The nutraceutical market is at an all time high for human and pet products. Nutraceutical research for the benefit of our pets has also become widely popular in recent decades. Between private research companies and university studies, you can find a dog or cat publication about practically any well-known supplement. Recently, studies have suggested that Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation improves cognitive abilities in puppies and kittens. Why is this important to know? If you have a “hard-to-train” puppy or a clumsy kitten, you may see improvements in their attention span if you add a fish oil supplement to their meals.
What are Omega 3 Fatty Acids?
Omega 3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats, also known as “healthy fats”. Omega 3’s include DHA and EPA, and are commonly found in seafood. The human body is not able to produce enough of its own DHA and EPA for survival, so we must supplement with our food. Salmon, for one, is high in omega 3’s. This is why experts are pushing the consumption of salmon over most other types of fish. Unfortunately studies have proven that dogs and cats are often suffering from DHA and EPA deficiencies leading to problem behaviors and late development because of the popular food sources of today. Dry kibble diets are often lacking in omega 3 fatty acids due to the high temperature cooking process. There was an attempt to resolve this issue by adding omega 3’s to the kibble during manufacturing after cooking, however this is also a concern due to the rather unstable shelf life of fish oils. If you purchase a bag of kibble that advertises higher doses of omega 3’s, buy a smaller bag to ensure it doesn’t go rancid prior to being able to finish off the bag.
The Research
DHA has been proven to play an important role in brain and retinal development and functionality in both humans and animals. DHA in conjunction with EPA supplementation has been proven to have positive effects in both dogs and cats cognitive function and in the treatment of allergic dermatitis, skin and coat disorders, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, heart disease, heart failure, osteoarthritis, and neoplasia. In terms of puppy and kitten development, puppies and kittens that have had their diet supplemented with Omega 3’s performed better in cognitive testing. Supplementation seems to improve comprehension and learning skills. Simply put, the supplemented pets were faster and smarter.
Not All Fish Oils Are Equal
While the sale of nutraceuticals is a multi-billion dollar operation, it’s not regulated well. Many over-the-counter supplements are not quality tested and contain heavy metals and harmful chemicals. When choosing supplements, it’s best to look at the manufacturer. Where do they source their product? Do they use third party testing for quality and safety?
My Recommendations
I have always supplemented my pets’ diet with Omega 3’s from fish oils (salmon, cod, krill). From the moment the pet comes into my home, until the day they die, they are provided some source of additional omega 3’s daily, no matter what type of food they are eating. If you enjoy water packed cans of sardines or salmon, throw some in your pets bowl.
My preferred pet products are Welactin, Nordic Naturals, and Grizzly Omega. When possible, the healthier choice is always a wild caught source. Each of these products has their pros and cons. Welactin has a mint flavor/scent so it doesn’t leave your pet with fish breath, but some animals hate the fishy mint taste. Welactin comes in capsule or liquid form with a measuring scoop. Nordic Naturals advertises being third party tested and free of heavy metals. Nordic Naturals omega 3’s comes in capsule or liquid form with no measurement system of its own. Grizzly fish oils are strong smelling and often leave your pet with fish breath, but they LOVE the taste and the liquid comes with a convenient pump system. All of these products can be used for both dogs or cats. The only difference with the cat versions of these products is smaller packaging. If you are using these products for dogs and cats within the home, opt for the larger bottle. Grizzly offers a 64 fl oz pump bottle, which is very convenient in a multi-pet household. If your pet has a sensitive stomach, start off with a very small amount daily and slowly increase to the recommended dose. Sensitive stomach pets may also do better on Nordic Naturals or Welactin. Be sure to store your fish oils in a cool, dry place, such as your refrigerator. Fish oils go rancid quickly, especially in heat or humidity.
Adding fish oils to your pets food might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it’s the first thing your veterinarian will recommend if your pet is suffering from dry skin and coat issues, allergies, injury, or joint disorders. With the recent study confirming DHA/EPA supplementation improves cognitive function, more veterinarians will start to recommend adding fish oils at an earlier age. Dog trainers and animal behaviorists are already starting to recommend fish oils for hyperactive, problem behavior, and “hard-to-train” dogs. This is such a simple and fairly inexpensive thing to add to your cat or dog bowl and is proving to be worth it.