Safe, Smart OMEGA 3's! - Now with Marine DHA!
OMEGA
DOG™ is pure Camelina oil, the safe, smart Omega 3 source. Camelina is
related to flax, sharing high Omega 3 content. But Camelina grows under
harsher conditions, so has evolved higher in vitamin E content as
protection against exposure and pests. These adaptations ensure OMEGA
DOG stays fresh longer than flax or fish. OMEGA DOG is renewable, does
not deplete endangered species and contains no mercury. Plus, OMEGA DOG
saves you money!
Omega 3s, PLUS!
In addition to the proven benefits of Omega 3s, OMEGA DOG also contains
naturally occurring antioxidants tocopherols, carotenoids,
poly-phenols, flavonoids, phosphatides and phyto- sterols including sitosterol, brassicasterol,
campesterol, and more. Studies indicate these powerful "plant power"
factors are associated with lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol and
inflammation, and even support heart, brain and eye health.
More Omega 3 Power for Less! Just ½ Tablespoon delivers the benefits of more than 1,600mg of concentrated Omega 3:
Less blood "sludge" Makes platelets more "slippery", so they glide past each other, less likely to clog and thicken.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Properties, Lowers global (whole body) inflammation, benefiting joint, heart and brain health.
Glossier
Coat, Healthier Skin Simultaneously fights inflammation plus supplies
essential fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
Omega Dog provides the following powerful benefits:
• 100% Mercury Free
• Built In Powerful Antioxidants
• Higher Vitamin E Content
• More Stable than Flax or Salmon
• No Refrigeration Required
• Safe, Smart OMEGA 3s, Now wit Marine DHA!
• Stays Fresh Longer than Flax or Fish Oil
• Lowers "Bad" LDL Cholesterol
• Earth-Based, Extra Virgin
• 100% Natural, 100% Delicious
• Money-Saving Omega 3s
• Extra Virgin, Unrefined, Sustainably-Grown Cold Pressed
Camelina Sativa Oil and Marine Based DHA Omega3.
Fats & Fatty Acids
By Lew Olson
For
dogs, “fat is where it’s at.” Fat offers energy, warmth and calories
for dogs. Fat is essential for dogs. It is important to offer fat
sources from animal based foods. In a normal, healthy dog, fat is
easier to digest than proteins or carbohydrates. Studies have shown
that animal based fats digest at rates of about 95%. Fat is the main
source of energy for dogs, and are found to provide the best source of
endurance and stamina for working dogs undergoing stress, such as sled
dogs. (1)
Fats,
or lipids, have a more complex method of absorption than proteins.
Since they are fats and not water soluble, they need to be emulsified,
or broken down into a medium that can pass through the small intestine.
Bile salts from the liver are released from the gall bladder to aid in
fat digestion and enhance the fat enzyme, lipase. Bile salts coat the
fat, and enable them to break down into smaller particles, called
micelles. These break down into two components, monoglyceride and fatty
acids. Common symptoms of fat not digesting properly in the dog include
large foul smelling stools, diarrhea and dehydration. The stool is
often light in color, with mucus and loose consistency. This most often
occurs with cooked fats, or fats found in prepared dog foods that can
go rancid if packaged too long. Most common physical reasons for poor
digestion of fats are liver disease, pancreatitis (inflammation or
disease of the pancreas), Cushing’s disease or diabetes. (2) Exocrine
Pancreatic Insufficiency can be another cause, more details about that
can be found here: www.purina.ca
Fats
are necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. They also
provide protection from cold and protect the nerve fibers in the body.
They provide more calories per gram than carbohydrates or protein, and
improve flavor and palatability of the dog’s food. While many
commercial dog food brands offer low fat diet to dogs for weight
reduction, this in turn increases appetite in the dog, as fat is needed
for energy and helps to satiate the dog’s appetite. Please note that
fats do not affect canines like they do us when it comes to cholesterol
or heart disease. Dogs as carnivores do not have the propensity for
cholesterol clogging the arteries or producing strokes. High
cholesterol or triglycerides in dogs can mean very different health
considerations, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes or Cushing’s disease.
If your dog tests high for cholesterol, always run blood tests to check
for these causes.
Lastly,
fats provide a source for essential fatty acids. The dogs’ diet must
have a good source of fat in order to maintain sufficient levels of
fatty acids. Rancid fat or poor quality fat can cause a deficiency of
these fatty acids. Deficiencies of essential fatty acids are most
commonly seen in poor coat and skin condition, such as pruritis
(itching), dermatitis (skin inflammation) and seborrhea. A good source
of vitamin E is also recommended for the best absorption of essential
fatty acids. (3)
The
two essential fatty acids that are most commonly discussed for
nutrition are Omega 6 fatty acids, and omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 6
fatty acids are found in animal sources, such as chicken and pork.
