Does Omega 3 Fish Oil Give Dogs Diarrhea?
For many people, man's best friend is actually family. Those who own a dog or two want only the best for their "fur kids." This includes vet visits, exercise and good health and nutrition.
Omega-3 is ideal to keep skin and coats in top shape. It can also help with heart, vision, joint problems and allergies because of the fatty acids contained.
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Ratios
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Dogs require the fatty acids of both Omega-6 and Omega-3 in their diets. Both are considered essential for Canis Lupus Familiaris, and although many commercial brand dog foods have a high Omega-6 content, it is not always the same for Omega-3. The current recommended ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 is 10:1 to 5:1. Some dog foods have begun to add Omega-3 to their recipes to align more with the ratios. This was not a problem before dogs were domesticated, but now that they rely on humans for their food, it's up to us to make sure of this.
Components
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According to PetEducation.com, "Fatty acids are specific types of polyunsaturated fats." Dogs need these fats to maintain proper function of internal organs in addition to the uses listed in the Overview. Dogs' bodies can produce some acids, but those that cannot be produced by the dog's body can be obtained through a dog's diet. These are called essential fatty acids. Included in the Omega-3 class are alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
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Warning
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A fatty acid found in Omega-6 called arachidonic acid can make inflammation worse whereas Omega-3 as a whole can help inflammation, so the fatty acids contained in Omega-6 and Omega-3 must balance out in a dog's diet When administering Omega-3, whether as oils or in liquid or pill form, the best way to start is in small doses and work up to the recommended dosage. If a dog is given too much too quickly he or she can have adverse effects such as diarhhea.
Sources of Omega-3
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Fish is, of course a prime source of Omega-3 and this is especially true for salmon. Other sources of fish that can be found in some premium dog foods are herring, herring oil, ocean white fish, trout and fish meal.. Many people choose to feed their dogs Omega-3 capsules or use pumps made for Omega-3 fish oil liquid to apply it directly onto food . Other souces can be seeds or oils. Flax seed, pumpkin seed and soybean oils are examples of this.
Is it Helping?
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Most dogs, or pets of any kind, must be on a supplement for a month before you start to see any changes. This is because the fatty acids need to incorporate themselves into the cell membranes before they take effect. If you have gradually administered the supplement for four weeks and see nothing positive from it, do not fret. Some veterinary dermatologists recommend as much as 12 weeks before deciding that a given supplement is not having positive effects. Try administering twice daily for another month before discontinuing.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Diane M. Schuller; Courtney Gale; Sources of Omega-3: voycecanada.wordpress.com; Is it Working?: petside.com
