Omega 6 and Omega 3 oils are so important in the diet of our plant-based dogs. They help in the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K as well as keeping their fur shiny and soft.
This is something that so many owners who transition to plant-based notice with their dogs – how soft the fur becomes – we noticed it too with our little dog, and he is still super soft!
“Thank you so much for giving me the confidence, via your products and website, to change our two dogs Rosie and Cara diet to a vegan one. I started off slowly maybe 2 months ago replacing their normal raw meat diet and they have both been non meat now for about 4 weeks.What are the best Omega 6 oils to use?
Sunflower oil is actually the best source of Omega 6 for our dogs as it has the highest linoleic acid content (compared to olive oil), so your dog can safely be fed 1 tsp a day in their food for a 10kg dog. We also like using sesame oil in our homemade recipes as dogs seem to really like the taste of sesame and tahini, so they tend to love sesame oil (and it leaves a lovely smell in your kitchen!)
Hemp oil, rapeseed and borage oil can be fed to dogs.
The dose of Omega 6 oil is 0.4g per kg of dog ie a 15kg dog should have 1 tsp a day. If your dog is very lean and you want to increase their weight, they can have up to 1g/kg body weight of oils a day.
What are the best Omega 3 oils to use?
A little bit more about Omega 3’s in your dog’s diet……
The human and dog body can make most of the types of fats it needs from other fats or raw materials. That isn’t the case for Omega 3 fatty acids. These are essential fats—the body can’t make them from scratch but must get them from food. Most of us know the benefits of Omega 3 acids in our diet. These important acids are DHA and EPA carrying a host of benefits, mostly centred around their anti inflammatory nature.
There is a third Omega 3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega 3 fatty acid in most of our diets. It is found in vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flaxseeds, leafy vegetables, and some animal fat, especially in grass-fed animals.
These particular plant based forms of Omega 3 are not as reliable for humans and certainly not for dogs, due to ALA needing to be converted into DHA/EPA, and this does not happen effectively in dogs. Although both plant-based, seeds/nuts and algae are NOT the same when it comes to Omega 3 bioavailability – algae contains DHA and EPA not ALA.
Are there any dangers with feeding too much oil in our dog’s diet?
Plant-based diets tend to be very healthy and fibre-rich, so it is difficult to overfeed high saturated oils as found in a high raw meat diet, as plant-based oils are unsaturated and much healthier for us than animal fats.
If your dog however, has suffered from the very painful condition called pancreatitis in the past, then you will have to watch the amounts of fat fed to your dog. It is rare for plant-based dogs to suffer from pancreatitis; especially those getting enough of the soothing anti-inflammatory Omega 3’s from Algae oil.
When home cooking, it is always advised to add Omega 3 Algae oil to the food, as it provides the long chain essential fatty acids needed in your dog's diet, as well as pure Vit D3.
Amount to add when home cooking -
- 1/2 tsp or 2g daily added to home cooked food for a 5kg dog
- 1 tsp or 4g daily added to home cooked food for a 15kg dog
- 1 1/2 tsp or 8g daily added to home cooked food for a 25kg dog
ENSURE THAT THE ALGAE OIL IS NOT HEATED AND DO NOT SHAKE THE BOTTLE AS BOTH OF THESE OXIDISE THE FAT AND CAN DAMAGE THE NUTRIENT LEVEL
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