This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice.*

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS?

Fatty Acids (there are over 70 of them!) are important for a wide array of cell structure components and for many chemical reactions in the body including hormonal and energy activities. Fatty Acids play a vital role in establishing a healthy lipid barrier in the skin to block irritants and infections. In an animal's body (and ours) the liver and other tissues can make many of the fatty acids that are required for the body's chemical factory to operate. In dogs, though, there is one that they cannot make... Linoleic Acid (also called Omega6 Fatty Acid). So THAT is called an ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID because the dog needs to consume it from dietary sources. With adequate Omega6 in the dog's diet the other fatty acids needed for metabolism can be created internally. In cats there are two ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, Linoleic and Arachidonic Acids. And since Arachidonic Acid is only present in animal tissues, cats must consume meat as a source for this chemical.

Sources of Omega 6 Fatty Acid...

Plants are an excellent source of Linoleic Acid. Because of the first double bond occurring at the 6th carbon atom, Linoleic Acid is sometimes referred to as Omega 6 Fatty Acid. Omega 6 is found in safflower, sunflower, corn and evening primrose oils and Borage oil. It is also present in poultry fat and pork fat but very little is present in beef or butter fat. Found in common pet food ingredients such as corn and chicken fat, it is a required nutritional component of the canine and feline diet. It cannot be synthesized within a dog or cat's body so it must be consumed in some form of food so that other fatty acids can then be synthesized internally. It is essential for normal skin and coat health, for growth, cell membrane integrity and fat-soluble vitamin interactions.

Sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Because of the first double bond occurs at the 3rd carbon atom, Linolenic Acid is sometimes referred to as Omega3 Fatty Acid. It's exact role in canine and feline nutrition is still not completely understood. It is very unstable unless kept cool and away from light and oxygen. Fish oils, especially cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, and herring, and in animals that feed on these fish, are the primary dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in oils from some plants (canola and flax). Flaxseeds are rich in omega-3FAs. Walnuts and soybeans also contain significant amounts as well as freshly ground wheat germ.

Fatty Acids
Soft and health dog hair
What's so great about essential fatty acids?

Here is our hand-picked selection of great sources of fatty acids for your pets: