Omega-3 Question

  You don't have to use wild salmon oil; you can fish oil supplements sold for humans. You can find them at grocery stores or stores like Wal-Mart and they're less expensive. Check the label to see if they have vitamin E; if not, you will also need to pick some up because it's necessary to help the body metabolize the fish oil.  Jessie had the same problem as Harry; a shiny coat but dry and flaky skin. I tried fatty acid supplements for years and they didn't help. Last summer my vet gave me a copy of an article from the JAVMA called "Dietary Fats and the Skin and Coat of Dogs". In it I learned that dogs fed increased amounts of zinc and linoleic acid (omega 6) had significant improvements in the condition of their skin and coat. I tried Nutro Lamb and Rice because it had more zinc and linoleic acid than many foods, and a good amount of omega 3. It cleared up Jessie's dandruff. I know it's considered an inferior food on this forum, but it worked better that Eagle Pack, California Natural, and other foods I tried. Since I add cooked or raw food to her kibble I'm not too concerned over the ingredients if they have the nutrient profile she needs. Jessie is allergic to salmon so she can't have foods with salmon or salmon oil. You may want to give the Natural Balance a few more weeks before adding fish oil to his diet; I don't think three weeks is long enough to know if the food's helping. It sounds like he has stomach problems from your post; if so, start with a few drops of fish oil and gradually increase the amount. As you probably know, additional fat in a diet can cause loose stool in a sensitive dog.

Thank you so much!  Yes, he does have a sensitive tummy, so I definitely want to be careful that I don't do anything to upset it.  He's been so good since I switched him to Natural Balance, I don't want to backtrack.  The dandruff seems to be worse when it's colder out, which I've noticed since our weather lately has been so wonky (cold, warm, cold, warm....).  It's much better on warm days than cold ones.  Kinda like me, my skin is so dry in the winter.  I'll heed your advice on giving more time before adding the fish oil, and if I do end up doing it, I'll definitely add it to his diet gradually.  Thanks again!!

 You're sooo welcome. Jessie's dandruff was always worse in the winter too; I think it's because of the cold air like you said, and also because of low humidity indoors. Jessie doesn't have an iron stomach either, and has very soft stools on certain foods. I've heard so many good things about Natural Balance and hope it clears up his dandruff without needing to add the fish oil. Good luck.

Emma's skin suddenly got dry, recently. I hadn't been doing extra baths, or changed anything. I talked to a few people about it, and decided to start giving her a can of sardines, sometimes, instead of fish oil. For some bizarre reason, it helped. I buy the sardines in spring water, with no salt added, and just mush up the whole can with a fork (water and all), and feed it to her. It could be a Kong treat, or a kibble topper for a bigger dog.

For clarity, she was getting fish oil daily. Now, I sub sardines on some days. It made a big difference, and I dunno why... but it might be more or less tolerable, depending on the dog. It's definitely worth a shot, though. 

Omega-3s are most bioavailable (to dogs) in fish oil, which provides them in their free form, not in ALA which requires further processing before the components of EPA and DHA are available.  ALA is the form that omega-3s are provided in plant oils.

You need about 1000 to 1500 mg of fish oil per 40 to 50 pounds of bady weight, typically, depending on the quality of the fish oil and its concentration, for basic maintenance (and add up to 200 mg per 60 pounds of body weight of E for that).  I have a dog who gets double that, because he simply doesn't process omega-3s properly.  Fish oil is safe to experiment with, up to a point - don't go to adding cups and cups of it because you'll risk pancreatitis.  Just remember to add the E to help your body with the oxidization of the fat.

Omega-3s are necessary for many things that are much more "important" than skin health, so I always am concerned if I see signs that a dog isn't getting enough EFAs - or possibly is getting them in a form that is not available to them.  Omega-3s are necessary for joint health, nervous system function, brain development of puppies, and hormone manufacture (not just sexual hormones, hormones regulate many other functions, as those whose dogs suffer from hypothyroidism can attest). 

Be very careful messing with zinc - you can easily add too much of that.  Any food with corn will have plenty of linoleic acid, and in fact most land-based meats are high in that, because they are corn-fed (lamb, beef, chicken).  I do have a dog who for some reason doesn't process LA very well - I've finally been able to get him on non-corn food by simply supplementing his food with corn oil (Happy Jack Tonekote, [lol] ).  Without it, he has odd, dull coat texture and doesn't shed dirt like the rest of the Border Collies.

