Required Fatty Acids (EFAs) are a requirement inside everyone’s diet, for equally human and animal. However, the body cannot produce EFAs on its own, so it have to be added to the diet all day. The two most commonly known fatty acids are omega 3 (linoleic acid) and omega 6 (alpha-linoleic acid). The diets of our pets, like citizens, tend to include extra omega 6 fatty acids rather than omega 3. This is an imbalance that needs to be enhanced upon.

Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary as they help out using the proper formation of cell membranes, cardiovascular functions, nourish the lining of the digestive tract, and work to keep your pet’s skin and coat smooth, soft and shiny. Another required function of omega 3 fatty acids is that they work to reduce inflammatory problems in the body. If you find your pet’s coat is dull and brittle or if he/she tends to have dry skin and scratch a lot, it can be due to a lack of this particular fatty acid.

There are different types of requisite fatty acid supplements that are available, however which multiplicity you decide to supplement your dog or cat’s diet can be a bit of a dilemma.

Pure plant oils such as flax oil, evening primrose oil, safflower oil or a blend of plant oils is a cool alternative to fish omega-3 fats. These must be “cold-pressed” oils, because opposed to oils that are typically extracted using chemical solvents. The trouble with plant oils is that animals have a harder time converting the fatty acids to a form best used by the animal’s system. 

Fish oils, such because salmon oil, halibut liver oil, or cod liver oil are extra easily converted and used by an animal’s body. The downside is that fish oils often contain deadly toxins, including high levels of dangerous PCBs, dioxins and detectable levels of mercury. Farmed salmon is the worst for contamination and contains less omega 3 acids than wild salmon. At this moment nearly 30% of all fish are farmed, using salmon being in the 90% farmed size. Since healthy, farmed salmon are often carriers of disease and parasites. When supplementing your pet’s diet using fish oils, prefer oils that come from wild sources, not farmed.

There are also blended fish and plant oil supplements available. These often include a mixture of salmon or cod liver oil and flax, safflower or other such oils that make available a mixture of 3 to 4 parts omega 3 oils to 1 section omega 6 oils. Giving your animal a combination fish/plant supplement could be a cool alternative to consider, since they be supposed to contain fewer toxins as they are not strictly fish oils, yet always be supposed to be better assimilated by the animal’s body than straight plant oils.