These organic & grain free biscuits are traditionally oven baked and we've included Line caught Salmon, Australian Prawn & Hemp all packed with Omega 3.
You may already be familiar with the incredible Omega-3 benefits for humans, but did you know that your four-legged furry friend may also get some major health boosts from these fatty acids? According to the American kennel Club, benefits of omega-3 for dogs include:
- Improves the condition of both skin and coat
- Boosts energy and joint health
- Balances the properties of omega-6 fatty acids
- Acts as anti-inflammatory in various inflammation-related problems, including arthritis and allergies
- Improves cognitive development in puppies and cognitive function in older dogs.
Let’s take a closer look at these impressive omega-3 benefits for dogs and also discuss the best omega-3 supplement options for your beloved pup.
Why Your Dog Needs Omega-3
Your canine gets its energy from three main sources: protein, carbohydrates and fats. Omega-3 fatty acids fall into the fat category, and fats are an essential part of any dog’s diet. Just like in humans, fats, including omega-3s, assist the body’s absorption of essential fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats also form cellular membranes, act as chemical messengers and play a major role in hormonal balance.
So is omega-3 good for dogs? It definitely can be helpful. Many dogs, like their owners, easily get enough Omega-3 Fatty acids in their diets, but unless an intentional effort is made, it can be more challenging for them to obtain omega-3s. The balance of omega-3 and 6 for dogs is key to optimal health.
Omega-3 fatty acids for dogs can be found in some pet foods but are often in very low amounts, if included at all. That’s why an omega-3 fatty acid supplement for dogs can be such a good idea.
5 Major Benefits of Omega-3 for Dogs
What are the benefits of omega-3 for dogs? Many experts believe the benefits are similar to human benefits and may include:
1. Decreases Inflammation
Inflammation is a major problem for pets just like it is for humans. Omega-3s are often given to dogs for their anti inflammatory effects. This can benefit a number of conditions included on the list, such as arthritis, many skin-related problems and other inflammatory diseases.
2. Helps Arthritis and Joint Issues
Due to its anti-inflammatory ability, omega-3 for dogs is often a vet’s recommendations when a dog is struggling with inflammatory conditions like arthritis or other joint issues. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition demonstrates how omega-3 fatty acids can help dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. For 13 weeks, the dogs were given a veterinary therapeutic diet high in omega-3 fatty acids from fish origin. Researchers compared these dogs to dogs given a regular diet. What did they find? In lame dogs with osteoarthritis, the diet rich in fish-derived omega-3s showed improvements in their locomotor disability and their performance of common daily activities.
3. Improves Skin and Coat Health
Omega-3s are very commonly given to dogs to improve the health of their skin and coats. Is there any science to that? A study published in 2014 in the Veterinary Journal evaluates the effects of essential fatty acids on 48 privately owned dogs of different breeds, ages and genders diagnosed with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). The dogs were treated with a spot-on formulation containing essential fatty acids and essential oils or a placebo once weekly for a total of eight weeks.
Overall, the topical preparation containing essential fatty acids and essential oils was “a safe treatment and beneficial in ameliorating the clinical signs of CAD.” In addition, there were no adverse reactions. Generally speaking, many dog owners see less skin dryness and a shinier coat when they include omega-3s in their dogs’ diets.
4. Boosts Cognitive Function and Immune Health
A study of 48 beagle puppies released in 2012 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests that feeding weaned puppies a diet fortified with fish oils rich in DHA may boost several aspects of development, including cognitive learning and memory — as well as retinal and immune system function.
The puppies fed a high-DHA diet had better results for reversal task learning, visual contrast discrimination and early psychomotor performance compared to the moderate-DHA and low-DHA groups. The high-DHA group also had significantly higher anti-rabies antibodies one and two weeks after vaccination than the other groups.
5. Allergies
According to many experts, omega-3 for dogs with allergies is a must. Omega-3s top many supplement lists for itchy, allergy-plagued dogs, including one by Boulder holistic vets Dr. Angie Krause, DVM. Krause writes:
Every dog should be on an omega 3 fatty acid supplement. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help decrease inflammation and benefit organ function. For some itchy dogs, this all they need to drastically improve their itch. Giving your dog omega 3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the amount of steroids that it will take to eliminate biting, scratching and chewing.
These artisanal grain free biscuits are made with delicious organic ingredients including organic oats, hemp seed’s, flat leaf parsley & Buckwheat. Our baked biscuits are naturally nutritious and made to a recipe with no nasties whatsoever.
Always ensure there's a bowl of fresh water available for your dog. Don't feed too many treats to your dog to avoid weight gain.