The Best Source of Omega 3 for Cats
Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in your cat's overall health. They help prevent dry skin, and their anti-inflammatory properties can relieve the pain of arthritis, provide relief for allergies and slow the progression of kidney and heart disease and some kinds of cancers in cats.
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Sources
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Fish and flaxseed oil both contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Veterinarian Jean Hofve says the oil from wild salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring and menhaden is the best source of Omega-3 for cats. The Omega-3 in flaxseed oil are least beneficial for cats.
Found in Cat Food
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The labels on bags and cans of cat food will tell you whether the food contains Omega-3 fatty acids and their source. But fatty acids degrade when cooked at the high temperatures necessary to manufacture cat food, so your cat may still need supplementation.
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Supplementation
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Holistic veterinarian and author Shawn Messonnier believes most cats can benefit from fatty acid supplementation with fish oil. It's palatable to cats and can be mixed into wet food. The amount to give daily depends on the individual cat.
Fresh and Pure
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Dr. Hofve recommends buying fish oil that's formulated for pets but meets human quality and purity standards. Some veterinarians and independent pet supply and online retailers sell it.
Caution
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Because Omega-3 fatty acids are blood thinners, they should not be given to cats in combination with prescription blood-thinning medications.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Powi) (Per Ola Wiberg
