Adding Fish Oil to your pet"s diet

If you are considering adding fish oil to your pet’s diet, here is a guide line that will help. This is the safest, purest Omega 3 Fish Oil (recommended)

100 pound dog 3000 mg = about 3cc liquid
90 pound dog 2700 – 3000 mg =  about 3 cc liquid
80 pound dog 2500 mg =about 2-1/2 cc liquid
70 – 60 pound dog 2000 mg = 2 cc liquid
50 – 40 pound dog 1500 mg= 1-1/2 cc liquid
30 pound dog 1000 mg = 1 cc liquid
20 pound dog 500mg =1/2 cc liquid
10 pound dog 300 mg = about 1/4 cc liquid

Put in peanut butter, cottage cheede, chopped cooked meat or anything that your dog likes.  It is NOT suggested you put on dry dog food.  With Life’s Abundance the food I feed, putting oil on the dry food will throw off the balance of utrients in the food.  Canned food is fine.

Small Fish Oil Pills for Dogs

KG Thomas August 7, 2012

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Small Fish Oil Pills for Dogs Half the size of other pet fish oil pills on the market: Packenzie Petite Omega 3™ is a small 100% pure salmon oil softgel capsule 500 mg size pill 100% Salmon Oil Balanced EPA …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Cat Dandruff, Cat Health, Cats, Dog has itchy Skin, dry skin puppy, EPA and DHA, fish oil dosage, fish oil for cats, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, pet information, Pet Stores, Pet Supplements, puppy skin, puppy with dry skin, Small Dog Health | 4 Comments

Skin and Coat Supplements for Dogs | Small Breed Dogs & Cats

KG Thomas August 6, 2012

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Dog Skin and Coat Supplements for Small Breeds and Cats Omega-3 Pet Fatty Acids Omega 3 Fish Oil Pure Salmon Oil EPA and DHA Small, Easy to Swallow Softgel Capsule Packenzie Petite Omega 3 for Cats and Small Breed Dogs …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Cat Dandruff, Cat Health, Cats, Dog has itchy Skin, dry skin puppy, EPA and DHA, fish oil dosage, fish oil for cats, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, Pet Supplements, puppy with dry skin, Small Dog Health | 1 Comment

Derm Caps 10s for Dogs is Gone: Packenzie Petite Omega 3 Substitute

KG Thomas March 29, 2012

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Derm Caps 10′s Discontinued. Where is the Substitute? If you’ve been looking for a small sized Omega 3 for your cat or small dog, you have found it. It’s the Packenzie Petite Omega 3 Salmon fish oil softgel for cats …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Cat Health, Dog has itchy Skin, dry skin puppy, EPA and DHA, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, Pet Stores, Pet Supplements, Small Dog Health | Tagged derm caps 10s, fish oil for small dogs, pet omega 3 | 3 Comments

How Much Fish Oil for Small Dogs

KG Thomas March 29, 2012

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How Much Fish Oil for Your Small Dog? You have a Chihuahua, Shih-Tzu, Yorkie, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Maltese or any of the amazing small dog breeds that tend not to go over 10 lbs, but you have a problem, and …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Dog has itchy Skin, EPA and DHA, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, pet information, Pet Supplements, Small Dog Health | 1 Comment

How Much Fish Oil for Puppies?

KG Thomas February 13, 2012

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How Much Fish Oil for Puppies? Luckily this is more a factor of weight than age. Fish oil is safe and actually recommended for puppies to take as early as possible. A good rule of thumb is the age they …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Dog has itchy Skin, dry skin puppy, EPA and DHA, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, Pet Supplements, puppy skin, puppy with dry skin, Small Dog Health | 7 Comments

Puppy with dry skin

KG Thomas February 2, 2012

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Puppy with dry skin   Why does my puppy have dry skin? Since we know that fish oil is a great solution for puppies with dry skin, we often get asked this question.   It is common for puppies to …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Dog has itchy Skin, dry skin puppy, EPA and DHA, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, pet information, Pet Supplements, puppy skin, puppy with dry skin | 2 Comments

Are Fats and Oils Good For Your Dog’s Health?

KG Thomas November 16, 2011

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Are Fats and Oils Good For Your Dog’s Health? We think this is a great question and good blog post, but is their an ulterior motive by PetMD? Read on and Find out. FYI: the original article is found here: …

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Posted in Canine Fish Oil, Cats, Dog has itchy Skin, EPA and DHA, fish oil dosage, fish oil for cats, fish oil for dogs, Pet Health, Pet Supplements, Small Dog Health | 8 Comments

Under 10 lbs? Omega 3 for Dogs & Cats

KG Thomas September 14, 2011

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Under 10 lbs?  Omega 3 for Dogs & Cats. Ok – so what is so important about making sure to give a cat or dog an omega 3 supplement that’s small if they are small (under 10 lbs )? Well …

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Fish Oil Tablets

Fish oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which help improve your health in several ways. Fish oil is extracted form the tissues of oily fish. Mostly, fish oil is derived from farmed salmons. Other fish like herring, mackerel, tuna, krill, trout, cod, etc. also offer good quality oil. Pure fish oil supplements are used to treat various health problems.

