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Pets Need Omega-3's Too! |
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Many of us are focused on improving personal health. We go to the gym, we eat nutritious food, we take time for meditation, and perhaps take daily supplements such as fish oil. But what about improving the health of your pet companion? It's important to consider adding an Omega-3 (fatty acids) supplement to your pet's diet as well as your own. We are learning more every day about the added benefits of fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fats including Omega-3s. They are increasingly recognized as being important to good health for animals as well as people. Omega-3s are essential building blocks that your dog or cat needs for a healthy heart and strong immune system. These very healthy types of Omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docsahexanoic acid (DHA), are found primarily in cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Aside from fresh seaweed, plant foods rarely contain EPA or DHA. Salmon oil supplies a variety of different Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, making it the best source of these nutrients. A third Omega-3, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), is found primarily in dark green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oil, and certain other vegetable oils. ALA is not readily accessible to animals, which must use several enzymatic steps in their metabolism to convert it into a useful configuration like EPA. Thus, scientists estimate that only a small fraction of ALA benefits dogs: and cats totally lack one of the metabolic enzymes to utilize ALA. Some dogs too are extremely poor in utilizing ALA, especially if high amounts of metabolically "competitive" Omega-6 fatty acids are present. These dogs constantly suffer with skin problems unless their food is supplemented with EPA from sources such as salmon oil. Not only does a daily use of salmon oil (preferably from wild salmon) promote the relief of a pet's dry and itchy skin, it also helps to boost the immune system, foster a bright and lustrous coat, and support cardiovascular health. Within a couple of weeks of using salmon oil, you will notice the difference-and so will your pet! The most visible benefits include less itching and shedding, and your pet companion's fur will be soft and shiny. In addition, as pets age they are more likely to begin suffering from weaker joints and/or inflammation.This can result in arthritis, and some senior pets may lose their appetites, resulting in weight loss. By adding salmon oil to their diet regularly, you will notice improvements, and they will also come running back for more: dogs and cats love the rich fresh flavor of salmon. They may even show signs of excitement when the salmon oil supplement is placed onto their food. (Some pets have been known to be very vocal about it!) Many pet parents report feeling joy and satisfaction from the value that salmon oil provides their pets. Ask for it at your local natural foods store or pet store. Wild Alaskan, a company based in Kirland, Washington, offers Wild Salmon Oil from the fresh cold waters of Alaska, produced with high quality standards. They use a fresh and continuous in-line extraction process that ensures that the oil is largely kept away from the air until it is pumped into your pet's food bowl. Daily dosages are pre-measured according to the weight of your dog or cat. Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is totally natural. The only addidtive is natural Rosemary extract as an antioxidant. It's fresh and wild-not farmed or distilled. Ask for Wild Alaskan products at your local natural foods store. For more information visit their website at www.wild-alaskan.com Home  Health Directory Articles Index InterviewsHealth Store Links About Share Guide Contact us |
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