Fish Oil Better than Flax Oil for Dogs

Leaving for the weekend…without pre-scheduled blog posts. Until next week, I leave you with this from Katy:

http://www.vitalchoice.com/product/omega-3-salmon-oil/liquid-sockeye-salmon-oil-8-fluid-oz

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> http://www.betterlife.com/prod_home_page.asp?prod_id=37002

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> The VitalChoice product includes A and D. Naturally occurring I believe. I

> didn’t compare amounts to other foods in the USDA Nutrient Database; you’ll

> have to do that yourself.

What about flaxseed oil? Doesn’t it have the same benefit?

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Nope, not for dogs.

What flaxseed has is a precursor to linolenic acid: alpha linolenic acid. Because this oil is plant-based, it converts very inefficiently to Omega 3, losing as much as 97% of its value.

Flaxseed and FSO are counterproductive for carnivores; generally acting as an inflammatory, the very thing Omega 3 is fed to reduce.

No plant-based oil will have the benefits of any animal-based oil, for a dog.

Fish oil…flax seed oil

Susan wonders:

I’ve gotten completely sick of opening capsules of fish oil for the dogs.

I take flax seed oil every day.

Any reason not to give the dogs the same thing?

Susan

Nature’s Variety

For those of you who feed Nature’s Variety, Susan forwarded this info…

Focus on nutrition from Dogwise

From Dogwise: It’s very interesting to watch how trends in both human and pet nutrition seem to run in tandem. All of a sudden, obesity in people seems to be the hot topic, with several recent documentaries having been broadcast and books written on the subject. The experts all seem to agree – it has to do with the kinds of food we eat in modern America, combined with a sedentary lifestyle. And while obese pets are less common than obese people, there are similar concerns about what we feed our dogs. Which brings us to Feed Your Pet Right – The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat by Marion Nestle (author of What to Eat – for humans) and Malden Nesheim. Based on the success of the book on people food, the authors have turned their attention to an in-depth analysis of pet foods, both the pros and cons. Marion is a professor of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU and brings a great deal of expertise to this effort. The book will really help you decide what the best course of action is for feeding your dog or cat. Sticking with this theme, here are some other suggestions to improve what you feed your dog: Performance Dog Nutrition – Optimize Performance With Nutrition by Jocelynn Jacobs. Our Book of the Week from now until May 19th, 20% off the regular price, only $19.96. What to feed if your dog is engaged in any canine sport that requires him to be in tip-top shape. Chow Hounds – Why Our Dogs are Getting Fatter, A Vet’s Plan to Save their Lives by Ernie Ward, DVM. It’s not only people who are getting fatter – how to feed (and treat) your dog to keep the fat off. The Canine Ancestral Diet – Healthier Dog Food the ABC Way by Steve Brown. A recent Dogwise publishing effort, noted nutritional expert Steve Brown explores how feeding your dog a diet that mimics what canids ate in the wild (think Caveman diet for people) can enhance your dog’s health.