Health Benefits of Fish Oil

Fish oil tablets are good for diabetes, skin care, eye problems, Alzheimer’s disease, pregnancy, cancer, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hair care, and several other conditions. The oil helps strengthen your immune system and thus helps prevent a number of diseases, disorders and infections. It helps reduce pain and inflammation due to arthritis. It is often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis as it helps reduce inflammation of joints, eyes, kidney, heart, blood vessels, lungs, nerves, etc.

The omega 3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fish oil help prevent inflammation. They also help maintain heart health. Regular consumption of the oil helps lower bad cholesterol levels in your body. Thus it helps prevent blockage of arteries and reduces the chances of heart attack. It can lower the chances of stroke and sudden cardiac death. Salmon oil is richer in omega 3 fatty acids than any other fish oil. It helps increase your good cholesterol levels significantly. One of the important benefits of fish oil is that vitamins, minerals and proteins present in the oil help improve the efficacy of exercise and promote weight loss.

Krill oil is obtained from a shrimp like marine animal ‘krill’, which lives in cold water. Fish oil helps improve blood circulation in the body and thus improves your overall health. Patients suffering from lupus are given fish oil tablets as they help lower the symptoms significantly. The oil also helps stabilize blood pressure levels. The tablets are recommended to people diagnosed with hypertension. These tablets when taken during pregnancy promote proper development of the eye and brain of the fetus. They also promote normal, safe delivery. The oil also works as a stress reliever and helps prevent anxiety, depression and other mental conditions.

Side Effects of Fish Oil

Fish oil tablet reviews inform us that too much fish oil in the body can lead to bleeding in the intestine and brain. Excessive consumption of the oil pills can result in allergic reaction and the person may suffer from breathing difficulty and/or skin rashes. Fish oil supplement side effects include severe headache due to ruptured blood vessels in the brain, brain hemorrhage leading to speech or vision problems, increased weakness in the lower part of the body, etc.

You need to follow the instructions of your physician regarding fish oil dosage. Pregnant women especially should take extra care while taking fish oil supplements. Impure fish oil may contain traces of mercury which can prove to be harmful for the fetus. All those who want to take fish oil regularly, should consult a physician for the dosage and reliable brand of the tablets. Always take the best fish oil tablets and follow the instructions of your physician religiously. This will help avoid devastating side effects of the oil. With proper care, you can enjoy the benefits of fish oil and can maintain your health.

Fish oils: Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements

I always feel like one of those “snake oil peddlers” of old when I talk about the “wonders” of Omega 3 fatty acids, as if it’s the “cure-all” for everything under the sun, but I do indeed like this supplement. A lot. Fish oil is the most commonly recommended supplement for both dogs and people. Fish oil is a rich source of the omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.

Omega 3 fatty acids are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, as opposed to omega 6 fatty acids which tend to be pro-inflammatory. The typical American diet for people is high in omega 6 fatty acids and low in omega 3 fatty acids. Because both fatty acids compete to be metabolized in the body, decreasing your intake of omega 6 fatty acids and increasing your intake of omega 3 fatty acids is helpful. However, no one is certain of exactly what the proper ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids is. Currently its recommended that it be < 2.5:1.

Other benefits of omega 3 fatty acids include increased blood flow characteristics helping those with heart disease or at risk for stroke. Fish oil may help reduce side effects from chemotherapy. Fish oil may be helpful in inflammatory bowel disease by reducing inflammation. Fish oil may lower triglyceride levels, and “bad” cholesterol. Fish oil may help protect the gastrointestinal tract from damage and side effects of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (those drugs often used for pain control.) Fish oil helps with skin disorders and allergies as well.

Fish oil derived from cold water fish (salmon, mackeral, sardine, anchovy, or herring) is preferred as it results in higher levels of EPA and DHA. Dosing is based on the amounts of EPA and DHA, as well as the pet’s condition and risk factors. Plant sources of omega 3 fatty acids have to be metabolized into EPA and DHA and so tend not to work as well as the fish sources. It may take 4-6 months to see improvement with fish oil so I often recommend it be used year-round.

With so meny benefits and very little risk, who can dispute the “wonders” of my fish oil tonic!

My Favorite Remedies for My Dogs

Fourteen years ago I woke up knowing that I HAD to visit the SPCA.  Most pet lovers know that equals a new pet.  I had lost my beloved English Setter three months prior to brain cancer (horrible) and didn’t feel quite ready for a new dog, but followed my intuition. I spent several fun hours walking and playing with dogs and wished I had a home for all of them, however, I didn’t feel like I had met “the one”.  That changed as I reached the very last kennel and a little black and white puff jumped up on the inside of the kennel and looked me straight in the eyes. We both made an audible sound as our eyes met and DROP! went my heart–I was in love.  I looked further in the kennel and there were two other puppies (approximately two months old) and an emaciated beagle/foxhound mama dog who was extremely timid.  My boy, who I named Zuni Bear (wise guide and healer), came home with me and a week later I went back for Mama Dog, who I couldn’t get out of my head and who was scheduled for execution at the then overfull kill shelter.  I named her Xena, Beagle Princess.

