Omega 3 fatty acids and Your Pet:

There’s nothing fishy about it! Fatty Acids 101

by:  Debbie Decker, MSSA, DVM

That’s right!  Dogs and cats (and other small mammals, such as ferrets) gain the same positive health benefits from Omega 3’s as do humans, according to both veterinary and human research scientists.  So, it is no surprise that over the past two years, Omega 3 fish oil supplements for pets have become the fastest growing nutritional supplement used by dog and cat owners. 

You may already know about the skin and hair coat benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids, for dogs and cats with itchy skin and itchy ears, especially when underlying allergies may exist.  But, there is much, much more for you to know…

Any dog or cat’s nutritional foundation can be greatly improved, regardless of his or her age or current diet plan, by using an Omega 3 supplement.  And, here is why…

Health Benefits of the Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA…

Why are Omega 3’s so good for the body?  Omega 3’s are involved with numerous vital functions within the body.  They are found in high concentrations in brain cells and support normal cognitive development and function.  They are also involved in normal function and electrical conduction of the myocardial cells in the heart.  And, they play an important role in the reduction of inflammatory processes throughout the body that are related to respiratory disease and some gastrointestinal diseases. They support a strong immune system. Last, but not least, they are also involved in maintaining healthy joints, eye and kidney function, and skin health.  

A Quick Essential Fatty Acid Review…
Understanding all the terminology and initials that are used to describe essential fatty acids can be confusing.  ‘Essential Fatty Acids’ (EFA’s) or ‘Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids’ (PUFA’s) are broken into two general categories:  Omega 3’s (n-3) and Omega 6’s (n-6). They are called ‘Essential’ because the body (dogs, cats, humans and other mammals) must have them to function.  But, the body cannot synthesize or make them.  Therefore, fatty acids must be in the foods that are eaten daily.  

Obtaining Omega 6’s in food is easy; there are high amounts in most of what we and our pets eat. Whether your pet is eating a commercial diet, homemade diet, or raw prepared food, high levels of the Omega 6’s are found in meats, grains, vegetable oils and fats.  Unfortunately, all those food sources are very low in Omega 3’s. The only foods high in Omega 3’s, that the body can metabolize and use, are marine sources such as fish, plankton, and krill. 

Not all Omega 3’s are created equal…
There are three types of Omega 3 fatty acids and each comes from different food sources.  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA) are from marine sources (e.g. fish, algae, krill), while alpha-linolenic acid ( ALA) is only from plant/nut sources (e.g. flaxseed, chia seeds, vegetable oils).  Key point: Only EPA and DHA can be used by the body directly.   ALA must first undergo an enzyme process to convert it into EPA. Mammals, especially dogs and cats, have very little of those enzymes and can only convert about 5-15% of the ALA they ingest into a usable form. There are even less enzymes available for the elderly or when there is already illness present. Therefore, while flaxseed and other ALA-containing foods have other positive health benefits, they are a very ineffective way to obtain Omega 3’s.  For the sake of this article, from this point onward I will use the term Omega 3’s to specifically mean EPA and DHA as the preferred fatty acids.

The ratio of these fatty acids in the diet is equally important.  Based on a typical human American diet, it is estimated that we consume a ratio of 30:1 (Omega 6’s to Omega 3’s) or higher. However, a diet ratio of 10:1 or even lower, of Omega 6’s to Omega 3’s is recommended to support and maintain healthy vital bodily functions.

Although the body needs both types of essential fatty acids, Omega 6’s are primarily involved with inflammatory processes.  In contrast, Omega 3’s promote anti-inflammatory processes in the body.  From a clinical perspective, many disease processes within the body either cause, or are caused by inflammation, especially at the cellular level.

Cells are surrounded by a membrane composed of fatty acids; the most notable being Arachadonic Acid (AA), which is an Omega 6 fatty acid.  When the cell is damaged, AA is released into the surrounding tissue and causes inflammatory changes. When the diet includes Omega 3’s, specifically EPA and DHA, the body incorporates them into to cell membranes replacing many of the AA’s.

So, for example, if there is skin irritation, infection, or trauma, cells are damaged and break apart.  The membrane’s fatty acids leak out into the surrounding tissue stimulating the inflammatory process.  However, when the EPA is present in the tissues, it reduces the inflammatory process.  This leads to less inflammation and less pain regardless of the location in the body.

