From Alpha to Omega - Everything You
Need to Know about Fish Oil for Your Pets
By Brooke Sloate
Well,
our mothers were right when they said that it’s important to take your fish
oil, because it’s good for you from the inside out. Dr. Oz promotes fish oil
all the time. So why is it so important for us? The reason is because fish oil
contains the polyunsaturated fatty acids – Omega-3 and Omega-6. These fatty
acids are touted for helping to improve blood cholesterol levels by lowering
LDL – the “bad” cholesterol, and helping to lower blood pressure levels, just
to name a few benefits. Omega-3 and Omega-6’s are essential fatty acids,
meaning our bodies need them to function. However, we can’t make these
essential fatty acids on our own, we must get them from the food we eat. We
need to eat good sources of fish like wild salmon, trout, sardines, anchovies,
herring, mackerel or seaweed, OR take supplements in order to get the DHA we
need. Salmon oil, in particular, is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids which are
extremely beneficial to your health.
Omega-3’s
have been found to be very beneficial for many different conditions for humans.
Well, it’s the same for our pets.
As
dogs and cats age, they face an increased risk of issues including stiffening joints,
loss of energy and stamina, and heart health.
These issues may be reduced by a diet supplemented with readily
accessible long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids which are necessary for almost every
function in your pet’s body. They work on the cellular level, from the inside
out.
Like
with humans, essential fatty acids are critically important to your pet’s
overall health and vitality because they provide essential nutrients necessary
for them to thrive. However, they can’t be made by your pet’s body and must be
supplied by their diet. The most important of these fatty acids for pets, are
the long chain Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in cold water fish oils.
These have a much higher immediate bioavailability than Omega-3 fatty acids
from plant sources.
What’s
the difference between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids?
Omega-6
fatty acids are found in vegetable oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil – oils
common in most pet food diets. Omega-3 fatty acids however, are found in either
fresh wild caught cold water fish or types of seaweed. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory
and Omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory. In a typical pet’s diet today,
the ratio is about 1:40 (Omega-3’s to Omega-6’s) which is actually a pro-inflammatory
diet. By adding a good fish oil to your pet’s diet, you increase the amount of
Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet achieving a preferred 13:1 ratio of over 15
heart-healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
Salmon oil is probably
the most important supplement you can add to your pet’s diet, because the
Omega-3 fatty acids provide widespread benefits. By increasing the amount of good oils in your
pet’s diet, you're supporting overall optimum health and vitality for your dogs
and cats.
How can I tell if an
Omega-3 supplement is making a difference?
With consistent use, you
will begin to see the following changes:
·
An overall improvement
in the health of their skin (which by the way is the largest organ in our pet’s
body)
·
A huge improvement in
the quality of their skin and coat shown by:
o
reduced itching
o
reduced shedding
o
less sensitive skin (reduced
redness and less “hot to the touch”)
o
a lustrous, huggable
coat
Why pawTree® Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil?
·
We use wild caught
salmon. The difference is that salmon caught in the ocean are living vibrant,
healthy lives. Farm-raised salmon, on the other hand, are held in captivity,
meaning a large volume of fish in a crowded area being fed the bare-minimum to
be kept alive and reproducing. This living environment causes substantial
stress on those fish. That stress relates to the biochemicals that those fish
release, so a wild-caught salmon provides a better fish oil than farm-raised
salmon.
·
Our salmon are brought
in fresh, not frozen. They’re caught in the coastal areas and are only on the
boat for a short time.
·
The oil is extracted
quickly from the salmon with contact time of only 5-7 minutes vs. other plants
that take between 1-2 hours. That’s
important because less contact time with proteins results in a lighter color oil
(redder vs. brown), a lighter better flavor, and nicer aroma.
·
Our salmon oil has a
preferred 13:1 ratio of over 15 heart-healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential
fatty acids.
·
We package our salmon
oil in PET bottle material which provides a good barrier to oxygen, water and
carbon dioxide.
·
We use a pump to reduce
exposure to oxygen.
·
Made in the U.S.A.
·
Dogs and cats LOVE the
taste of our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil.
Remember,
not all salmon oil is the same. It’s very important to choose carefully to
ensure you’re providing your pets the preferred 13:1 ratio.
About
Brooke…
Brooke
Sloate, Director of Product Development at pawTree LLC, is passionate about
solving problems for pets and creating products that truly make a difference to
pet parents.
With
over 20 years of experience in the pet industry working for a variety of pet
companies prior to pawTree®, including Nature's Variety®, Hill’s®, Mars®,
Petmate®, Applica® and Sergeant's®, Brooke has developed a wide range of
innovative pet products including pet food, treats, and pet accessories.
Brooke
enjoys the unconditional love of her family of Shih Tzus and responds by
spoiling them every chance she gets!
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Wild
Alaskan Salmon Oil