Raw egg yolks are a great source of many skin and coat boosting nutrients, and in a form that is almost perfectly balanced and safe (especially if you include the white, cooked, and the shell, ground).  When I have a rescue who is recovering from malnutrition or poor nutrition, I include a poached egg with their daily diet every day until I see significant change (about ten days), then I will continue to offer an egg every other day or so for a couple months, then they'll get a couple eggs a week with everyone else.  I poach the egg because otherwise some of the good properties of the yolk are neutralized by proteins in the raw white.  These proteins are made harmless when the white is cooked, however.  I turn off the heat when the white turns opaque, leaving the yolk still raw (otherwise the nutrients in the yolk are largely neutralized by the heat, as well).

brookcove

 

Be very careful messing with zinc - you can easily add too much of that

   I agree and don't add extra zinc to Jessie's food. I read the nutritional analysis of foods and buy those that have more zinc; usually about 260mg/kg, such as Nature's Variety and Nutro Lamb.

brookcove

I poach the egg because otherwise some of the good properties of the yolk are neutralized by proteins in the raw white. 

   Would cooking an egg sunny side up be as good; I find it easier than poaching.
 

jessies_mom

 Would cooking an egg sunny side up be as good; I find it easier than poaching.

LOL.  I only suggest poaching because I find it far easier than frying, and the water makes a yummy warm dressing for the kibble (not hot, cooled off).  You can also very, very soft boil the egg (and that way you can have them on hand in the fridge ahead of time).

With my gang, I'm usually doing about a dozen at once - so I put on my cast iron skillet with about an inch of water, get it boiling, slide the eggs in (cracked ahead of time in a mixing bowl), and turn off the heat.  I go set up everything else (about five minutes), and when I come back the eggs are ready.  I add some ice to the water so everything cools fast and scoop the eggs into the bowls.  Kibble on the bottom, a dab of stew, eggs, fish oil, vitamins, and we're ready to eat!

In another couple of weeks I'll have before and after pictures of Min, the Maremma I rescued who was severely malnourished, so badly that she barely had any hair.  She gets two cups of Diamond Extreme Athlete, a pound of raw meaty bones, a can of puppy food (Pedigree, cheap but not horrible), 4000 mg of fish oil, E, and an egg - twice a day!  Min is already growing out a new coat along her spine and on her head and neck - it looks like a mohawk!
 

brookcove

In another couple of weeks I'll have before and after pictures of Min, the Maremma I rescued who was severely malnourished, so badly that she barely had any hair.  She gets two cups of Diamond Extreme Athlete, a pound of raw meaty bones, a can of puppy food (Pedigree, cheap but not horrible), 4000 mg of fish oil, E, and an egg - twice a day!  Min is already growing out a new coat along her spine and on her head and neck - it looks like a mohawk!

  I can't wait to see the pictures; should really be interesting. That's a lot of food but I guess Maremmas weigh more than a hundred pounds? Poor girl; she's lucky you have her now.
 

Dang -- typed it and lost it.

Everything Brookcove said is GOLD.  Great post.

Dr. D (my holistic vet) has been really cautioning about quality of fish oil.  You can get it for any price anywhere, BUT she says a lot of fish oil -- particularly pet quality oil (that isn't regulated at all and not inspected much) is often rancid.  Open one of those caps and squeeze -- how does it smell? 

I've been sticking with the best human brands I can find -- KAL and NOW Foods brand  http://www.nowfoods.com/ -- Now has a locator on its website - they aren't found everywhere.  KAL is still a good brand from all I know. 

But giving fish oil that is potentially rancid adds spoilage to a good thing and then you have to worry about bacteria, virus, etc. yuck.

I usually get my fish oil in a dark colored glass bottle, or a metal bottle with a pump. If it smells "good", it's ok, right? I don't wanna give the kid anything that might be ickity. I find it easier to deal with than caps. I don't wanna squeeze the caps to smell them, LOL. One brand I bought smelled really fishy and stinky, so I tossed it and got a different kind. Since then, I haven't had a problem with it. 

Exactly -- it's the sniff test that tells.  Most people don't question it -- they just give the capsules that are in the bottle.  No, you don't have to open every capsule -- but making sure you've got a good quality oil is important!

 That'll work Lately, she's been having Iceland Pure's sardine and anchovy oils. Variety, and all... I keep eyeballing Barlean's fish oils, but... their plain oils are flavored. The capsules aren't. It's cheaper to buy the oil in a bottle. I really don't want to give her lemon flavored oil, LOL. I'm waiting til the come out with fish oil for pets, to get her that brand. I *love* their flax oil, and they make one for pets. She gets that, occasionally.

Seapet makes a wonderful line of oils for pets.

Cheryl 

gretchensmom

Seapet makes a wonderful line of oils for pets.

Yes, sadly, they are one of the most cost efficient ways to get good quality salmon oil for your pet.  They offer an all-in-one salmon oil supplement that has the correct amount of Vitamin E already mixed into the oil, in a convenient concentrated liquid. 

I say "sadly" because I don't get my supplements from companies that sell shark cartilage.  Just a thing I've got.