Why is Omega 3 Important in your Pet’s Diet

You are currently viewing Why is Omega 3 Important in your Pet’s Diet

Why is Omega 3 Important in your Pet’s Diet

We always hear that we should get more omega-3 in our diets… and the same applies to our pets.

There is a good reason for this too; the modern diet is extremely high in omega-6, yet very low in anti-inflammatory omega-3. Because dogs or cats, like humans, are incapable of producing Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA on their own, they must get them through their diet. This makes them an essential nutrient in their diet.

We believe natural is best and the best place to get them is seafood, and there is a wealth of oily fish options available to add in your pets’ diet. However, many fish have high levels of mercury due to industrial pollution.

For instance, tuna is one of the best sources of omega 3, but it’s very high in mercury, which can cause problems if it builds up in the body, therefore we do not recommend Tuna as a viable supplement.

SALMON

Salmon belongs to a family of fish named Salmonidae, which also includes species such as trout. Salmon is one of the most famous types of fatty fish, and thankfully it’s low in mercury too. It’s also one of the very best sources of omega-3 out of all foods.

100g of Alaskan salmon provides 2143mg omega-3 and only 0.039 parts per million of mercury.

* We source Wild Alaskan salmon as it is the healthiest salmon available. The regulated safe fishing practices used to capture the salmon and the wild, natural diet they consume render it healthy for the palate and the environment. Adequate freezing of any fish will kill any parasites that may be present.

MACKEREL (ATLANTIC)

Coming second on the fatty fish list is mackerel. However, it’s important to realize that there are several different species of this fish, and three of the most common are;

  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • King Mackerel
  • Spanish Mackerel

Unfortunately, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel have relatively high mercury levels, therefore we stick to the Atlantic species.

Atlantic mackerel provides a wealth of omega-3 with 2670mg per 100g, and mercury levels of around 0.05mg. Atlantic Mackerel is one of the best oily fish with great health benefits for your pet.

SARDINES

Sardines belong to the family of fish known as Clupeidae, and these species are small oily fish in the herring family.

You may also hear sardines referred to as “pilchard,” but these two names are interchangeable – it’s the same fish.

Due to their size, sardines naturally have very low mercury levels, and they’re among the cleanest of seafood options. And, they also boast a fair amount of omega-3 fatty acids – providing 1693mg per 100g. Due to the fact we eat the whole fish, sardines are a nutritional powerhouse. For instance, they’re a unique source of dietary calcium since we feed it including the bones.

Throughout history, evidence suggests that consumption of omega oils was an approximate 1:1 dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3.

Sadly, these days estimates place the rate at anything up to 20:1 in favour omega 6. This ratio is highly imbalanced, and it likely causes a pro-inflammatory state in our pets’ bodies.

Since inflammation has links to almost every chronic disease in existence, we should do what we can to reduce your pets’ consumption of foods high in omega 6. In other words, by cutting down on vegetable or plant-based oils (such as soybean and corn oil), we can avoid most of this excessive omega-6 intake. Your pets require a source of fatty fish between 10-15% of your pets’ diet; which can make a positive difference.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids are very popular nutritional supplements for dogs. They are advertised to help with skin conditions, allergies, kidney function, lymphoma, heart disease, cognitive function, arthritis, and more.

Pawsome Raw offers a great choice of the above natural fish and recommend you add a variety of Salmon, Mackerel and Sardines to your pet’s daily diet.

CONTACT US FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFO…