The omega 3 fatty acids are a type of fat, present in high concentrations in certain foods, which have certain he alth benefits of the dogs. In addition, these fatty acids are essential, that is, the dog's body cannot synthesize them, so it is necessary to take them with food.
Fortunately, there are many foods rich in omega 3 that can be included in the diet of dogs, so this last problem has an easy solution. On our site we review some foods rich in omega 3 for dogs.
Benefits of omega 3 fatty acids in dogs
As we have seen, a supply of these nutrients is necessary in the animal's diet since its body is not capable of manufacturing them, hence they are called essential fatty acids.
A deficit of fatty acids can cause various symptoms that affect, above all, the he alth and condition of the skin and its appendages such as hair and nails. Joint problems may also appear. But in addition to being necessary, these compounds have certain benefits for the he alth of our dogs.
In addition to behaving as antioxidants for the body and having a slight anticoagulant effect, which can help preventcardiovascular diseases , are beneficial for the nervous system of the animal, this being of special interest in puppies and in geriatric animals.
On the other hand, omega 3 fatty acids are especially beneficial for the skin and coat of dogs, improving the he alth of and reinforcing its function as a protective barrier.
This is highly interesting in animals with allergy problem, such as shar pei dogs or bulldog types. They can also reduce the itching that these allergic processes present, since they improve the condition of the skin and have a certain anti-inflammatory effect.
For all these reasons, the presence of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet of dogs is recommended.
Foods rich in omega 3 for dogs
Omega 3 fatty acids are especially abundant in certain foods such as oily fish and some seeds. We'll go over some of these foods below:
- Salmon. It is one of the best-known foods rich in omega 3 and is usually included in feed for dogs rich in this type of fat, especially high-quality ones, since it is not exactly a cheap ingredient.
- Sardine. Despite salmon being the typical example of fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids, it is not the only one that contains them. Other oily fish, such as sardines, are also rich in these fatty acids.
- Flaxseeds. Not only are blue fish rich in omega 3, there are also seeds that contain them in large quantities, such as flax. Like the seeds, flax oil is also a good source of omega 3.
- Chia seeds The seeds of this plant, native to Central America and which is becoming more and more fashionable, have an abundant content of omega 3 fatty acids, and are usually included in the formulation of some feed enriched in this type of fat, like flax seeds.
- Soy. Despite being known for being a vegetable with a high protein content, soy is a food rich in omega 3 that can be given to dogs.
As has been stated, there are specific feedstuffs enriched in omega 3 that include some of the foods mentioned above and are highly indicated for those who wish to enrich their dog's diet with this type of compound. These feeds are a comfortable and safe option since they are specifically formulated to meet the needs of the animal.
There are also capsules, generally based on fish oils, which can be used as an additional supply of fatty acids for the dog, if no specific feed is used.
But these capsules are not the only option to supplement the diet of dogs with fatty acids, there are also products with an oral formulation (like a syrup) and even in pipette format, a few drops that are applied to the skin of the animal's back.
Disadvantages of an excess of omega 3 fatty acids in dogs
The side effects that can appear if the amount of omega-3 fatty acids included in the dog's diet is excessive are mild and are easily resolved by lowering the dose of these compounds.
As omega-3 fatty acids are fats, they have a high calorie content, so if they are eaten excessively they may appear overweight problems in our pets and sometimes, loose stools As mentioned, these symptoms disappear when the intake of these fatty acids is reduced.