There are a large number of veterinary and human medical researchers studying the beneficial effects of Omega 3 fatty acids.  For example, a recent study in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (Fritsch, et al. Mar 1, 2010; 236:535-539) demonstrated that “dogs with chronic osteoarthritis receiving carprofen [aspirin-like pain medication] because of signs of pain, feeding a diet supplemented with fish oil Omega 3 fatty acids may allow for a reduction in carprofen dosage.”  Feeding Omega 3 fatty acids in order to give less pain medications improves quality of life by reducing the risk of serious side effects from taking those medications on a long term basis.     

What is currently in my pet’s diet? 

Unfortunately, commercial pet foods are no different than the typical American’s diet. They provide an excess of Omega 6’s and a deficient amount of biologically available Omega 3’s. Commercially processed pet foods (including the higher end brands that use more quality meats and fewer grains) are loaded up with Omega 6’s because they occur naturally in the meats, chicken fat, and other carbohydrate sources that are used.  The Omega 3’s that are used in many pet foods are often flaxseed, an ineffective plant source. Sometimes a fish source of Omega 3’s may be used, but it is usually heat processed in the dry kibble with the rest of the ingredients.  High heat during processing (a sustained exposure to heat over 86°F) damages the Omega 3’s chemical structure, so they can no longer provide the health benefits to the body as intended.

Some pet food manufacturers try to avoid the issue of heat processing irrevocably altering the Omega 3’s by spraying it onto the food after the fact.  While this is a better alternative, exposing the food to sustained temperatures over 86°F during the warehousing and shipping still remains a concern to the integrity of the Omega 3’s.

And, don’t be fooled by advertising; be sure to read the labels...

- Fish-based diets often use a generic ‘white fish’ or smoked salmon.  While these are good low-fat sources of protein, these fish contain little to no Omega 3’s as compared to other fish sources such as sardines, anchovies, menhaden, and non-smoked salmon.

- Most pet treats and pet foods promote Omega 3’s in their products. Look at their ingredient list.  Disappointingly, the overwhelming majority of products use flaxseed as the Omega 3 source, which we have already learned is not really helping our pet. 

Since the primary way of obtaining larger, beneficial amounts of Omega 3’s is through eating certain types of fish that are not heat processed into dry commercial foods, it can be very challenging to reach the healthier ratio of 10:1 Omega 6’s:Omega 3’s without adding a supplement.  

Since there are more than enough Omega 6’s in our pets’ diets, there is no need to add a supplement containing Omega 6’s.  Unless your dog’s or cat’s diet includes certain types of fish, it is most likely deficient in the important Omega 3’s. And how that fish is prepared or treated is equally important. So, it becomes much more efficient to use a dietary Omega 3 supplement to incorporate those ideal EPA and DHA fatty acids into your pet’s diet.

How do I choose a fish oil supplement for my dog and cat?
So, you’ve committed to feeding an Omega 3 fish oil supplement to your dog or cat to balance their current daily diet, and to provide all the aforementioned health benefits.  As you try to decide among the dozens upon dozens of brands available, here is some brief information regarding current government regulations for these and other dietary supplements, that may be helpful for you to know: (The complete reference is available at the website address listed below.)

-Unfortunately, there currently are no mandatory FDA regulations on quality of ingredients, or independent testing or accuracy of labeling standards for pet or human supplements before the product is on the market. (For example, Consumer Labs (www.consumerlabs.com) did an independent audit of several human and pet arthritis supplements currently being sold.  Surprisingly, some of the products actually had NO amount of the primary ingredient listed on the label.)  Just because a product is ‘all natural’ does not mean it is ‘safe.’  The FDA monitors product safety only after the product is on the market.

- Yes, the FDA does require that dietary supplement label claims and advertising not be misleading. However, companies are NOT required to list all details regarding the ingredients, flavorings and their amounts.  And, many companies disregard guidelines for label claims.  They even suggest that their product treats diseases or conditions.  It may be hard to find key information on a company’s product label or website that you may want to know.  

- Daily recommended serving sizes can be anything the company decides to use. Those sizes are not necessarily based on any medical or nutritional recommendations.  So, as you stand gazing down a store aisle or reading the infinite list of online Omega 3 supplement options, it can seem to be a daunting task to find one that is safe and reliable.   

-The information given on a label can easily mislead the consumer.  Take for example the average fish oil capsule product found on the shelf down any vitamin aisle.  The front of the label may state in bold type something similar to “1000 mg Fish Oil” or “1000 mg Omega 3 Fish Oil”- in this case the consumer can inaccurately believe that each capsule contains 1000 mg of Omega 3’s.  When the label is rotated and scrutinized however, the amount of EPA and DHA combined per serving is actually only 600mg. But, again, that can be misleading.  A glance at the serving size reveals that 2 capsules must be administered to achieve those 600 mg of EPA and DHA, meaning that each capsule contains only 300 mg of EPA and DHA- significantly less than the 1000 mg  per capsule the consumer thought that they were paying for.  Further scrutiny at the source of the oil may reveal wording such as “Fish oil and other sources.”  Consumers have the right to know what fish source (the type of fish and how it was raised) as well as what those “other sources” are.  More often than not, those “other sources” are less expensive, less efficient plant sources.

