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Recently we were asked, \u201cWhy does my dog need fish oil?\u201d After a flood of reasons hit us we realized that most pet parents don\u2019t know or understand the importance of fish oil and omega fatty acids – specifically wild caught fish oil and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s important that the fish oil is wild-caught rather than farm-raised. When the fish oil is wild caught, it contains higher amounts of trace minerals and vitamins. This is due to the fish being able to eat foods found in its natural ecosystem and being of higher quality. Along with the health benefits, there are guidelines the supplement companies follow, the wild-caught fish oil is ethically and sustainably harvested and sourced, making it a double win!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some bags of dry foods (kibble) or freeze dried raw dog foods have omega-3 and omega-6 on their ingredient label. One must be aware of the effect heat and oxidation has on those essential fatty acids. If the food has been cooked, baked, or dried, most of the fatty acids have been killed off. As for freeze dried dog and cat foods, the freeze-drying process causes the oxidation process to have some of the same negative effect as heat and baking and baking process.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fish oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both are polyunsaturated fats (PUFAS), both of which are not produced by the body and can only be sourced through a balanced diet. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are two main long-chained fatty acids found in omega-3. They are EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). These fatty acids are most commonly know for their benefit to brain development and eye health. Due to their health benefits they\u2019re considered essentials for pregnant or nursing dogs, along with their growing puppies. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, it\u2019s a mistake to think that we should limit fish oil to pregnant or nursing dogs. Most dogs can benefit from fish oil. It can help older dogs with joint problems, and younger active dogs who need long sustainable energy. Where does that sustainable energy come from? You guessed it, the omega fatty acids.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s commonly unknown, but DHA is a major building block of mammalian retinas. A healthy retina means healthier photoreceptors, and as a result can help to benefit a dog or cat\u2019s eye sight. <\/span>Fish oil can also help to manage tears or discharge around a dog’s tear ducts. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n An animal’s brain is made of 60% fat, and a quarter of that is made out of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid). It\u2019s no wonder that fish oil can benefit brain health. <\/span>The long-chain fatty acids may also help our pets brain cells to communicate, thus benefiting their memory, brain development, and anxiety levels. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fish oil has been proven to show improvements in the function of endothelial cells. These cells help to control blood clotting and the proper expansion of blood vessels.\u00a0The omegas positively affect the myocardium, a muscle layer in the heart that directly affects the pumping of blood, on a cellular and ionic level.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) may help to raise your dogs HDL (<\/span>High-density lipoproteins), commonly known as good cholesterol. They don\u2019t seem to have an effect on the LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), commonly known as bad cholesterol. <\/span>Fish oil for cats and dogs can help to lower triglycerides. High triglycerides can lead to <\/span>arteriosclerosis,<\/span> the hardening and thickening of the artery walls. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fatty acids help to form a protective layer of moisture around the skin and coat follicles. Thus meaning your pet\u2019s dry and irritated skin can be caused by low levels of omega-3. So boosting their omega-3 intake can make a big difference in the condition of their skin and coat.\u00a0<\/span>Two of the main building blocks of fur and hair are proteins and essential fatty acids. Introducing a fish oil supplement into your animal\u2019s life will help nourish their hair follicles. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are a few ways to improve your animals life with the introduction of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. If you can financially afford to, it’s ideal to switch to a frozen raw diet. However, for most people that\u2019s not an option and that\u2019s O.K. Keep in mind, even if you feed a frozen raw diet to your dog or cat, we still recommend adding a wild-caught fish oil supplement. Which as you now know, is extremely helpful if your pet is active, pregnant, a puppy, or a senior. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most of us choose to add a fish oil supplement to our pets food. For the most part, it\u2019s the most convenient and financially friendly option. When adding a fish oil supplement, we recommend looking for one that is wild caught and has few to no additive ingredients. Stop by our store to see the products we recommend. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re in a crunch, you can try to introduce canned sardines or other fish into your pet’s diet. We found this to be extremely difficult, as most animals don\u2019t like the taste or texture of canned fish. If you do decide to take this route, you want to look for fish that has no added seasoning, and is packaged in water. \u00a0<\/span>It can be intimidating trying to create a wholesome diet for your fur-baby. Different pets have different diet requirements or are flat-out picky, and those picky eaters want a 5-star entree every night. That\u2019s why we recommend you stop by the store so we can recommend some products to try out and see what works best for you and your dog. Can’t stop by the store? We have the Slammin\u2019 Salmon<\/a> and Swingin\u2019 Smelt<\/a>, both of which are loaded with omegas!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nOmega-3 and Omega-6<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Salmon](\"https:\/\/smilindogbakery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Fish-oil-for-dogs-1024x707.jpg\")
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\nBrain, Eye and Mental Health<\/span><\/h2>\nHeart Health<\/span><\/h2>\n
Skin Health<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Wild](\"https:\/\/smilindogbakery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Wild-Wolf-1024x683.jpg\")
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\nMaking a Change<\/span><\/h2>\n