Jean Hofve, DVM
No doubt you’ve heard of Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-6 fatty acids, and essential fatty acids. But did you know that they are essential for pets, too?
The term “essential” means that the animal cannot synthesize the nutrient within its body, but must obtain it in the diet. For example, humans and dogs can make Vitamin A out of beta-carotene, but cats must consume Vitamin A directly from their food. Among fatty acids, arachidonic acid is essential for cats but not for dogs; while Omega-3s and Omega-6s are essential for both.
Omega-3s generally are anti-inflammatory, while the kind of Omega-6s that are found in vegetable and plant oils and most animal fats, Omega-6s (the most common in both human and pet diets), can actually promote and increase inflammation when there’s too much of it.
What do essential fatty acids do? First, they are critical in development, especially for the nervous system and heart. They are incorporated into the membrane of every cell in the body. They are precursors to many important hormones and other compounds in the body. In dogs and cats, they’re especially important for skin and coat health. Lack of a healthy balance of essential fatty acids is linked to many serious health conditions, such as allergies, skin diseases, obesity, cancer, insulin resistance, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, behavioral issues, and cognitive dysfunction (senility).
Pet foods typically utilize leftovers and by-products of the human food industry. In the U.S., livestock and poultry are fed large amounts of corn, which shifts their natural Omega-3 content to mostly Omega-6. Pet foods that use animal fat or vegetable oils therefore contain large amounts of Omega-6s and virtually no Omega-3s, unless they are added—which many pet food makers are now doing.
Some pet foods now list Omega fatty acids in their guaranteed analysis, but this may not be a true reflection of the actual content. Omega-6 is typically listed as a guaranteed minimum (meaning there may be, and probably is, much, much more of it in the food), while Omega-3 is usually a guaranteed maximum. Some labels are manipulated to create an “ideal” ratio of 5:1 or less, but it’s a good bet that your pet will still benefit from additional Omega-3s.
In the body, the forms of Omega 3 needed are EPA and DHA. Because our pets cannot convert plant oils (such as flaxseed oil) into EPA and DHA, fish oils are the best way to supplement dogs and cats with essential fatty acids. The best fish oil supplements come from wild salmon (not farm-raised salmon) or non-predatory fish, and are purified to remove heavy metals and other contaminants. Cod liver oil is an excellent source of EPA and DHA, but most manufacturers add extra vitamins A and D, which can reach toxic levels in small pets.
• Cod liver oil is an excellent source of EPA and DHA, but most manufacturers add extra vitamins A and D, which can quickly reach toxic levels in small pets like cats. Look for cod liver oil that contains only naturally occurring vitamins with nothing added.
• Predatory fish such as salmon and tuna are at the top of the food chain; so environmental contaminants become concentrated in their fat. Farmed fish, particularly salmon, are fed a cocktail of chemicals such as dyes, pesticides, and antibiotics, and live in heavily polluted waters. The best fish oil supplements come from smaller fish living in clean waters, such as sardines, anchovies, herring, and menhaden.
• Purity of the oil is critically important. Like their ocean habitat, many fish are contaminated not only with mercury, but also dioxins, PCBs, and other highly toxic chemicals. The best way to be certain oil is free from these contaminants is to distill it, much like water is distilled to remove impurities. Look for fish oil that is formulated for cats and dogs and manufactured to meet the quality and purity standards for humans, including third-party testing to guarantee the absence of environmental contaminants.
• Freshness is what separates the great oils from the not so good. All oils, but Omega-3s in particular, are easily oxidized (made rancid) from light, heat, exposure to air, moisture, and natural degradation over time. Rancid oils are not only lacking in beneficial properties, but they are actually dangerous to consume: they contain large amounts of free radicals, and are known to destroy fat-soluble vitamins. Therefore, fish that are caught and processed immediately, instead of sitting around for days in a warehouse or transport ship, will provide the best and safest oil. Choose an oil that has passed independent testing to guarantee potency and freshness.
Size difference between fish oil, krill oil, and Moxxor capsules
Green-lipped mussel oil is a great choice for cats. It’s sustainable, humane, and environmentally responsible. Moxxor makes an excellent product that also includes two terrific antioxidants, Sauvignon blanc grapeseed oil and kiwifruit seed oil, which provide the entire spectrum of Vitamin E (8 compounds). Moxxor also contains folate, lutien and zeaxanthin. Best of all, the capsules are tiny compared to fish oil and krill oil products; some cats will even eat them as treats.
The safest and freshest fish oil and cod liver oil products we’ve found are from Nordic Naturals. They make several products for pets: Pet Cod Liver Oil (liquid), Omega-3 Pet (liquid), and Omega-3 Pet (capsules).
It’s easiest to mix the oil with wet food (canned, raw, or homemade). However, not all pets appreciate the taste, so to prevent turning them off completely, start with just a drop or two, and work up to the full dose gradually.
The first benefit you’ll see will be improvement in skin and coat health, and you’ll likely see this within just a few weeks. But it’s the benefits you don’t see—healthier cells, a stronger immune system, and a more efficient nervous system—that will make the most difference in your pet’s health!
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[...] to EPA and DHA, so they don’t really get omega 3′s from flax oil, as Dr. Jean Hovre explains here. It’s not easy for humans to convert flax oil to EPA/DHA either, so I’m not [...]
I like that flax seed is a plant based source of Omega 3s, that combined with natural anti-inflammatories are superb for the cardiovascular system.
I used to be a big fan of flaxseed, until I found out that cats can’t convert it to EPA or DHA. So while the alpha-linolenic acid in flaxseed has positive effects on its own (particularly for skin and coat), it is useless for the anti-inflammatory, neurological, cardiac, and other vital functions of EPA and DHA. Makes sense, I suppose, given that cats are obligate carnivores and would naturally get their Omega-3s from their prey, which contain EPA and DHA that need no conversion.
one of my cats loves fresh caught cod fillets..does it have omega 3s?
It does; but not very much (3 oz. contains only 0.07 gram). Plus, you need to cook it, and that will destroy some of its Omega-3s. However that is preferable to the parasites that may be found in raw fish. The major source of Omega-3s from cod is the liver, which is not usually sold for human consumption.
there are no reliable high quality omega 3 pet supplements to be found in my country, so i have to buy human products. must they come refrigerated to be guaranteed “not rancid and DOA”? what’s the recommended dose (of omega3 and vitamin e) for a 6-pound cat?
The cat dose is typically 1/6 to 1/10 of the human dose. It is advisable to store products in the refrigerator due to the tendency of oils to go rancid quickly in warm temperatures.
[...] acids for cats. I think it explains quite well why the cheap fish oil I bought just didn't work. Omega-3s are Essential for Your Cat! | Little Big Cat __________________ [...]