good sources of arachidonic acid. Linoleic acid contributes to good skin and coat. Common sources of linoleic acid for that can be added into a dog’s diet include poultry, safflower oil, sunflower oil and canola oil.
Types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Include:
-
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Common omega-3 rich foods for dogs that are known to contain alpha-linolenic acid include flaxseed oil and canola oil. Cold water fish and phytoplankton are rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which are probably the most widely available sources of omega-3. A dog’s diet that is lacking in EPA can often contribute to depression. Also found in cold water fish, phytoplankton and other marine plants, docosahexaenoic acid is essential for brain and eye development.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are vital to brain development. In addition to that, both types of fatty acids help to regulate blood pressure and maintain immune system functions. In short, they are extremely important for your best friend.While both fatty acids control hormones, however, one of the fatty acids is responsible for triggering pro-inflammatory hormones within the immune system while the other dispenses anti-inflammatory hormones.
What are omega-9 fatty acids?
Omega-9 fatty acids are monounsaturated, meaning they only have one double bond.
It’s located nine carbons from the omega end of the fatty acid molecule.
Oleic acid is the most common omega-9 fatty acid and the most common monounsaturated fatty acid in the diet .
Omega-9 fatty acids aren’t strictly “essential,” as the body can produce them.
However, consuming foods rich in omega-9 fatty acids instead of other types of fat may have health benefits.
Fun fact! Did you know that before 2016, omega-3 fatty acids were not considered to be essential for a dog?
Who’s Responsible for What?
- Omega-6 (Pro-inflammatory)
The inflammation response in the body is triggered by omega-6 fatty acids. It is not all that scary as it sounds. In fact, this inflammatory response is crucial to your dog when she experiences heat, redness, swelling, pain or loss of function as the inflammatory response will let the body know when to ‘activate’ the appropriate immunisation processes such as bringing in white blood cells to fight off infections brought on by viruses, germs and attacking bacteria.
Omega-6 fatty acids benefit dogs in many other ways including:
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- Improves the body’s ability to promote and repair skeletal and muscular tissue
- Stimulates growth of your dog’s skin and fur
- Provides good bone health
- Regulates its metabolism
A deficiency can result in issues such as flaky and itchy skin due to impeded skin repair capabilities. Depleted levels of omega-6 in your dog’s body can cause reproductive problems among other issues.
- Omega-3 (Anti-inflammatory)
The anti-inflammatory hormones produced by omega-3 fatty acids work in tandem with omega-6 fatty acids to offset inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids have been known to help dogs across the span on their lives because of it’s anti-inflammatory nature.
The various benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for dogs include:
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- Reduce inflammation levels in the in the body
- Protects against irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
- Treats heart disease, chronic kidney disease and arthritis
- Improves brain function
- Slows down canine cognitive dysfunction in older dogs
What’s A Healthy Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio?
As with all things in life, balance needs to be achieved – even between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Too much or too little of either can flag up the wrong signals in the body and bring about health issues. Ideally, a healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is ideally 5:1 and nothing exceeding 10:1.
More often than not, the balance of omega-6 and omega-3 gets thrown off because of the type of food we feed our best friends. Most of them consume too little omega-3 and exceed the normal intake of omega-6.
In addition, highly processed dog food strips away the essential fatty acids in the kibbling process due to intense heat. In turn, manufacturers have to add synthesised and artificial vitamins and minerals at the final stage to rebalance the food. Inferior ingredients used in processed food are also guilty of contributing to sky-high levels of omega-6 which causes the immune system to go haywire and triggers skin condition and the onset of diseases.
Homemade diets and even raw diets can also have abnormal ratios, and if left unbalanced can cause irreparable damage to your best dog’s health.
Correcting The Imbalance
Adding omega-3 rich fresh ingredients such as fish like sardine, mackerel, anchovy, and wild caught salmon to your dog’s diet daily can help bring back much needed balance. While going to the market daily might not be possible for everyone, thankfully there are plenty of other options like omega-3 rich marine phytoplankton supplements for the time starved pet parent.
Our oceans are teeming with health-giving life sources including wild Alaskan salmon and wild Antarctic krill that can benefit dogs greatly due to their high omega-3 levels.
Krill is a shrimp like crustacean that contains more EPA than fish oil (180 mg/g in regular fish oil vs 240 mg/g EPA in krill). Krill oil also has high levels of powerful antioxidants including Vitamin A and E, and naturally occurring astaxanthin, that comes from the red pigments of krill. Antioxidants like astaxanthin have been shown to aid in the elimination of harmful molecules called “free radicals”.
Not only that, there is no accumulation of heavy metals in krill, and it is also known to be a highly sustainable food source which means that we’re able to love our dogs and the earth, all at the same time!
Another complete source of natural omega-3 fatty acids comes from wild Alaskan salmon as these fish have spent their entire lives foraging on a natural, nutrient-rich diet.
