Skip to content
The Importance of Supplementing your Dog’s Diet with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

The Importance of Supplementing your Dog’s Diet with Omega 3 Fatty Acids

September 20, 2017 Christine Ford

While certain types of inflammation are good for the body, such as acute swelling after a trauma, chronic inflammation is detrimental. Omega 3 fatty acids are labeled “essential” because the body cannot produce them. They’re widely used to treat inflammatory conditions in dogs and humans. They work by setting off a process that blocks inflammation pathways in cells. Immune cells are even more sensitive to the effect.

Conditions Benefited from Supplementation

Osteoarthritis

  • increases mobility

Rheumatoid arthritis

  • reduces pain
  • Heart disease
  • slows disease progression

Kidney Disease

  • reduces proteinuria & slows disease progression

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  • reduces inflammation in the GI tract & eases symptoms

Cancer

  • It's been scientifically proven that dogs with omega 3 supplementation have a lesser risk of developing cancer.

Sources Of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

At Wholesome Canine we have a variety of fatty acid supplements for dogs, including straight up Omega 3, 3/6 blends, and 3/6/9 blends. In the case of the diseases mentioned here, an Omega 3 on its own is the best course of action. Fish or plant based oils are both available.
Never purchase a fish oil that isn’t from a wild-caught source.

Please give us a call or drop us a line anytime to discuss the best option for your dog.

The Science

Review Lipid mediators in inflammatory disorders. Heller A, Koch T, Schmeck J, van Ackern K Drugs. 1998 Apr; 55(4):487-96.

Long-term effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis. Piet Geusens MD,Ph.D1,*, Carine Wouters MS2, Jos Nijs MS3, Yebin Jiang MS4, Jan Dequeker MD, PhD, FRCP Edin5

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: New Recommendations From the American Heart Association. Penny M. Kris-Etherton, William S. Harris, Lawrence J. Appel

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases. Artemis P. Simopoulos, MD, FACN

Therapeutic Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Chronic Kidney Disease Yunes Panahi, Simin Dashti-Khavidaki,Farahnoosh Farnood, Hamid Noshad,Mahsa Lotfi, and Afshin Gharekhani.

Previous article Fetch: innocent fun, or full on addiction?