(Zuni Bear, Nov. 2011)

I’ve used lots of my nutritional supplement knowledge over the years for my dogs with great success.  Xena, my true rescue dog, had B.B.’s in her body, a life long limp and scars on her face and soul.  I used a Bach Flower Remedy, called “Star of Bethlehem”, my go to remedy for post trauma, and lots of patience, love and healthy food to help ease her transition from abused, scared stray into my loving home.  I immediately put her on Glucosamine Sulfate (she loved Ark Naturals Sea Mobility Joint Rescue Strips or my Vegetarian Glucosamine capsules in cream cheese) and quality fish oil (Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet is my favorite) for her hips.  I kept her on that until she died 3 years ago.

Zuni Bear has had his share of adventures and health issues, but is doing great and just had his 14th birthday in May.  My boy has multiple food allergies and I have to change his food frequently to keep the insanely itchy food allergy paws at bay.  My current favorite foods for him are Castor & Pollux Natural Ultra Mix Dry Food and Natural Balance® L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® Potato & Duck Dry Dog Food ( I special order the latter).  I also have him on fish oil and quercetin, a bioflavanoid with powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, especially helpful for any type of allergy (pet or people).  He can be a bit high strung with an ear piercing bark when people come over (love me, pretend to like my dog), and Rainbow Light’s GreenDog Naturals Complete Calm chewables help bring him down a notch when he’s really anxious.  He’s terrified of thunderstorms, fireworks or any other extremely loud noises (as was Xena) and after much trial and error, Homeopet’s Anxiety TFLN works like magic.  He’ll actually lay down and relax within moments of a few drops licked off my finger.  Amazing!  I’ve also used the homeopathic remedies Arnica for pain and stiffness after he has a good run through the woods (he’s 1/2 hound and takes off) or swim in the river (has chased a beaver for an hour to my distress). Homeopathic Hypericum, internally and topically was essential for pain relief and healing of a jaggedly and deeply torn paw pad when he ran on glass at Riverview Park (the vet didn’t think it could be saved, but we proved him wrong).  When he had a horrible hot spot, Keys Metacare lotion healed it within days (miraculous for human itches and rashes too). Well, I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here and say how grateful I am to have access to these remedies for my doggie soul mates and would be happy to help you with dog questions to the best of my abilities.

-Brandon Davis, MS Ed., Supplement & Bodycare Department Manager at Rebecca’s Natural Food

(Brandon & Zuni Bear, Nov. 2011)

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The EcoNazis" latest target in their "War on Nature": Meat-eating pets

New planetary burden: Meat-eating pets

Green Hell Blog
Monday, March 23, 2009

Paul Greenberg opines today in the New York Times that dogs and cats should go vegan. Writing about his cat, Greenberg says,

Coco, like most American cats, ate fish. And a great deal of them — more in a year than the average African human, according to Jason Clay at the World Wildlife Fund. And unlike the chicken or beef Coco also gobbled up, all those fish were wild animals, scooped out of the sea and flown thousands of carbon-belching miles to reach his little blue bowl.

The use of wild fish in animal feed is a serious problem for the world’s food systems. Around a third of all wild fish caught are “reduced” into fish meal and fish oil. And yet most of the outrage about this is focused not on land-based animals like Coco but on other fish — namely farm-raised fish.

But if you feel that a vegan pet would “go against nature,” Greenberg says you should “rethink a pet’s potential footprint before acquiring one”:

A carnivore, be it a cat, a dog or a salmon, is a heavy burden for the environment and should not be brought under human care lightly. In my family, this has become a topic of debate as we consider our next animal. Coco was an interesting and unique creature, and I argue that he cannot be replaced. To me, a vegetarian substitute is seeming more and more appealing. Lately, I’ve had my eye on a guinea pig.

Hats off to the New York Times for allowing Greenberg to share his thoughts with the world — otherwise, you couldn’t make this stuff up.

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Fish Oil Supplements for Dogs Provide Health Benefits

Slurp!

Salmon oil, and sardine-anchovy fish oil are natural sources of beneficial omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have been proven to offer health benefits.

We offer fish oils by Iceland Pure, which are pharmaceutical grade in terms of purity and scent. Some of their benefits include:

• healthy, skiny coat


• soothing dry and irritated skin


• anti-inflammatory effects


• improved immunity


• heart health and endurance


• digestive health


• joint lubrication


• aids with anxiety and behavioral issues


• improved renal function


• aids in growth and reproduction

These claims have been backed up by various scientific studies, and a partial list of references is presented below:

Healthy coat and skin:

• Mooney MA, Vaughn DM, Reinhart GA, Powers RD, Wright JC, Hoffman CE, Swaim SF, Baker HJ. Evaluation of the effects of omega-3 fatty acid-containing diets on the inflammatory stage of wound healing in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 1998 Jul;59(7):859-63.

This study examined the effects of dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on the biochemical component of the inflammatory stage of wound healing, and concluded that it can be manipulated by diet, and that omega-3 fatty acid-enriched diets can be used to control inflammation associated with dermatologic conditions.

• Harvey RG. A blinded, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of borage seed oil and fish oil in the management of canine atopy. Vet Rec. 1999 Apr 10;144(15):405-7.

This blinded, placebo-controlled study used 21 dogs to measure the effects of supplementary oils (borage seed oil and fish oil in combination), and found that the dogs that received the supplements showed significant improvement for the skin conditions erythema and self-excoriation.

