February 24th, 2010
Let’s not mince words. Fats make food taste better. It’s true for us. It’s true for our dogs. Aside from palatability, though, dietary fats (known as lipids) do many good things inside the body, including:
- Preventing heat and moisture loss
- Protecting major organs
- Supplying essential fatty acids (EFAs)
- Carrying fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K)
- Insulating nerve fibers
- Helping to transmit nerve impulses
- Contributing structural components to cell membranes
- Transporting other nutrients across these membranes
Fats (solid form at room temperature) and oils (liquid form at room temperature) get a lot of bad press, but they provide the most concentrated source of food energy. In fact, they’re nearly three times as dense energy-wise as carbohydrates or proteins. Most fats are also more digestible.
Fat Digestion
What’s a little freaky about fats is that they don’t get broken down for digestion the way other nutrients do. Instead, they’re elongated and desaturated (loss of hydrogen atoms) inside the body.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) might be the most “famous” of all the kinds of dietary fats. These are the OMEGAs you hear about. They’re called “essential” because in most cases the body cannot synthesize them.
- Omega 3 fatty acids (from alpha-linolenic acid)
- Omega 6 fatty acids (from linoleic acid and arachidonic acid)
- Omega 9 fatty acids (from oleic acid)
Vegetable oils can provide Omega 6s, but certain Omega 3s can only be found in animal fats.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Omega 3s, in particular, produce a lower immunological response than Omega 6s and Omega 9s, so when veterinarians are concerned with controlling internal inflammation, they may recommend re-balancing EFA ratios and supplementing a pet’s diet with additional Omega 3s.
Be sure to alert your pet’s doctor if you supplement Omega 3s because they act as a blood thinner, which is important if surgery (emergency or otherwise) is needed.
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Tags: corneal dystrophy, dog, dog food, dog nutrition, fats, low-fat dog food, nutrition, pancreatitis
Posted in Dog Food Basics, K9 Nutrition | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “Fat: Dog Food Basics”
A professional writer based in Colorado, Roxanne Hawn doesn't just love dogs. She deep-down requires them in life. Something inside her genes, perhaps? That's why it's such a joy to write about all things canine. Roxanne began writing about pets in 1995, when she worked for the American Animal Hospital Association and later for the American Humane Association. During this period in her career, Roxanne served on the board of directors for the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (a coalition of animal welfare groups). Roxanne also volunteered for many years at an animal shelter, where she witnessed firsthand what happens when the human-animal bond breaks or never forms.
Great post, Roxanne, and easy for dog owners to understand and digest (pun intended!) I have a Doxie that would eat all day long if we let her and she really needs to be put on a low fat diet.
Thanks, KB. I hope some of these options help you with K’s unique needs. Some day, I would love to interview your nutritionist for the blog.