We reccomend Fish Oil all the time for dogs who have dry skin or brittle coats.

However, fish oil has many more properties that are beneficial to our dogs!

What are fish oil supplements?

Most commercially available fish oils are derived from coldwater fish, primarily menhaden, but also salmon and trout. These oils are rich in the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These two fatty acids are metabolized to series 3 prostaglandins, which can have a significant moderating influence on inflammation. Fish, in turn, obtain EPA and DHA from algae, making super green foods such as marine micro-algae an alternate source of EPA and DHA. Algae may become the dominant source of omega-3 fatty acids as fish populations continue to decline in the world’s oceans.

Why recommend administration of fish oil to my pet?

Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. The EPA and DHA in fish oil are converted into series 3 prostaglandins which, like series 1, reduce the tendency to inflammation. Series 2 prostaglandins promote inflammation and are synthesized from the omega-6 fatty acid known as arachidonic acid, commonly found in animal fat. The higher the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to arachidonic acid in the diet, the less prone an animal will theoretically be to developing inflammatory disorders – hence the recent interest in omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid RATIOS in human nutrition. Unfortunately, commercial dog foods tend to be very low in omega-3 fatty acid content, predisposing them to inflammatory conditions.

In humans, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and lupus erythematosis are autoimmune diseases characterized by a high level of the proinflammatory leukotriene LTB(4) produced from omega-6 fatty acids. There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the placebo-controlled trials of fish oil in chronic inflammatory diseases reveal significant benefit, resulting in decreased disease activity and even a reduced need for anti-inflammatory drugs.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils also have other effects unrelated to their effects on controlling inflammation. For example, poly-unsaturated fatty acids including fish oil may help reduce the tendency to cardiac arrhythmias (heart rhythm abnormalities) and seizures. A calming effect of EPA in particular has also been noted in the management of schizophrenia, to the point of reducing the need for anti-psychotic drug use, and improving mental function in those patients who are still receiving pharmaceutical treatment.

Another interesting effect of fish oil is its ability to inhibit tumor growth. DHA shrinks tumors by promoting cell differentiation. As neoplastic or cancer cells differentiate or age, their lifespans become predetermined and limits are placed on how many more times an individual cell can divide. The ability of fish oil to inhibit cell proliferation has also excited tremendous interest in its use as a supplement in patients prone to coronary artery disease. The first step in the formation of an atheromatous plaque that may occlude a coronary artery is smooth muscle cell proliferation within the vessel wall. Fish oil supplementation has shown a marked ability to inhibit this step in many studies.

Lastly, some diseases associated with a lower level of omega-3 fatty acids may respond well to fish oil supplementation. An example is peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus. DHA supplementation, but not EPA supplementation, entirely prevents the decreases in nerve conduction velocity and nerve blood flow associated with this nerve disease of diabetics.

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Read more from DVM Shawn Messonnier at his wesbite!

 
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://wagntails.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/author-image.png[/author_image] [author_info]About the Author Christine Fox, APDT, CTDI and a Pet Sitters International member, is the founder of Wag ‘N’ Tails Dog Activity Center with two locations in Michigan. She has been involved with many pet dog trainer certification initiatives, all based on learning techniques that involve humane practices and the latest in scientific research. Christine also raised a service dog for Paws With a Cause and plans to train her newest pup in therapy work. Through her work with dogs and their parents, Christine has developed many happy and healthy relationships with both humans and dogs in the community.[/author_info] [/author]