Dog Community

Flax Seed Oil Vs. Fish Oil

Posted : 10/26/2008 1:27:59 PM

What is the difference between flax seed oil vs. fish oil aside from the obvious vegetable based vs. fish based? For the dogs, I've always supplemented with flax seed when dealing with skin issues. But, now I'm thinking more about fish oil.

I've started taking fish oil capsules myself in lieu of Vitamin E, fwiw.

cakana

Posted : 10/26/2008 1:38:19 PM

I've wondered the exact same thing, but for different reasons. I give fish oil to the dogs and my husband takes it too. I take flax seed oil because it was recommended for dry eyes. I wonder though if flax seed oil has the same heart health benefits. Hopefully someone can enlighten me too.

Okami

Posted : 10/26/2008 2:16:20 PM

Flaxseed oil is a source of alphalinoleic acid (ALA), which is a omega 3 that is sooner or later turned into DHA and EPA. The problem with that is typically it's hard for dogs to actually convert the flaxseed oil into that due to lack of desaturase enzymes, and sometimes they won't at all. Flaxseed oil has the same benefits as fish oil but, again, this is entirely dependant on if the individual dog can convert and digest the oil. Fish oil needs no conversion because the EPA and DHA is already available in a more digestablable and easier form. The only thing that sucks about fish oil is the fish breath, LOL

CoBuHe

Posted : 10/26/2008 3:26:25 PM

So, if I see good results with skin or the return of lost fur (not allergies)...I can assume that my dog's system has the ability to digest it properly and the conversion took place?

NikoAwesomo

Posted : 10/26/2008 5:34:44 PM

Personally, I have chosen fish oil over flaxseed oil. You don't know for sure how your dog's system is digesting it..how properly it is digesting it (since you dog can't talk to you and let you know how he is really feeling). I didn't want to change chances of later on finding out that flaxseed has actually caused him problems that I don't know yet at this time.

Same thing with canola oil and sunflower oil. Since my lab is not allergic to chicken, I could chicken fat (as the primary souce of fat for his food) over canola or sunflower oil.

I guess for my lab, the bottom line, I would choose animal based oil/fat over vegetable based oil/fat.

Luvntzus

Posted : 10/27/2008 4:25:13 AM

From what I've read, fish oil depletes vitamin E in the body, so it's best to take it as a supplement when you're taking fish oil for a long period of time.

Anonymous

Posted : 10/27/2008 8:46:59 AM

As others said, I think it depends on the dog too. Rosco doesn't do well with flaxseed or flaxseed oil. His coat is dry and brittle. However, my Aussie and Pointer both have better skin/coats on Missing Link (first ingredient is flax seed) than fish oil.

brookcove

Posted : 10/27/2008 3:17:35 PM

Omega 6s are actually more important in skin-coat health so dog that do better with the addition of flax versus something like fish oil, are probably in need of more balanced supplements. Normally n-6s are readily available in meat, but processing can reduce them, and the use of vegetable fats rather than animal fats can reduce the dog's ability to use the ones available in the diet "as fed". Flaxseed is uniquely capable of supplying high levels of all three fatty acid types (3, 6, 9).

Okami

Posted : 10/27/2008 11:42:31 PM

CoBuHe
So, if I see good results with skin or the return of lost fur (not allergies)...I can assume that my dog's system has the ability to digest it properly and the conversion took place?

Most dogs should be able to digest it. However, it's recommended to switch oils every bottle to second bottle so they don't lose their effectiveness.