The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats..
The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats..
Supplementing Your Pet's Diet With Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Flax seed oil or fish oil?"
"Both flax seed oil and fish oil are popular fatty acid supplements for pets. You can use either on your pet for general health, but if your cat has a specific need than which fatty acid you choose will make a difference.
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) are derived from fish oils of coldwater fish and flax seed, whereas omega-6 fatty acids (LA) and GLA) are derived from the oils of seeds such as evening primrose, black currant, and borage. In general, the products of omega-3 (specifically EPA) and one omega-6 fatty acid (DGLA) are less inflammatory than the products of (another omega-6 fatty acid.) By adding omega-3 fatty acids to your dog's diet, it is possible to modify (decrease) inflammation within the body. By providing the proper (anti-inflammatory) fatty acids, we can use fatty acids as an anti-inflammatory substance.
If you are using fatty acids as a coat and skin supplement, a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids will work fine. If you are using supplementation for a disease such as allergies, arthritis, heart, or kidney disease, you would be better off using fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. As I discuss in The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, flax seed oil is a popular source of ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is ultimately converted to EPA and DHA. However, many species of pets and some people cannot convert ALA to these other more active non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. In one study in people with asthma, flax seed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA. While flaxseed oil has been suggested as a less smelly substitute for fish oil, there is no evidence that it is effective when used for the same therapeutic purposes as fish oil. Therefore, supplementation with EPA and DHA is important, and this is the reason flax seed oil is not recommended as the sole fatty acid supplement for pets with inflammatory conditions. In my practice, I use fish oil supplementation for a variety of medical disorders. I do not find they work well by themselves but have an additive effect when combined with other supplements (herbs, homeopathics, nutritional products.) Fish oil can be provided as a liquid or gel capsule. Studies show that the label doses of fish oil are too low for treating diseases (they are OK as a supplement.) I recommend using 2-4 times the label dose to achieve anti-inflammatory levels. Your doctor can prescribe the best product for your pet.