The resulting oil contains a balanced blend of valuable omega-3 fatty acids, inherent antioxidants and traces of vitamins that naturally occur in the salmon which will not interfere with your dog’s intake of vitamins from other sources.
Importance of Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids for Dogs:
- Supports Healthy Skin and Coat:Omega-3 fatty acids help keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy by reducing inflammation and promoting moisture retention.
- Promotes Brain Development:DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, is essential for brain development and cognitive function in puppies and adult dogs.
- Reduces Inflammation:Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and promote joint health, making them an excellent supplement for dogs with arthritis or joint problems.
- Supports Immune Function:Omega-3 fatty acids can help boost your dog’s immune system, making them less susceptible to infections and diseases.
- Supports Heart Health:Omega-3s help reduce blood pressure and triglycerides, promoting heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Some common dog-friendly foods that are rich in calcium include:
- Salmon
- Flaxseeds
- Chia seeds
- Fish oil supplements
Some common and easily available foods that are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids are:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Pork
- Sunflower seeds
- Soya bean
- Corn oil
Omega Deficiency in Dogs
Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids are both essential nutrients that your dog needs for good health. The deficiency of any of these nutrients can cause some serious problems.
- Omega-3 Deficiency:Omega-3 deficiency in dogs can lead to skin problems, coat dullness, poor cognitive function, and joint pain.
- Omega-6 Deficiency:Omega-6 deficiency in dogs can lead to skin problems, coat dullness, and poor immune function.
By ensuring that your dog gets enough of Omega-3 and Omega-6 nutrients, you can help promote healthy skin and coat, brain development, joint health, immune function, heart health, strong bones and teeth, muscle function, nerve function, blood clotting, and enzyme function.
To determine the appropriate amount and type of Omega supplements to give your dog to ensure optimal health, you can check out Kuddle Food. On Kuddle Food, you can get tailored recipes and supplement recommendations for your pets based on their breed, age, body condition, and weight. Check it out now and let us know if you have any questions related to pet nutrition!
Which foods contain these fats?
You can easily obtain omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids from your diet, but you need the right balance of each. The typical Western diet contains more omega-6 fats than necessary and not enough omega-3 fats.
Here’s a list of foods that are high in omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids.
Foods high in omega-3 fats
Oily fish is the best source of omega-3s EPA and DHA. Other marine sources include algal oils. ALA mainly comes from nuts and seeds.
There are no official standards for daily omega-3 intake, but various organizations offer guidelines. Most experts recommend an intake of 250–300 milligrams per day .
According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the adequate intake of ALA omega-3s per day is 1.6 grams for adult males and 1.1 grams for adult females aged 19 years and over .
Here are the amounts and types of omega-3s in one serving of the following foods:
- salmon: 4.0 grams EPA and DHA
- mackerel: 3.0 grams EPA and DHA
- sardines: 2.2 grams EPA and DHA
- anchovies: 1.0 grams EPA and DHA
- chia seeds: 4.9 grams ALA
- walnuts: 2.5 grams ALA
- flaxseeds: 2.3 grams ALA
Foods high in omega-6 fats
High levels of omega-6 fats are present in refined vegetable oils and foods cooked in vegetable oils.
Nuts and seeds also contain significant amounts of omega-6 fatty acids.
According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the adequate intake of omega-6s per day is 17 grams for males and 12 grams for females ages 19–50 years .
Here are the amounts of omega-6s in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of the following foods:
- soybean oil: 50 grams
- corn oil: 49 grams
- mayonnaise: 39 grams
- walnuts: 37 grams
- sunflower seeds: 34 grams
- almonds: 12 grams
- cashew nuts: 8 grams
Foods high in omega-9 fats
Omega-9 fats are common in:
- vegetable and seed oils
- nuts
- seeds
There are no adequate intake recommendations for omega-9s since they’re nonessential.
Here are the amounts of omega-9s in 100 grams of the following foods:
- olive oil: 83 grams
- cashew nut oil: 73 grams
- almond oil: 70 grams
- avocado oil: 60 grams
- peanut oil: 47 grams
- almonds: 30 grams
- cashews: 24 grams
- walnuts: 9 grams
Should you take an omega-3-6-9 supplement?
Combined omega-3-6-9 supplements usually provide each of these fatty acids in suitable proportions, such as 2-to-1-to-1 for omega-3:6:9.
Such oils can help increase your intake of omega-3 fats and enhance your balance of fatty acids so that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is less than 4-to-1.
However, most people already get enough omega-6 from their diet, and the body produces omega-9. For this reason, most people do not need to supplement with these fats.
Instead, it’s best to focus on getting a good balance of omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids from your diet.
Ways of doing this include eating at least two portions of oily fish per week and using olive oil for cooking and in salad dressings.
In addition, try to limit omega-6 intake by limiting your consumption of other vegetable oils and fried foods that have been cooked in refined vegetable oils.
People who do not get enough omega-3 from their diet may benefit from an omega-3 supplement rather than a combined omega-3-6-9 supplement.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
