Benefits Of Salmon Oil For Dogs’ Diet
Salmon oil has great nutritional value for the dog’s diet, as well as clear advantages over other foods such as meat. It has a low caloric value, with minimal fat intake – although of very high quality – and high protein density.
It provides the diet with a low amount of cholesterol and a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids. An example is omega 3, which protects against cardiovascular disease.
Not all salmon have the same nutritional value, nor the same concentration of omega 3. The most interesting are king salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) and red salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ), as opposed to salmon-keta ( Oncorhynchus keta ) and pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ).
What is so special about this oil?
Salmon oil for dogs’ diet is a natural product, whose extraction method is cold, therefore, it is an unprocessed food. It has a high concentration of omega 3 essential fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 12% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
EPA fatty acid is a precursor to eicosanoids, which is involved in many functions in the body. They regulate, for example, the production and function of cytokines, proteins that moderate the production of some types of cells and, therefore, intervene in diseases such as cancer. Furthermore, they decrease the body’s inflammatory response and reduce weight loss.
On the other hand, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) prevents neurodegenerative diseases and the natural wasting of the dog’s brain.
In addition, salmon oil provides many minerals and vitamins, even more than other animal foods. It is a rich source of vitamin D, much needed to keep your dog’s bones strong. It also contains vitamin E, which is a good antioxidant, and vitamin A, which is excellent for cell regeneration.
Benefits of Salmon Oil in Dogs Diet
In addition to the obvious visual effects that salmon oil produces in the dog’s diet – such as the silkiest and most shiny hair – this substance has other attributes. Salmon oil prevents and improves many diseases and conditions, for example:
- Improves blood pressure in dogs suffering from hypertension. This is because it expands blood vessels.
- Due to its anti-inflammatory effect, it counteracts joint swelling in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Prevents spills.
- Primary osteoporosis usually does not occur in dogs, as it usually does in humans. However, dogs can suffer from osteomalacia or rickets in adulthood due to lack of mineralization. Salmon oil prevents and improves this disease.
- Relieves kidney problems.
- Helps in weight loss in obese animals. It also lowers blood sugar.
- For dogs with cholesterol, it helps to reduce high blood fat levels, although it should always be combined with a healthy lifestyle.
- Reduces and prevents cardiovascular problems in dogs.
- Improves the dog’s hearing health. Prevents inflammatory problems and ear infections.
How to give a dog salmon oil?
In short, the best way to include any new food in a dog’s diet is as natural as possible. For tutors who offer the animal a BARF diet, they only need to include salmon once or twice a week. It’s not just the fat in the salmon that is beneficial, the whole fish is.
Owners who feed their dogs kibble and other food formats can find cold-pressed salmon oil in the market. As we said, it is a very natural, rich and healthy product for pets. The oil can be mixed with dry or wet feed.
In cases where dogs have a blood clotting disorder, you will need to ask your veterinarian if including salmon in your pet’s diet is a good idea. This food has a high concentration of vitamin K, which prevents blood from clotting.
