Like humans, dogs and other animals must get the right kinds of fat (specifically two essential fatty acids) from their foods. These good fats are ones their body cannot make. But every cell in their body requires these essential fats. Therefore these fats must come from foods. Why are these fats important? Essential fats play many vital roles in the body of animals. 1. They are required for energy production. In performance animals, we have increased stamina. Dogs can pull heavier loads longer before they get tired. They recover from fatigue more quickly. Their injuries heal more rapidly. We have seen this increase in energy levels in race horses, human athletes, people too tired to exercise, those with chronic fatigue, and even in people who have no complaints. 2. Essential fats are important for brain function. We have seen nervous dogs (cats and horses, also) calm down noticeably when they get the fats their brain requires. They respond to stress better. They don't get stressed as easily. These effects on stress are similar to effects we see in humans. 3. Essential fats improve skin and coat condition. We have seen them clear up problem skin very quickly. One sigh of essential fat deficiency is hair loss. Dry skin, flaky skin, bald spots, seborrheic dermatitis, dry and brittle hair; all responds exceptionally well to essential fatty acid rich oils. We had a Belgian Shepherd dog win best of breed at 10 years old (not usual after 4 years old), because the essential fatty acids did such a great job on hair coat. In show animals, judges often remark that they have never seen a coat as good as one on a show animal that is getting the essential fats. Skin problems should alert one to the possibility of animal not getting the right kinds of fat in its diet. 4. Essential fats improve digestion and support healthy bowel flora 5. When given in the right balance, Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fats have anti-inflammatory effects. They decrease joint stiffness in older animals and we have seen them improve gingivitis, enteritis, and other inflammatory conditions. Omega 3 essential fatty acids will even dampen the over-response of the immune system in auto-immune conditions. Inflammation can be an indicator of essential fat deficiency. 6. Essential fats decrease swelling after injury or surgery and they speed healing of wounds. Failure of wound healing is another symptom of essential fat deficiency. In the wild, dogs had sources of essential fats in their food supply. They came from fresh meat and other whole foods. In commercial dog (and other animal) foods, essential fats are poorly represented because they spoil rapidly by exposure to light, oxygen and high temperature. Their sensitivity can make them into a manufacturer's nightmare. To avoid this nightmare, manufacturers use either too little of these vital but perishable essential fats, or they use the wrong kinds of fat altogether - those that are stable but are not essential. The result of this manufacturing problem is that our dogs and other animals get too little of the essential fats. While the stable nutrients - minerals, vitamins and amino acids (proteins) - are adequately present, the essential fats are neglected and deficient The solution? Add them to the food. You can obtain them fresh, made with care from organically grown seeds and properly balanced (slightly favouring Omega 3s, which have been removed from human and animal foods to an even greater extent that the Omega 6s), and sold in brown glass bottles, in a box, in the refrigerator, in health food and other specialty stores. We avoid plastic as packaging material for oils because of environmental as well as health reasons. There are far too many unanswered questions about the effects of these totally synthetic substances on health and environment. We think your pets should not be experimented upon but protected and loved. The addition of a daily teaspoon of the right kinds of oils, rich in essential fats, to a dog's normal food can bring a longer, healthier life for man's best friend. |