What are Essential Fatty Acids, anyway …and why do animals need them?
Essential fatty acids are the fats that animals—including humans—can't live without! They are critical to every cell in the body, and regulate nearly every bodily function. In fact, your pet needs EFAs just like it needs other essential vitamins and minerals to help keep it healthy and strong.
EFAs help build muscle mass and strong bones and teeth. They nourish your pet's skin, hair, mucous membranes, nerves, thyroid, adrenals and much more. EFAs keep the gastrointestinal tract lubricated and aid in smooth, efficient digestion and elimination. They also control the way cholesterol works in the body, and play a key role in the functioning of the brain, in regulating inflammation and healing, and immune, digestive, reproductive and cardiovascular functions.
Omega-3 fatty acids include:
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
EPA and DHA are found primarily in cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut and herring, and fish oil supplements. ALA is found in dark, leafy greens, and in soybeans, walnuts, flaxseeds and their oils, as well as canola oil.
Hundreds of scientific studies have demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids:
- Support healthy brain development
- Exert a positive effect on inflammatory problems, including stiff and aching joints
- Lower risk of heart disease and cancer
- Support healthy blood lipid levels and blood viscosity
- Provide high levels of vitamins A and D necessary for the development of strong bones and teeth; healthy skin and mucous membranes; and healthy night vision
Maintaining a healthy balance is the key to health
It is important to maintain a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in your pet's diet. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contibutes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health.
Omega-3s affect many cellular metabolic processes involving a variety of hormones that play important roles in inflammation, cell proliferation, cell death, and immune response. High levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), have a very positive effect on these processes, and support numerous health conditions.
On the other hand, even though omega-6 fatty acids are vital to health, diets containing an overabundance of omega-6s, tend to increase the risk of many chronic diseases. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in processed foods, corn oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil. If the food you feed your pet is processed with these oils, it is especially important to supplement its diet with an omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
Most veterinarians believe that the diet of small animals should include omega-6s and omega-3s
in an approximate ratio of 5:1.
How do omega-3 fatty acids work as an anti-inflammatory for skin diseases and allergies?
Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation—which many experts consider to be the root cause of most chronic diseases. But, again, it is very important for your pet to maintain a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in its diet since omega-3s help reduce inflammation, while an over-abundance of most omega-6s tend to promote inflammation. Consequently, an inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to health problems, while a proper balance helps maintain and improve your pet's health.
For instance, when a cell membrane is damaged (this typically occurs on an on-going basis and is a natural part of life) fatty acids including arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid), are produced. These are further metabolized to produce chemicals called eicosanoids, which cause inflammation, and can result in arthritis, itching or other allergic symptom.
But because Mother Nature strives for balance, if your pet has an adequate supply of omega 3s, eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) will produce anti-inflammatory eicosanoids called prostaglandins and leukotreines. These, in turn, decrease the harmful effects of inflammatory eicosanoids.
Anti-inflammatory eicosanoids:
- Prostaglandins are hormones that govern cellular responses, immune function and hormone synthesis. They are also involved in inflammatory response, fat metabolism, growth and tissue repair, and energy production.
- Leukotreines regulate allergic and inflammatory conditions.
Supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids can be beneficial in inflammatory disorders by regulating your pet's eicosanoid production … which means your pet may find relief from itching and pain.
Read more about treating Skin and Coat problems in pets.
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How Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Prevent Heart Disease?
Hundreds of studies have shown the positive effects of omega-3s on heart health in humans.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to:
- Help maintain healthy cholesterol levels
- Stabilize irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)
- Reduce blood pressure
- Reduce the clotting of blood platelets—which means lowers risk of stroke
- Reduce abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
If your pet has an adequate supply of omega-3s, these will produce anti-inflammatory eicosanoids called thromboxanes, which help maintain healthy blood viscosity or friction. This is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure and reducing risk of blood clots, especially after damage from heartworms. Omega-3 fatty acids may
also help heal tissue lining the heart that has been damaged by heartworms, and help animals with congestive heart failure (CHF) live longer.
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Omega-3s and Cancer
Although more studies need to be done showing the effects of omega-3s on reducing cancer risk, some have shown them to be beneficial in reducing and stopping the growth of tumors, as well as reducing skin damage from radiation treatment. Omega-3s are also beneficial in helping stop cancer cachexia (weight loss).
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Omega-3s and Kidney Disease
Omega-3s increase prostaglandins that reduce inflammation in the kidneys and improve blood flow to them. Since omega-3s also support healthy blood lipids, and dogs and cats with kidney disease often have elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, this is a double benefit.
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Respiratory Health
Preliminary research suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may decrease inflammation and improve lung function in adults with asthma. Omega-6 fatty acids have the opposite effect, and tend to increase inflammation and worsen respiratory function. See the Respiratory-Asthma section for more information.
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Why Does My Pet Need an EFA Supplement?
Most pet foods contain the minimum daily requirement (MDR) of EFAs, which is generally not enough for optimal health. On top of that, processed foods have increased omega-6 fatty acids and decreased omega-3 fatty acids, so if your pet eats processed food, it's a good idea to add omega-3 supplements. And most importantly, adding omega-3 fatty acids to your pet's diet will increase the production of non-inflammatory eicosanoids and decrease inflammation.
Also, as with other supplements, supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids often lowers the need for your veterinarian to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids or antihistamines.
Whether your dog or cat is healthy or fighting a disease, supplementing its diet with an omega-3 fatty acid supplement that goes beyond meeting the minimum daily requirement can provide numerous benefits and health insurance.
Super EPA by Thorne Research
Super EPA is a fish oil concentrate that is a superior source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omege-3s are needed to help prevent skin from drying and cracking and they are also an anti-inflammatory. This will improve the quality of your pet’s coat and reduce the swelling and wounding associated with biting and scratching.
To purchase or read
more about Super EPA...
Kelp Help by NaturVet
 Kelp Help combines the benefits of natural Omega 3, 6, and 9 Fatty Acids for healthy skin and a glossy coat, as well as being fortified with ESSENTIAL vitamins and minerals important to maintain normal digestion and proper vitamin utilization.
To purchase or read more about Kelp Help...
Septiderm-V Skin and Coat Supplement from GreenTree
_vsm.jpg) A high quality dietary supplement with Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fatty Acids from natural sources fortified with vitamins for healthy skin and a glossy coat on your pet. Relieves itching, dull coat and excessive shedding when caused by dietary (fatty acid and/or vitamin) deficiency.
Contains no hormones or antihistamines and may be fed as needed to control itching, or every day for a beautiful coat.
To purchase or read more about Septiderm-V Skin and Coat Supplement...
Ultimate Skin and Coat from NaturVet
Formulated with only the highest quality, all natural active ingredients, Ultimate Skin and Coat by NaturVet combines the benefits of natural Omega 3, 6 & 9 Fatty Acids for healthy skin and a glossy coat. Fortified with biotin, vitamins, and minerals important to maintain normal digestion and for overall health.
To purchase or read more about Ultimate Skin and Coat..
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