Omega 3 Fatty Acids

As a nutritionist, my husband would tell you that I am beyond obsessive when it comes to the diets of my dogs.  As we sit at the edge of VIP's conception, I am compelled to talk about the importance of Omega 3 fatty acids.  There are 3 dietary omega 3 fatty acids that include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)...and you only thought I was going to say "fish oil".  It is actually both EPA and DHA that are found in marine fish oils. 

The benefits of consuming fish oils containing high levels of EPA and DHA are well studied and cited.  These fatty acids are capable of modifying the immune and inflammatory responses in dogs and cats.  In addition, recent research has documented linear responses in puppy trainability when their mother's were supplemented with EPA and DHA (I'm certain Keegan x VIP puppies will be brilliant, but, I will give them all the help I can).  During the last trimester of development, neural tissues in the eye and brain are accumulating DHA at very rapid rates.  This accumulation is necessary for both visual and psychomotor development. 

I am often asked if the omega 3 fatty acid in flaxseed is the same and the answer is, No.  The fatty acid in flaxseed is ALA (yes, it is still an important omega 3); however, flax contains little to no DHA.  Marine fish oils are the best supply of both EPA and DHA.  So, how much do you give your dog?  I prefer to dose fish oil based on body weights and go with the following:

20 mg per pound (dog's weight in pounds) of EPA and 15 mg per pound of DHA.  Most of the over the counter 1,000 mg fish oil capsules contain approximately 30% (300 mg) combined EPA and DHA (yes, you will need to look at the labels).  Some product labels will separate EPA and DHA; however, others will list a combined amount. The EPA will always be slightly higher and likely in the 180 mg range, while DHA will be approximately 120 mg. So, for my toy fox terriers that weigh about 6 Lb, they should ideally consume 120 mg of EPA and 90 mg of DHA daily; therefore, 1/2 of a 1,000 mg fishoil capsule in the AM and 1/2 in the PM would be just about perfect.