Improved immunity:

• Filburn CR, Griffin D. Canine plasma and erythrocyte response to a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched supplement: characterization and potential benefits. Vet Ther. 2005 Spring;6(1):29-42.

This study confirmed that dietary supplementation in dogs with a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids (salmon oil) increases plasma and red blood cell levels of these fatty acids.

• Kearns RJ, Hayek MG, Turek JJ, Meydani M, Burr JR, Greene RJ, Marshall CA, Adams SM, Borgert RC, Reinhart GA. Effect of age, breed and dietary omega-6 (n-6): omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid ratio on immune function, eicosanoid production, and lipid peroxidation in young and aged dogs.Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1999 Aug 2;69(2-4):165-83.

The focus of this study was to examine the influence of age and diet on various parameters of immune function in young and old Fox Terriers and Labrador Retrievers. In summary, this study indicates that feeding a diet containing an (n-6):(n-3) fatty acid ratio of 5:1 had a positive, rather than a negative, effect on the immune response of young or geriatric dogs.

• Bauer JE. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007 Dec 1;231(11):1657-61.

This study found that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and other marine sources appear to be capable of modifying inflammatory and immune responses in dogs. Information is provided on the capacity of dogs to metabolize omega-3 fatty acids and the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on skin and coat, inflammatory responses, and neurologic development in puppies.

Heart health and endurance

• Laurent G, Moe G, Hu X, Holub B, Leong-Poi H, Trogadis J, Connelly K, Courtman D, Strauss BH, Dorian P. Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce atrial vulnerability in a novel canine pacing model. Cardiovasc Res. 2008 Jan;77(1):89-97. Epub 2007 Sep 20.

This study assessed the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on abnormal heart rhythm vulnerability and concluded that the supplements did reduce that vulnerability.

• Sarrazin J, Comeau G, Daleau P, et al. Reduced incidence of vagally induced atrial fibrillation and expression levels of connexins by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dogs. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50(15):1505-12.

This study assessed whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevent vagally induced atrial fibrillation (AF) (abnormal heart rhythm) and influence atrial tissue expression levels of connexins (CXs), and founded that oral treatment with fish oils increased atrial n-3 PUFA levels and reduced vulnerability to induction of AF due to the antiarrhythmic effects of fish oils.

• Smith CE, Freeman LM, Rush JE, Cunningham SM, Biourge V. Omega-3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med. 2007 Mar-Apr; 21(2):265-73.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, in dogs with spontaneously occurring arrhythmia. It found that after six weeks, supplementation with fish oil, but not flax oil, did reduce arrhythmia in Boxers with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and that it could be useful in treating this common disease.

• Billman GE, Kang JX, Leaf A. Prevention of sudden cardiac death by dietary pure omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dogs. Circulation. 1999 May 11;99(18):2452-7.

This study tested the effects of purified omega-3 fatty acids and concluded that they prevented ischemia-induced ventricular fibrillation in its dog model of sudden cardiac death.

• Freeman L, Rush J, Kehayias J. et al. Nutritional alterations and the effects of fish oil supplementation in dogs with heart failure. J Vet Intern Med 1998;12:440-448.

The purposes of this study were to characterize nutritional and cytokine alterations in dogs with heart failure and to test the ability of fish oil to reduce cytokines and improve clinical outcome, and it found that fish oil supplementation decreased IL-1 concentrations and improved cachexia, which are associatred with canine heart failure.

Nutritional benefits

• Kelley R, Lepine A. Improving puppy trainability through nutrition. Proceedings from Iams Clinical Nutrition Symposium 2005,Seville, Spain.

This paper looked at how the inclusion of omega-3 DHA increases puppy trainability, and hence, improves the strength of the owner-pet bond, and better integration of the pet into the household.

Joint lubrication

• Hansen RA, Harris MA, Pluhar GE, Motta T, Brevard S, Ogilvie GK, Fettman MJ, Allen KG. Fish oil decreases matrix metalloproteinases in knee synovia of dogs with inflammatory joint disease. J Nutr Biochem. 2007 May 23.

This study found that dietary fish oil may exert beneficial effects on inflamed joint disease in canines.

• Hall JA, Henry LR, Jha S, Skinner MM, Jewell DE, Wander RC. Dietary (n-3) fatty acids alter plasma fatty acids and leukotriene B synthesis by stimulated neutrophils from healthy geriatric Beagles. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2005 Nov;73(5):335-41.

This study found that that foods enriched in omega-3 (n-3) FA from fish oil may have value in the treatment of canine inflammatory diseases.

Behavior issues

• Re S, Zanoletti M, Emanuele E. Aggressive dogs are characterized by low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status. Vet Res Commun 2008;32:225-230.

This study investigated whether polyunsatured fatty acid status could be altered in the plasma of pathologically aggressive dogs. The results suggest that low omega-3 fatty acids may adversely impact behaviour in dogs, resulting in greater propensity to aggression. However, whether omega-3 fatty acids supplementation may be useful to reduce aggressive behaviour in the dog deserves further investigation.

Improved renal function

• Brown SA, Brown CA, Crowell WA, Barsanti JA, Kang CW, Allen T, Cowell C, Finco DR. Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in early renal insufficiency in dogs. J Lab Clin Med. 2000 Mar;135(3):275-86.

