Ask the Maev Vets: How much Omega 3, 6, & 9 does my dog need?
Breaking down the basics of your dog’s essential fatty acids.
You’ve likely heard before that healthy fats do exist, and that they’re critical to human and canine diets alike. Omega fatty acids fall in that category — and are some of the most essential healthy fats your dog needs.
There are three types of Omega fatty acids, each differentiated by a simple number. Lucky for you, our Maev Vet Team is back to break each down so you don’t have to.
What’s the difference between Omega 3, 6, and 9s?
Chemically speaking, Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids with a double bond at the third carbon. The essential omega-3 fatty acids for dogs are EPA, DHA, and ALA. However, dogs have a hard time converting ALA in the body — so higher supplies of the other two types is better. EPA and DHA are found in aquatic creatures like fish and algae.
Omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that generally contain a double bond at the sixth carbon. Common omega-6 fatty acids include linoleic acid and arachidonic acid.
Omega-9 fatty acids are monounsaturated fatty acids and only have one double bond. Since dogs can synthesize Omega-9s themselves, they’re considered non-essential to their diet.
How do the Omega fatty acids benefit my dog?
Omega fatty acids are some of the most important and beneficial healthy fats your dog needs. Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 are essential to their diet, with slightly different benefits.
Omega-3 is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties — both in the skin and joints. Keeping your dog’s inflammation at bay is critical not just for their relief, but for proactively preventing larger inflammation-induced issues.
DHA and EPA, two types of Omega-3 found in fish, have also proved beneficial to brain health — particularly in puppies and older dogs who are most in need of cognitive aid.
Both Omega-3 and Omega-6 nourish your dog’s skin and coat, replenishing the moisture and hydration in dry, itchy skin or dull coats.
Omega-6 is responsible for initiating your dog’s inflammation response. Though this sounds counterintuitive, it’s actually a critical function of your dog’s body. When they encounter heat, redness, swelling, pain, or loss of a function, the inflammatory response signals the rest of their body to activate the appropriate defenses. Keeping this response in top shape is key to your dog’s immune system.
Omega-6 fatty acids also improve skeletal and muscular health, stimulate hair and cell growth, strengthen bones and joints, and help regulate metabolism.
How do I know how much Omega-3 and Omega-6 my dog needs?
It’s all in the ratio. It’s important to your dog’s stability to find the right balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3, since their properties work complementary to each other. Since many foods are more abundant in Omega-6 than Omega-3, it’s easy to consume too much of the former, too little of the latter.
If your dog’s skin is particularly inflamed or sensitive, we suggest an Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio of 5–10:1. If your dog’s inflammation is focused in their joints, use a lower ratio of 2–1:1 to reduce pain.
In any case, we always recommend avoiding any Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio below 1:1, as this may result in increased blood clotting time, which can put your dog at risk for liver damage or cirrhosis.
How can I make sure my dog’s diet matches their fatty acid needs?
Most importantly, avoid highly processed dog food, like kibble. During the manufacturing process, kibble is cooked at intensely high temperatures that strip away any fatty acids naturally found in the food.
Lower-grade or non-human-grade ingredients can also carry imbalanced and high levels of Omega-6, which can trigger panic in your dog’s immune system and skin.
Instead, turn to pre-balanced diets like Maev Raw Food, which proportion your dog’s food to match their fatty acid intake needs. If your dog struggles with skin or inflammatory issues, add regular Omega supplements to their diet to help them fight from the inside.
