Essential fatty acids are important for many reasons but primarily they aid in the formation of compounds called eicosanoids.  Eicosanoids play vital roles in inflammation, fever, regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, immune system modulation, control of reproductive processes, tissue growth and regulation of the sleep/wake cycle - whew!  Essentially essential fatty acids help control the very essence of our being!

The eicosanoids produced by marine oil sources are particularly effective in dogs and cats and have been useful in many clinical conditions.

Dogs and cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis have been reported to show improvements in mobility, lameness, willingness to jump and weight bearing when fed diets containing omega 3 fatty acids.  Inflammatory skin diseases show less itching and chronic renal disease shows less protein loss through the urine when omega 3 fatty acids are included in the treatment regime.  Survival times in animals with cardiovascular disease were prolonged when they consumed diets containing omega 3 fatty acids.  Dogs with cognitive dysfunction (i.e. senility) showed improved recognition, memory, learning and agility as well as less repetitive motion behaviors when supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids.

The purest, richest source of omega 3 fatty acids can be found in freshwater sardines.  No need to worry about the bones - sardines have bones that are so soft they are more like cartilage than actual bone.  Most grocery stores will carry a variety of canned sardines.  Be sure to avoid sardines in oil or any type of sauce.  For dogs weighing 15 pounds or more, give 1 freshwater sardine a day.  For cats and dogs under 15 pounds, give 1/2 of a freshwater sardine a day.  Most dogs and cats really enjoy this tasty addition to their diets but if the pet is on a specific diet for a particular condition (i.e. food allergies), please consult with your veterinarian before adding freshwater sardines to the diet.

Nutrition is something we are passionate about at DTLAvets!  Schedule an appointment with us today to discuss how we can help you improve your pet’s diet.