This study looked at the effects of dietary supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the progression of kidney disease in dogs. It found that supplementation with omega-6 PUFAs hastens the decline of kidney function, and that omega-3 PUFAs are reno-protective.

• Plantinga E, Everts H, Kastelein A, et al. Retrospective study of the survival of cats with acquired chronic renal insufficiency offered different commercial diets. Vet Rec. 2005;157(7):185-7.

A retrospective study was carried out on the efficacy of seven commercial diets designed to be fed to cats with chronic renal failure. It found that the most effective diet had a particularly high content of omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid.

Growth and reproduction

• Wright AS, Bauer JE, Bigley KE, Lees GE, Waldron MK. Maternal Dietary Fatty Acids Modify Canine Puppy Plasma Lipoprotein Distributions during the Suckling Period. J Nutr. 2004 Aug;134(8 Suppl):2106S-2109S.

The present study was conducted to investigate cholesterol-lowering changes during suckling and early adolescence of puppies born to bitches that were fed diets that varied only in fatty acid composition and were otherwise identical. The results showed decreased total plasma cholesterol and all LP cholesterol fractions in puppies whose mothers were fed the menhaden fish oil diets.

• Heinemann KM, Bauer JE. Docosahexaenoic acid and neurologic development in animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Mar 1;228(5):700-5, 655.

This paper found that feeding dams a diet enriched with DHA during gestation and lactation has been associated with improvements in neurologic development of their puppies. Also, feeding diets or supplements containing DHA may improve memory or learning in young dogs.

The hard evidence behind fish oil for dogs - Pet Joint Protection

The hard evidence behind fish oil for dogs

Fish oil for dogs has grabbed the headlines in recent years as evidence of the benefits of omega-3 has gathered. As in humans, there are studies that suggest omega-3 for dogs can have a positive impact on joint health and other diseases. While further research is, as always, needed, there is enough to suggest fish oil is worth your attention when planning how to manage your dog’s arthritis.

In 2010 the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a series of papers that added to weight of evidence supporting use of fish oils in dogs. Each took a slightly different approach to fish oil for dogs but reached similar conclusions – there is evidence to suggest it helps treat arthritis.

CC image courtesy of jcoterhals on Flickr

The first paper gave food containing 3.5% fish oil omega-3 fatty acids to 22 dogs with osteoarthritis, and normal food to another 16 arthritic dogs. After 90 days the dogs who received food supplemented with fish oil fatty acids performed better on peak vertical force tests, which are used to assess joint health. Investigators also reported the fish oil group showed improvements in lameness and weight baring. The paper concludes that fish oil helps dogs with osteoarthritis, at least in the short term.

Shortly after the supplemented food paper, the journal published research into using fish oil omega-3 fatty acids in conjunction with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen (sold by Pfizer as Rimadyl). The findings were welcome news for pet owners who want to limit their dogs’ consumption of NSAIDs. After three weeks being treated with carprofen 131 dogs were split into two groups. The first received dog food supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids, the second received normal food.

Over 12 weeks investigators were able to reduce the dosage of carprofen significantly faster in the group receiving food with fish oil. The finding led the investigators to conclude that “feeding a diet supplemented with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids may allow for a reduction in carprofen dosage.”

Several months after those papers the journal published a third piece of research into the use of fish oil for dogs. The research again looked at omega-3 for dogs in food, and again found signs it helped. On this occasion data came from pet owners who completed surveys about the health of their dog after 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Dogs who received fish oil supplemented food showed improved ability to stand up, play and walk.

While these three papers – and other’s such as this research from 2011 – paint fish oil for dogs in a positive light, it must be noted they all received support from dog food maker Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Corporate support is often found in science but is sometimes accused of causing bias. Nonetheless, the research paper’s still suggest fish oil for dogs is worth considering as an arthritis treatment.

7 Useful Supplements for Pets

You may have a vitamin regimen for yourself, but did you know that pets can also benefit from multivitamins and specific supplements? Pets on homemade diets especially will likely need several supplements. Here are 7 options that can help your pet feel their best.

1. Fatty acids and vitamin B

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, found in fish oil, and vitamin B, are great for giving your pet a healthy skin and coat. Dull and flaky skin is often lacking in the proper oils, which these supplements will remedy. Fish oil for dogs and cats also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which can ease discomfort such as arthritis pain, and some studies are even showing that fish oil can slow the growth of cancer!

2. Vitamin A

Vitamin A, found naturally in many protein sources like liver and dairy, is important for your pet’s vision. A lack of vitamin A can lead to problems like night blindness. Since most pet foods will have enough vitamin A, and too much can lead to coat and bone issues, talk to your vet about whether your pet would benefit for added vitamin A. Pets on a homemade diet may need it.

3. Glucosamine and Chondroitin

The supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are believed to be helpful for pets suffering from arthritis, just as they can be helpful for humans. These supplements, which come from the shells of shellfish and animal cartilage, can reduce arthritis pain in dogs and cats. Don’t expect an immediate change, though — these supplements work slowly over time to ease discomfort and to slow the progress of arthritis.

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants can be useful for working dogs or very active dogs. Most multivitamins include antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to help prevent muscle damage, so they’re great for dogs under physical stress.

