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You omega 3 fatty acids are a type of fat present in high concentration in certain foods, being beneficial to the health of dogs in some aspects. In addition, these fatty acids are essential, that is, the dog's body cannot synthesize them, which makes it necessary to take them with food.
Fortunately, there are many foods rich in omega 3 that can be included in a dog's diet, solving this problem easily. In PeritoAnimal, we indicate some omega 3 rich dog foods.
Benefits of Omega 3 for Dogs
As mentioned before, it is necessary to reinforce the animal's diet with a dose of these nutrients, since the body is not able to manufacture them. That's why they're called essential fatty acids.
One deficit of fatty acids can cause several symptoms that affect, above all, the health and condition of the dog's skin, as well as the skin and nails. Joint problems may also arise. In addition to being necessary, these compounds have certain health benefits for our puppies.
In addition to acting like antioxidants to the body and to have a mild anticoagulant effect - which helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases - are beneficial to the nervous system of the animal, this being particularly relevant for puppies and geriatric animals.
On the other hand, omega 3 fatty acids are especially beneficial for the skin and for the fur of puppies, improving their health and reinforcing their function as a protective barrier.
This is very interesting in cases of animals with problems with allergies, such as shar pei dogs or bull dogs. They can also reduce the itchiness that these allergies cause, as they improve the condition of the skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
For all these reasons, it is recommended that tutors include omega 3 fatty acids in the dog's diet.
Omega 3 rich dog food
Omega 4 fatty acids are particularly abundant in certain foods such as blue fish and some seeds. Check out what they are:
- Salmon. It is one of the best known Omega-3 rich foods. It is common to find it in dog food rich in this type of fat, especially good quality ones, as it is not a cheap ingredient.
- Sardine. Although salmon is the typical example of fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, it is not the only one that contains the nutrient. Other blue fish, such as sardines, are also rich in these fatty acids.
- Flax seeds. Not only are bluefish rich in Omega 3, some seeds also include the nutrient in large amounts. This is the case of flaxseed, which can be ingested in seeds or in oil, being an excellent source of Omega 3.
- Chia seeds. The seeds of this plant, originating in Central America and which are increasingly in fashion, have an abundant content of Omega 3 fatty acids. They can be found in some feeds enriched with this type of fat, as well as flaxseeds.
- Soy. Despite being known as a vegetable with high protein content, soy is a food rich in omega 3 that can be offered to dogs.
As mentioned, some specific rations are fortified with omega 3, including some of the foods on the list. This type of food is highly recommended for those who want to enrich the dog's diet with this type of compound. These rations are a convenient and safe option, as they are specifically formulated to cover the animal's needs.
There are also capsules, usually based on fish oils, that can be used as an additional fatty acid booster for the dog, if a specific feed is not used.
However, these options are not the only option to supplement the puppies' diet with fatty acids. There are also products with an oral formula (such as a syrup) and even pipettes, some drops that must be applied to the skin on the animal's back.
Contraindications of Omega 3 Excess in Dogs
You secundary effects that can arise with the excess of Omega 3 fatty acids included in the dog's diet are mild and are easily resolved, just by reducing the administered dose.
Because they are fat, Omega 3 fatty acids have a high caloric content, so its excessive intake can cause overweight problems in your pet and, in some cases, more liquid stools. As mentioned, these symptoms disappear by reducing the amount of omega 3 fatty acids.