Sample of a random Fish Oil Supplement Label from the internet:
 

How much Omega 3 fatty acids does my pet need daily?
In general, for a young to middle-aged dog or cat, general empirical dosing as recommended by veterinary nutrition specialists, suggest feeding approximately 180mg – 200mg of the EPA + DHA only (combined) per 10 pounds of your pet’s body weight daily.  If a dog or cat has any active illness or allergy, then it is recommended to double the above daily dose.  In some cases of severe condition or disease, that daily dose is increased even higher. Again, consult your veterinarian; he or she will help determine the most beneficial amount for your pet. Fortunately, fish oil without added vitamins is extremely safe so don’t be afraid of giving too much.

Omega QD Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats…

As a practicing veterinarian, I experienced the exact same feelings when looking for the best supplement to recommend for my patients. After doing extensive pet product review, I did not find one supplement that seemed to fit all my patients’ needs.  My veterinarian colleagues, clients and I wanted an all-natural, independently tested, concentrated, flavor-free fish oil supplement that allowed doses to be easily calculated and easily fed to pets at home on a daily basis.  So I set out to create a supplement with the following considerations in mind:

- Powdered fish oil supplement 
Powder is easy to measure and to provide specific amounts to all sizes of pets.  However, the only available options were capsules or oils in pump containers.  Capsules are made with a gelatin from either beef or pork. Some oils are also flavored with beef or, oddly enough, fish flavor.  It is helpful to avoid flavored or meat gelatin products if your dog or cat may have skin or ear infections caused by an underlying allergy to protein sources like beef or pork.  Also, in its oil form, fish oil can become rancid and can be messy.

- Wild caught (not farmed) sardines fish oil source. 
 Wild ocean sardines possess naturally high concentrations of Omega 3’s, EPA and DHA. They are ‘vegetarian’ fish that eat plankton.  This ‘vegetarian’ diet gives them lower exposure to heavy metals and contaminants that are sometimes identified in larger Omega 3-rich fish found further up the food-chain ladder.  Sardines are also sustainable despite our persistent harvesting of them. In contrast to wild ocean sardines, farm-raised fish are often fed corn or other non-natural diets which abnormally inflate their Omega 6 levels.  This also causes lower levels of Omega 3’s in their bodies, and can increase their exposure to contaminants.  Many salmon-based fish oil products use farm-raised salmon, which is not always stated on supplement labels. You need to call the company to ask. 

- Guaranteed ‘minimum’ amounts of EPA and DHA. 
Since I and other veterinarians recommend specific doses for patients based on their current health status, we needed to have a fish oil supplement that provided actual “minimum amounts” in milligrams. Many fish oil suppliers will only guarantee “average” amounts of Omega 3 concentrations in their fish oil products.  That means you do not really know the actual amount of Omega 3’s per each serving in those products.

- Freeze-dried blueberry fruit antioxidant source. 
For additional immune system support against the damaging effects of free radicals from aging and disease, freeze-dried blueberries were added. They are the most widely researched food source of antioxidants. Freeze-dried blueberries contain significantly higher amounts of beneficial antioxidants when compared to extracts or juices of the same fruits.

- 100% fish oil source of Omega 3’s with no vitamins added 
Some products add less expensive plant sources of Omega 3’s, such as flaxseed to achieve higher Omega 3 amounts. Also, some products have added high amounts of vitamin A or vitamin D. Or, Cod Liver Oil, for example, has naturally occurring in high amounts of Vitamin A. Since these vitamins are fat soluble (meaning excesses are stored in body fat rather than flushed out of the body), it is easy to risk vitamin toxicity if those fish oil products are given at higher amounts than label recommendations.

- Tested free of heavy metals and other contaminants to be a “Guaranteed” safe, fresh source of fish oil  This is an additional process that is not mandated by the FDA.  (Note:  It is natural for a fish oil supplement to have a clean, characteristic “fishy” smell- not a rancid or foul, marsh-like or putrid smell.  The fishy odor that seems to come from fish comes from the DHA fatty acid in their bodies. So, actually, fish don’t smell like fish- they smell like DHA!)