5. Probiotics

These supplements can help boost micro bacteria (“good” bacteria) in your pet’s digestive tract, and can aid digestion. Yucca schidigera or Zinc acetate can also help decrease the odor of pet gassiness — could be a good choice if company is coming over!

6. Mineral Oil

Mineral oil can help with pet constipation, but it should only ever be given mixed in with food. Simply giving the oil to your pet to swallow can cause aspiration pneumonia, a serious lung infection.

7. Milk Thistle Extract

This extract can be given to pets with liver disease, since it helps the liver to recover from imbalances. Be aware though that the full implications of long-term use haven’t been tested, so it’s not for healthy dogs or cats as a preventative. If your pet develops liver problems, ask your vet if it can be helpful.

Categories: Pet Health Bites |
Tags: arthritis, Cat, Dog, general health, grooming, lifestyle, pet meds, pet supplements, skin health |
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Fish oil for Dogs!

I recently adopted a spunky older dog named Biscuit! She was practically perfect except for dry fur and dandruff. There are sooooo many topical treatment that you can buy to help a dog with dry itchy skin but they are very expensive and don’t really work. I did a little research and fish oil was the number 1 natural choice. Fish oil is full of omegas and like for humans is very good for you. SO after just 3 weeks of putting a capsule on her dry food, i have noticed a big change in her fur. She is not itching as much and her fur is getting much softer. If you buy it in capsule form it is cheaper, just cut it open and put on food. If you have a bigger dog you might be able to just hide it in their food.

April | 2009 | Holistic Pet Food Blog

I don’t very often write about myself but I have to tell you, I’m really excited to be attending the Trilogy HealthyPetNet convention in Tampa, Florida, this weekend.   I’ve been an independent rep for over three years but this is the first chance I’ve had to actually attend the convention.

My goal for this blog is to be as factual and objective as possible.   It’s about educating you on the many healthy pet foods out there, telling you about the good and bad ingredients, keeping you up to date on the pet food recalls. 

But as you know, outside of my very busy day job (I am an IT project manager in “real life”), I do animal rescue.  That’s how I discovered HealthyPetNet. 

I’m excited about this convention  for a couple of reasons.  First, I get to finally meet Judy Bishop, who is the amazing person who has shepherded and mentored me in this business.  She is a former dog groomer who became one of the top reps in the company.  She has become a close personal friend and the whole trip will be worth it to meet her.

Second, on Friday evening, I am meeting with several others in my group to have dinner with Dr. Jane Bicks.  She is the holistic veterinarian who formulates the pet foods and supplements for HealthyPetNet.  I’ve gained so much from the education we get from her on weekly veterinary conference calls, can’t wait to meet her in person.   

Saturday and Monday are a half-day of general sessions, while Sunday is a full day of workshops, plus an evening reception and dinner.

It will be a fairly small convention, I think I heard maybe about 60-75 reps?  So it will be individual and personal, something you don’t get very much of these days.

We are going to learn more about the products but also about the business.  As you know, HealthyPetNet is one of the top 15 network marketing companies out there.  They’ve been around for 10 years and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau in Southeast Florida, no small feat.    They have never had a pet food recall, again, no small feat.    So I’m quite proud of my association with this company.

This has been a really fun business for me.  Of all the home-based things people have wanted to drag me into, THIS one WORKS for me.  I can do exactly what I want with it.  I am a BUSY lady.  I work long hours and in my spare time, I train for marathons and raise money to fight blood cancers.  I also have a home and garden and many rescue kitties to take care of.  PLUS I’m the organist for my church and am active in volunteer work.

I’m passionate about my pets and their health and nutrition, you can see that written all over my lifestyle.    So I’m really excited to sort of land right in the lap of HealthyPetNet, enjoy meeting some really great and great-hearted people, and get a bit of a vacation out of it, to boot.

Watch for some fun articles that I’m sure will come out of the convention.

 

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Flaxseed Oil For Dogs

What Are The Benefits of Flaxseed Oil For Dogs?

It isn’t just us folks that obtain the health advantages of flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil for dogs is equally crucial to their health and fitness.

The standard of commercial dog food has substantially enhanced over the years, to a level that it contains most of the main oils, vitamins and minerals your pet dog really needs for the best health.

The processing that takes place with modern commercial dog food means most of the wholesome essential fatty acids are left out. The reason being it tends to turn rancid very rapidly if not kept in a dry, cold location.

So dog food becomes lacking in these essential omega -3 oils which can lead to numerous health issues. Problems such as inflamed and sore skin, a dull, lifeless coat, flaky skin, various allergic reactions and possibly joint disease and cancer.

Why Pick Flax Seed Essential Oil For Your Pet Dog and Not Fish Oil?

Lets be honest, fish oil is not to everyone’s taste, and dogs could be just as disliking. Plus it gives them pretty horrible doggie breath!

Flaxseed oil not only offers the exact same essential fatty acids as fish oil, it also contains lots of other beneficial substances, which will enhance your dogs overall health. In particular soluble and non-soluble fiber which will keep your dogs blood circulation and digestive tract clear and healthy.