Smaller amounts are found in beef. Larger amounts are found in plant
sources, such as olive, safflower and other plant oils. Omega 3 fatty
acids are less common, found in fish oil, flax seed oil and marine
sources, such as spirulina and blue green algae. (4)
Since
the omega 6 fatty acids are found naturally in the diet (animal fats
and plant sources) it is not necessary to add this fat to the dog’s
diet. Research is still incomplete on the optimal balance of omega 6 to
omega 3 fatty acids, but currently it is thought to be approximately
5:1 to 10:1. (1) Since most foods already contain high amounts of omega
6 (meat, fat and plant matter) it is important to add good sources of
omega 3 daily to your dog’s diet.
The
best sources for omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish body oils, such
as fish oil or salmon oil. Cod liver oil is quite different, as it is
lower in omega 3 and very high in vitamins A and D. Fish oil has a
readily available form of omega 3, called EPA and DHA. Plant based oils
such as Flax Seed Oil contains ALA, which needs to be converted in the
body to be of use. Most dogs are unable to do this conversion which
results in high amounts of omega 6 from this source, but not much omega
3. A high omega 6 to omega 3 ratio promotes inflammation, poor coat,
allergies and skin conditions.
“While
flaxseeds or flaxseed oil is not harmful to pets and does supply some
essential omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil is a source of
alphalinoleic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately
converted to EPA and DHA. Many animals (probably including dogs) and
some people cannot convert ALA to these other more active
non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, due to a deficiency of desaturase
enzymes needed for the conversion. In one human study, flaxseed oil was
ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA.
Therefore, I do not recommend flaxseed oil as a fatty acid supplement
for pets with atopic dermatitis (skin problems caused by environmental
allergies). Instead, look for fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA.”(5)
Other
benefits of fatty acids include controlling inflammation, aiding in
heart disease, cancer therapy, arthritis and renal disease. In heart
disease and cancer, cachexia (muscle wasting) can cause a severity of
side effects. Cathexia is caused by excess cytokine production. High
doses of fish oil (1,000 mg per ten lbs of body weight) have been found
to suppress cytokine, thus increasing life expectancy by maintaining
integrity of the heart muscle and reducing loss of muscle mass in some
types of cancer.
Because
high doses of omega 3 fatty acids are found to reduce inflammation,
fish oil is helpful for dogs with arthritis and orthopedic problems.
The anti-inflammatory properties have also been found helpful for
dermatitis and other skin conditions, as well as for certain
gastro-intestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Disease and Colitis.
Lastly,
omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for kidney disease. They have been
shown to be renal protective, and in certain kidney disorders such as
glomerular disease, fish oil helps to reduce inflammation. (4) (6)
In conclusion, some considerations for fat in the diet include:
1.
Always include fresh fat sources in your dog’s diet, including animal
fat (whole milk yogurt, canned fish, meat, eggs) and fish or salmon oil
capsules.
2. Don’t
reduce fat for weight loss in your dog, but rather lower the amount of
food served (see http://b-naturals.com/Nov2004.php3)
3.
A dog’s reaction to fat, such as loose stools or strong odor may simply
mean reducing the amount of fat or food served, or it can mean other
disease issues, such as Cushing’s disease, pancreatitis, Diabetes,
liver disease or malabsorption problems.
Fat
is indeed necessary for a dog’s diet and is important for energy, skin
and coat, health of the kidneys, heart and to keep inflammation at bay
in the joints. Fat is not the enemy of your dog, but in fact a very
important and good friend.
1) Case, Linda P MS, Carey, Daniel PD, DVM and Hirakawa, Diane A, PhD, Canine and Feline Nutrition, Mosby Press, 1995) 245
(2) Simpson, JW SDA BVM Mphil MRCVS, Anderson, RS BVMS Ph.D MRCVS and
Markwell, PJ Bsc, BvetMed MRCVS, Clinical Nutrition of the Dog and Cat
(Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1993) 66-70
(3) Kronfeld, DS Phd DSc MVSc, Home Cooking for the Dog, (American Kennel Club Gazette, April) 1978 60-61
(4) Kendall, Robert V. PhD Therapeutic Nutrition for the Cat, Dog and
Horse, (Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine, Mosby Press,
1997) 62
(5) home.ivillage.com
(6) www.dvmpharmaceuticals.com
