Are you feeding your dog the right fats?

Fats used to be demonised by the health literature for long. However, fats are not only an important, but an essential part of a dog’s daily diet. Like any food in our diet, making the right choice when picking fats for our dogs can make all the difference in their skin & coat and overall health.

Dietary intake of fats benefits our canine companion by supplying energy, essential fatty acids (EFA) and enhancing fat soluble vitamin absorption. Fats are the primary source of energy for dogs and should be provided in adequate amount for optimal health.

It helps keep the coat & skin – shiny & healthy

It improves cognitive and neurological development

Healthy fats improve vision and eye health

It helps prevent & manage joint related issues

Recommended Allowance of fats in a dog’s diet

For adult dogs – minimum 13.8 gm per 1000 Kcal

For puppies – minimum 21.3 gm per 1000 Kcal

Types of Fatty Acids

It is important to understand the different types of fats and their relationship to inflammation. Not all fats are considered essential. In mammals, fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated. Unsaturated fatty acids are further divided into monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)

Saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids can be derived from the diet or synthesised by a dog’s body. And hence, these fats are not considered essential part of a dog’s diet. A good source of SFA is Coconut oil, and that of MUFA is Olive oil.

The Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Most often dog parents are not aware of what fats are essential for their dog’s proper growth & development, and end up feeding the type of fats which are not even an essential part of their growth.

The Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) for dogs are the polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs). The types of PUFAs that are considered essential for dogs fall under two categories: Omega 6 and Omega 3.

Omega 6 includes Linoleic Acid (LA). Omega 3 includes Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Eicosapentaenoic + Docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA). Adult Dogs and Puppies need both Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids as part of their diet at all life stages, particularly the EPA & DHA

Linoleic Acid (LA) – It is the most abundant dietary fat, but should be fed in moderation because excess can lead to inflammation. Food sources – Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Wheatgerm oil, Hempseed oil 

Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) – ALAs are mostly plant based such as flaxseeds, but they don't convert well to EPA and DHA. They can be used as source of energy. Healthy sources of ALA are flaxseeds or flaxseed oil, chia seeds etc

EPA and DHA – are the most important fats of a dog’s and puppy’s diet. Dog parents should place special attention to these fatty acids and make sure to include them in their pup’s diet every single day. EPA & DHA are found in marine based foods such as fatty fishes and algae. You can also feed fish or krill oil for optimum source of EPA & DHA.

A dog’s brain is composed of 50 percent fat, and DHA makes up more than 90 percent of the long-chain PUFAs found in the brain. This explains why DHA is widely believed to play an integral role in the proper development and functioning of the brain.

A study done in 2012 evaluated the effects of DHA rich fish oil on cognitive, memory, psychomotor, immunologic, and retinal function and other measures of development in 48 healthy Beagle puppies. They found that it improved neurocognitive development; and cognitive, memory, psychomotor, immunologic, and retinal functions in the dogs. One of the most important function of EPA & DHA is reducing inflammation, and protecting against chronic diseases.

The best source of EPA & DHA are fatty fishes like Sardines, Mackerel & Anchovies. For adequate amount of EPA & DHA, make sure to add these fishes to your dog’s meals daily. If you cannot feed fishes your dog, don’t forget to add a fish oil! Make sure to buy a fish oil that is third party tested for heavy metals & PCBs.

Recommended Allowance of EPA & DHA 

For adult dogs – minimum 110 mg EPA & DHA for every 1000 Kcal

For puppies – minimum 130 mg EPA & DHA for every 1000 Kcal

Both the Omega 6 & 3 fatty acids have individual roles to play in fulfilling different bodily functions. Both fats are important and your dog needs both in the diet. Unbalanced fats can do more harm than good! And so, these fats must always be balanced in order to avoid excess inflammation.

Getting the Fats right

Adding fats to your dog’s diet isn’t as simple as rotating different types of oils. It is important to feed the right fats because fatty acid intake strongly influences what type of fat is stored and which end products of fatty acid metabolism will occur. Properly balanced fats support heart, brain, eye, and skin health. Balancing the fats will also help with minimising inflammation in your dog’s body.

If your dog’s diet involves Chicken & Fish – then the right fats to add will be ALA
If the diet contains only red meat – then the diet needs all the essential fatty acids i.e LA, ALA, EPA & DHA. Avoid adding coconut oil with red meat, as it is already high in saturated fats.
If the diet has sufficient quantity of fatty fishes – focus on balancing the ratio of LA & ALA                                If you feed home-cooked vegetarian diet, you can also add saturated fats (like coconut/MCT oil). But don’t forget to supplement with a fish oil!

Omega-6 fats have functionally distinct effects compared to Omega-3. Omega-6 increases inflammation, whereas Omega-3 minimizes it. And, so, it is important to keep Omega 6 to 3 at a ratio of around 3:1 to 2:1

Polyunsaturated fats Omega 6 & 3 turn rancid quickly, and rancid fats can create chronic health problems. They consist of carbon atom with more than one double bond – which makes then unstable and prone to oxidation. Please store the Omega 6 & 3 oils in a cool dry place, and add to your dog’s bowl right before consumption to minimize oxidation.

Signs of Essential Fatty Acid (EFAs) deficiency

• Dry, lustreless coat
• Scaly skin or lesions
• Dandruff or flaky skin
• Dry eyes
• Impaired wound healing
• Poor growth in puppies
• Impaired Cognitive Development
• Reproductive abnormalities
• Edema, alopecia, dermatitis
• Heart problems
• Mood disorders, aggression
• Muscle weakness
• Overall dullness or sluggishness
• Joint pain
• Chronic inflammation
• Poor gut health