Flax Seed Essential Oil Health Benefits For Your Dog

Adding just a little flaxseed oil together with your dogs food will have a profound effect on many aspects of their health. Here are just 2 of the most common conditions:

1.       Dull, Lifeless Coat

A dogs coat is a good indicator to its health and when it looks lifeless and dull you know your best friend has problems. A lack of essential oils can lead to dry itchy skin, inflammation and sore red patches and chunks of fur missing.

Vets have long been advocating the use of essential fatty acids to restore your dogs coat to its normal, vibrant state and by including a few drops of flaxseed oil to a dogs food, will see a marked improvement in no time at all.

If your dog has a poor coat or showing signs of flaking and itching skin, you can be assured that flax seed oil will remedy the problem and prevent it from coming back.

2.       Older Dogs Battling With Arthritis

Joint Disease in dogs is a painful and often life- threatening problem. My old dog suffered terribly from it and I understand how sad it is to see.

Close To 1 in 5 dogs will get arthritis during their lifetime, usually due to the insufficient omega 3 oils in their diet, which help lessen inflammation of the joints.

Flaxseed Oil Can Treat Other Dog Health Issues

There are more ways that flaxseed oil can help your dogs overall health keeping it from falling to several unwanted health conditions;

A dog’s heart can benefit from flax seed oil since the compounds it contains assist in preventing blood clots and therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.

Helps Prevent Cancer. Flax seeds are potent in cancer preventing ‘lignans’ which help to reduce and eliminate the spread of some cancers.

Summary

You should be under no illusion regarding the many benefits of flaxseed oil for dogs and just how it can prevent and treat a number of health conditions. Veterinarians will confirm exactly the same. Why don’t you give it a go with your own dog and see how positively they respond to it.

Salmon Oil | Pet Product Reviews | Pet Shampoos

What is the Best Salmon Oil for Dogs?

Maybe you’ve heard about the benefits of fish oil for humans. Fish oil is rich with omega-3 fatty acids, essential fatty acids that have been clinically shown to help with heart disease, brain function, and other health issues.

Omega 3 Salmon Oil

What you probably haven’t heard, however, is that fish oil is great for dogs, too. At EvolutionSupply.com, we provide a doggie-specific Omega 3 Salmon Oil that helps give your dog’s coat a great shine and wards off skin problems. Once you try it, we think you’ll agree that EvolutionSupply.com has the best salmon oil for dogs around.

LifeSpan Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil

Why is our salmon oil the best salmon oil for dogs? Only LifeSpan Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil contains CoQ10, a coenzyme that improves your dog’s overall health. Not only will your dog’s coat shine, she’ll also feel and act younger. In fact, our LifeSpan fish oil for dogs is one of the very best all-around supplements that your dog can have. Antioxidants in LifeSpan help to prevent dog cancers and slow the aging process, while the oil itself heals itchy, irritated skin.

To use LifeSpan, all you need to do is squirt it onto your dog’s regular food at meal time. One squirt is about 2 ml, so a small dog will take two squirts, a 26 – 55 lbs. dog will take four squirts, and larger dogs will take six to eight squirts per day.

A Dog and Fish Story: The Importance of Omega 3s in Your Dog"s Diet

18 Mar

A Dog and Fish Story: The Importance of Omega 3s in Your Dog’s Diet

Posted March 18, 2010 by LifeSpring University in Nutrition. Tagged: allergies, athritis, brain function, coat, dog health, fish, fish oil, health, kibble, omega 3 fatty acids, omega 3s, PCBs, raw diet, raw feeding, salmon oil, skin, supplements. 1 Comment

Holy mackerel–it seems every aisle in the grocery store is crowded with human foods enhanced with omega 3s.  We know why:  it’s good for the heart, the brain, the skin, the joints . . . so, do the same benefits apply to dogs?  And if so, what’s the best source of omega 3 fatty acids for our furry friends?

One reason it’s so important for humans to consume omega 3s is that they are not produced by the body.  That’s why they are called essential oils.  The same is true of your canine companion.  Your dog gets omega 3s only if he eats them.

Omega 3s have long been given to dogs (and cats for that matter) to improve coat.  Research and practice shows that there are many more benefits for concerns such as:

• arthritis


• brain health


• immune system


• neural development of puppies


• allergies


• skin and coat

You may have noticed that many dog foods contain omega 3 fatty acids.  Here are a couple of things to keep in mind.  The first is that you want to make sure that the omega 3s come from fish and fish oil not vegetable oil.  The vegetable sources don’t convert well and are much less effective.  The other concern is that the balance between omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids should be 2:1.  The ratio in bagged pet food is often the reverse because the kibble is full of grain and cereal.  One easy remedy there is to use grain free foods enhanced with fish oil.  Or, as we have chosen, you can feed your dogs a raw diet.

What if you use a bagged food enhanced with omega 3 fish oil but you still see issues with your dog’s arthritis, allergies, coat or skin?

It’s time for fish or fish oil supplements.

If you choose to feed fish to your dog, please choose your fish wisely. We feed a raw diet and include 6″ long wild caught sardines.  Although we still supplement with fish oil pills, we also like feeding a small, whole, raw fish.  In order to minimize toxins like PCBs and mercury, choose wild caught fish and consult with fish safety lists like this one: http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694

A little bit more . . .

