The role of fatty acids in pet health

Fats and oils are an important part of pets’ diet. They are a dense source of energy – more than two times higher than other macronutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates – and they increase the palatability of food. However, there is another, arguably even more important purpose: fats, or more specifically fatty acids, serve as essential nutrients for pets.

Fatty acids: a necessary dietary component

Two fatty acids cannot be synthesized by the body, but must be ingested with food and are therefore essential for all mammals: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, omega-3) and linoleic acid (LA, omega-6). In the body, these are converted into longer fatty acid chains that fulfill various important functions.

Fatty acids serve as building blocks for cell membranes and are essential for the function of the retina, brain, heart and skeletal muscles. In addition, some of them, such as arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, omega-3), are highly involved in the inflammatory processes.

Pregnancy and neonatal care

Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for development during pregnancy and in the early lives of puppies and kittens. The functions of the brain and retina depend mainly on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega-3) not only during pregnancy but also after birth.

Maximum brain growth begins in the third trimester of pregnancy and continues through the first months of neonatal life, so it is important to provide sufficient concentrations in the diet during this crucial period.

Research published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2004 found that a maternal diet enriched with ALA during gestation and lactation did not increase DHA in the dog’s milk.

Therefore, supplementation with vegetable oils such as flaxseed (rich in ALA) is not sufficient for this sensitive period and the diet should be supplemented with fish oil or algae, key sources of EPA and DHA.

The same applies to cats, whose ability to produce EPA and DHA is considered negligible.

Comprehensive health benefits

Fatty acids are used as food supplements due to their many positive properties. Both EPA and DHA omega-3s produce mediators with anti-inflammatory effects.

Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish, krill or algae oil are used in veterinary diets targeting chronic inflammatory conditions such as obesity, osteoarthritis and allergies.

In addition, EPA and DHA are known to lower circulating triglyceride levels and are used clinically to treat hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol or fats in the blood) in pets.

Borage oil and evening primrose oil are becoming increasingly popular as natural supplements for pets. They are rich in the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which has a positive effect on skin health, reduces inflammation and promotes joint health in dogs.

Fatty acids called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are often obtained from coconut oil, have been shown to affect neurological disorders. MCT fatty acids, namely caprylic and capric acids, are converted into ketogenic bodies that have a neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effect.

Studies have shown that their use is beneficial in dogs suffering from idiopathic epilepsy, with the incidence of seizures significantly lower in dogs fed an MCT diet at 10% of energy.

How much is enough?

The ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is very important, but there is little data to determine the ideal ratio in pets. The existing literature on dogs suggests that a ratio lower than the National Research Council (NRC) recommendations (<26:1) should be aimed for.

Research published in Veterinary Dermatology journal has shown that a dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratio of around 5:1 and 10:1 decreased inflammatory markers in dogs’ skin and increased anti-inflammatory markers, compared to a diet higher in omega-6s.

The fatty acid content of commercially available dog foods varies greatly. Some contain only minimal amounts of beneficial long-chain fatty acids (EPA and DHA). With this greater understanding of the necessity and benefits of these nutrients, it is important to ensure an appropriate fatty acid ratio and a sufficient content of long-chain fatty acids from fish oil, krill and algae.