Why Is Fish Oil
Important?
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essentials fatty acids
(EFAs) for humans, as well as for dogs, because they cannot be made in the
body. In order to maintain optimal health and wellness, these fatty acids must
be obtained through diet or supplementation.
EPA and DHA are
necessary structural components of cell membranes. These functional,
health-promoting fatty acids maintain the cell membrane fluidity and permeability needed for
healthy functioning cells. Two of these health-promoting omega-3 fatty acids
are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are
long chain omega-3 fatty acids found abundantly in fish.
One of the key functions of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA is
supporting the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Dogs can suffer from
numerous inflammatory conditions that can affect their health and well-being.
Studies have shown supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids from fish supports
dogs with inflammatory conditions associated with the skin, joints, kidneys,
and heart. In addition, EPA is known to promote healthy triglyceride (fat)
levels within the blood of dogs.
In puppies, the omega-3 fatty acid DHA plays a key role
in neurological (brain) and retinal (eye) development. Studies have shown that
feeding pregnant dogs omega-3 fatty acid-enriched foods during gestation
and lactation provides needed DHA to their puppies. Puppies weaned onto foods
with DHA have improved electroretinographic responses (a measurement of the
electrical response of the retina in the eye to light stimulation), and
improved responses to training tests. Studies in humans have shown that omega-3
fatty acids may be beneficial in maintaining normal cognitive function later in
life.
EPA/DHA Balance
Because dogs are limited in the total amount of omega-3
fatty acids they can have in one day, it is important to balance the amount of
EPA and DHA as close to 50/50 as possible. Most fish oil products that are made
for human consumption and marketed for canine use contain 60% EPA and 40% DHA. This
results in dogs receiving a lower amount of DHA than they need each day.
HardyPet Premium
Fish Oil is formulated specifically for dogs and contains 53% EPA and 47% DHA. This
balanced approach provides the maximum amount of DHA which is a key component
of a healthy canine diet.
The DPA Difference
One of the lesser known omega-3 fatty acids has caught
the attention of the medical and scientific community in recent years:
docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Recent research indicates that this omega-3 fatty
acid can play a substantial role in disease prevention and proper nutrition. A
recent ground-breaking study that demonstrated DPA can have a protective effect
against the normal cognitive decline due to aging. Normally, during the aging
process the cells that comprise the brain lose some of their connections. These
“synaptic connections” are essential to learning and memory, and researchers
have demonstrated that rats fed DPA were able to preserve these synaptic
connections and, hence, concluded that DPA can help restore some of the
cognitive decline seen in normal aging.
Additional studies have shown that DPA can carry out a
protective role in cardiovascular health. Specifically, two clinical studies
have demonstrated a positive correlation between DPA and preventing
cardiovascular disease in Canines. Scientists concluded that these protective
effects are most likely due to DPA’s ability to reduce inflammation,
endothelial cell migration and proliferation, and angiogenesis, which are some
of the major biochemical and cellular pathways that can lead to arteries
developing plaques which contribute to cardiovascular disease and heart
attacks.
Not all fish oil products contain significant levels of
DPA and most contain none at all. HardyPet Premium Fish Oil contains the highest
level of this key omega-3 fatty acid which is critical to proper canine
development and longevity.
Dosage Is
Everything
Treatment for cancer, joint, heart, kidney, skin and
intestinal problems, as well as geriatric dementia, often include generous
amounts of fish oil and its abundant DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. The
positive effect on skin and coat quality has moved large numbers of dog owners
to add fish oil to the diets of their young and normal pets. Overall, the trend
to supplement with fish oil is positive for pet health, but there is a flip
side to that coin. Too much of a good thing may have adverse effects on health.
Giving your dog a fish oil softgel product that doesn't allow
for proper dosage can be very risky as well as fish oil products that don't
properly recommend dosage based on weight. HardyPet Premium Fish Oil Recommends
eight different dosage levels based on the size of your dog which allows for
all of the fish oil benefits without the risk of side effects from receiving
too much.
The Pump Makes It
Easy
One of the problems with most canine fish oil products is
a need to use spoons or scoops to properly measure once or twice a day.
HardyPet Premium Fish Oil is packaged with special pump on the top of the
bottle which precisely measures and delivers the same amount of product every
time. Each time the pump is depressed, one (1) cc of fish oil is dispensed. By
following the dosage recommendations on the label, it is easy to give your dog
the right amount of fish oil, and without the mess or inconsistency of other
fish oil products.
Is Your Fish Oil
Safe?
Because fish may build up toxic levels of mercury in
their flesh over the course of their lifetime, there is always concern that toxins
may be present in oil supplements. Our manufacturing process uses several steps
in processing which Triple Filter our fish oil which removes all harmful
environmental toxins such as heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins, and furans. The
HardyPet purification process is a unique oxygen-free, chemical-free, and
low-heat processing technique that allows us to maintain the integrity of
delicate oils while also eliminating potentially harmful compounds. The result
is that your dog consumes only the pure, fresh, health-promoting omega-3s they need.