We also supplement with fish oil pills because we notice a lot of health improvements with just a little bit more fish oil.  We especially see this in increased pliability of our old girl’s joints and increased sheen in all the dogs’ coats.  Just as fish is often contaminated, fish oil supplements are often contaminated as well.  This list analyzes the safety of fish oil supplements http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=16536 HOWEVER, they recommend several that have recently been sued because of PCB contamination.  So please, do your due diligence and cross-reference your supplement choices.  To read more about the fish oils mentioned in the March 3, 2010 lawsuit, follow this link: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=363337

Guaranteed Purity

If, like me, you just want a supplement you know you can trust . . . from a company that guarantees purity, then I recommend Shaklee’s Omegaguard.  Shaklee guarantees purity and goes above and beyond to do so.  Experts recommend fish oil that is molecularly distilled.  Shaklee’s goes through triple molecular distillation.  Experts also recommend fish oil made from small fish with short life spans.  Shaklee’s is made from small, deep cold water fish with short life spans (they are less likely to absorb toxins).  And Shaklee is a 54 year old leader in the natural nutrition industry and known for its integrity in science.

Just one serving (three softgels) of Omegaguard delivers 1000 mg of fish oil:  545 mg of EPA and 360 mg of DHA. My dogs love them so much that they come running every time I open my vitamin chest!  They eat them whole and pop them with their teeth, getting a yummy mouthful of pure fish oil.  I guess you have to be a dog to appreciate that.

Omegaguard is available at http://lifespring.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20244

Whatever source you choose, as long as it’s a pure, contaminant-free fish oil, your pooch will thank you!

Paying Careful Attention to Our Health: Supplementation May Help!

I was inspired to write this on the plane over the big pond at 33,000 feet. I’m traveling to Europe on one leg of my annual trip to spread the word about TTouch!

Many people have commented over the years on my level of energy, and how it does not seem to diminish in spite of my 72 years. Our family has always attributed it to our good genes. But recently my sis, Robyn Hood, made the comment that it probably has to do more with the fact that my Dad had us from a very young age on supplements. I remember when I was 14 years old being sure to take my alfalfa pills with me when I spent a week on a horse ranch near Calgary, Alberta, riding some of the young horses I was asked to ride in the 9 day Calgary Spring Horse Show. I was sure happy to have those alfalfa pills to sustain me, because the food I was fed was not the diet our Mom had us on and the alfalfa pills sustained me through the experience. No wonder I think like a horse!

In August we had a family reunion with my sisters Robyn and Susan and brothers Gerry, John and Randy. When we were discussing this subject of genes or diet, Randy remembered that we were all taking Abundavita, one of the very first multi-marketing products! Any of you who know our family know that Robyn and Randy and I have been in multi-level marketing of Super Blue Green Algae since its beginning. I am convinced that the algae is one of the contributing factors in my health. I might add that since Blue Green has changed hands, I have switched to what I consider a phenomenal product, E3Live, that I have in liquid form when I’m at home in Hawaii. Otherwise I travel with capsules. I think I must have been a dinasaur in a previous life because when I down my 2 tablespoons of liquid green algae each morning I love to imagine I am a long necked dinasaur standing knee-deep in a swamp sticking my head under the water to get a giant mouthful of algae. I love the image of it dripping and hanging out of my big mouth as I savor the sound of my jaws crunching! Bet you cant imagine that! By the way, if you’re interested to read about E3Live go to our website. We have it for horses and humans. However, its not a multi-marketing product, and if you want it in the liquid form it can be shipped from the company or directly from our website on dry ice like I get it in Hawaii.

I was inspired to write this blog to pass on some very important information from Norma Tango (ntarango@earthlink.net), a really good friend of mine, who is the queen of networking and publishes an weekly email on goings-on around Santa Fe.

During my annual check up this year I discovered that I have a serious depletion of vitamin D and my nurse practitioner, Annie Rafter started me on liquid drops of D-Forte. Hard to imagine me being depleted when you consider my daily walks and teaching outside but apparently it’s common. So please check out your vitamin D levels, and make sure you get enough of that liquid sunshine one way or another.

Aloha, Linda

Take good care of your cells–keep the lights turned on!

In primates, the action of ‘turning on’ an optimal response to microbial attack only works properly in the presence of adequate vitamin D, which is actually a type of hormone that circulates in the blood and signals to cells through a receptor.” A new study has concluded that one key part of the immune system, the ability of vitamin D to regulate anti-bactericidal proteins, is so important that it has been conserved through almost 60 million years of evolution and is shared only by primates, including humans – but no other known animal species. Even though the “cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide” has several different biological activities in addition to killing pathogens, it’s not clear which one, or combination of them, makes vitamin D so essential to its regulation. The research also provides further evidence of the biological importance of adequate levels of vitamin D in humans and other primates, even as some studies and experts suggest that more than 50 percent of the children and adults in the U.S. are deficient in “the sunshine vitamin.”

Reprinted from a free-access article: “Exaptation of an ancient Alu short interspersed element provides a highly conserved vitamin D-mediated innate immune response in humans and primates,” Gombart AF, et al. BMC Genomics Jul 16, 2009.
Source: Oregon State University, Corvallis, news release, Aug 18, 2009

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