Salmon Oil in Raw Food Diet for Fats
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There was a time when people thought fat was bad, both for humans and dogs. And then someone, not sure who, said that our fear of fat is wrong. Fat doesn't make us fat, it's the DIET OF PROCESSED FOODS we're devouring daily and the TYPES OF FAT WE EAT that is making our obesity rates climb. And the same can be said for our pets.
Fats I Add to My Dogs' Raw Diet
People are often surprised by the foods I add to my dogs' diet because when you look at many of the following foods, you don't immediately think "fat."
- raw eggs
- raw goat's milk
- cow kefir
- fatty fish
- grass-fed butter
I don't add the eggs, milk, and kefir for the fat; there are other nutrients they bring to the diet. But the fatty fish's role is to bring Omega-3 fatty acids to the party.
Benefits of Fat in a Raw Food Diet
The myth that fat is the cause of obesity has been busted, but people are still afraid to add it to their dogs' diet. When people learn that I feed Rodrigo grass-fed butter, their first concern is "but that'll make him fat." Ummmm, no it won't because he's an active dog. Sydney, on the other hand, is a couch potato and while grass-fed butter is beneficial for her, too much will increase the pounds.
Saturated fats, which I used to think lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, are actually better. I'm terrible at explaining why, which is why I'm going to direct you to an article written by Billy Hoekman for Dogs Naturally Magazine.
- Read Key Dietary Fats Every Raw Fed Dog Needs
Long story short, there are studies that show that fat is actually beneficial, not to mention our dogs do need fat in their diet. I diet that is extremely lean may be deficient in key nutrients. So toss those eggs in the bowl!
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
I've been feeding raw for several years and eventually, I realized that 80/10/10 doesn't equate to a balanced diet for my dogs because it lacks a few key nutrients, one of which are the Omega-3 fatty acids. My dogs are getting their Omega-6 fatty acids from the muscle meat in their diet, the Omega-3 fatty acids come from fatty fish (sardines, salmon, mackerel) and oils made from fatty fish.
Why Dogs Need Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids offset Omega-6 fatty acids. The Omega-6 fatty acids have their benefits, of course. However, one downside is that a diet high in Omega-6 fatty acids promotes inflammation – joint issues, skin issues, and digestive issues. Adding a quality Omega-3 fatty acid source brings the fatty acids into balance while introducing an anti-inflammatory response.
Omega 6 fatty acids serve to help hair grow, supports bone health, and regulates the metabolism.
Omega 3 fatty acids support skin and coat health, reduces inflammation, supports brain health, may prevent cancer, reduces fat in the liver, and fights auto-immune diseases.
What I've learned as a raw feeder.
Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Dogs
My dogs are covered on Omega-3 fatty acids. I currently add the following fish to their diet (not in the same meal):
- sardines
- mackerel
- salmon from Raw Paws Pet Food
- carp (from Scout and Zoe's)
- marine phytoplankton for dogs
- fermented fish stock
When I don't have fish or phytoplankton, I alternate fish oil and Alaskan salmon oil in my dogs' diet. I like to have plenty of options because there are days when some foods are unavailable and it's nice to be able to reach for something else.
Nutrients in Fatty Fish
The healthy fats aren't the only reason to add fatty fish to a dog's raw diet. Unlike humans, dogs don't absorb a bulk of Vitamin D from exposure to the sun; our dogs get Vitamin D through their diet.
Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus. Too little can result in bone issues and too much can lead to kidney failure. Instead of adding Vitamin D through a supplement and risking toxicity (this is a fat-soluble vitamin), I find it better to add this vitamin through diet by feeding fish.
Choosing the Right Fish Oil for Dogs
There are a lot of fish oil products on the market and it can be difficult to tell which brands are good for our dogs. The following are a few things that I look for when choosing a fish oil for my dogs:
- how the fish is sourced – with the concerns of over-fishing, I want to buy from companies that are more concerned.
- how the fish oil is made – too much processing, heat during processing, or additives reduce the benefits of the oil.
- natural source of Vitamin E – fatty fish brings Vitamin E to the table, which is why I prefer salmon oil to fish oil. However, not all fish oil is bad and I look for ones that add a natural source of Vitamin E.
- no weird ingredients – fish oil and salmon oil shouldn't be bright orange or red, shouldn't have artificial ingredients, wheat, soy, or preservatives.
Introducing a New Salmon Oil
I was recently introduced to Kronch USA salmon oil and salmon treats for pets.
- Kronch USA's salmon oil offers a nice balance of EPA and DHA (350:450 mg).
- Kronch USA uses a cold-press process to pull the oils from the salmon, leaving the maximum amount of the nutrients intact.
- The salmon used for their salmon oil is human grade and made from the head, spine, and tail of salmon caught for fillets.
- The salmon oil is made less 24 hours after the fish has been caught.
- And because Kronch USA isn't catching the fish for their oils and treats, they aren't contributing to overfishing. In fact, they're using human grade food that was previously wasted.
Getting Oil from Cold Fish
There are several brands that now use a cold-pressed process to derive salmon oil. Some people will tell you that the cold-press process is impossible because you can't get oil out of cold fish. Based on my research, I think there is a misunderstanding about what the cold-pressed process involves.
Millstones used in the cold-pressing process of Kronch USA salmon oil create friction that does raise the temperature of the salmon during the process. However, the millstones are moving slowly to prevent the heat from going above 140 degrees F. Keeping the temperatures low helps to minimize nutrient loss.
Shouldn't We Feed Whole Fish?
As raw feeders, we tend to prefer to feed whole foods instead of supplements. While this is a great idea because it allows us to better control the ingredients and sourcing for our dogs' raw diet, it's not always feasible. Not everyone has access to fresh, fatty fish that they feel comfortable to feed to their dogs. In this case, feeding a quality fish oil or salmon oil is key.
However, I'm not one to buy a fish oil off the shelf without looking into the ingredients. Many fish oils are made using a variety of fish and, unlike salmon oil, many fish oil brands boil the fish to get the oil, which reduces the nutritional impact of the oil.
Kronch USA Salmon Oil Review
I'm raising four raw fed dogs so I'd love to tell you about the glossy coats and healthy skin after feeding Kronch USA salmon oil, but I can't because my dogs already boast these benefits. I can share the following:
- My dogs didn't have an issue with the smell or taste of Kronch USA salmon oil.
- I barely picked up the scent of fish when I took a whiff, which made me happy because I'm always worried about oxidization that will turn the oil bad quickly.
- It was easy to add the oil to my dogs' meals and the pump picked up most of the bottle. In the end, I had one more serving for four dogs that I poured from the bottle.
- When compared to the salmon oil I give to my dogs, Kronch USA is sold as a similar price.
- Kronch USA salmon oil, 17.6 oz – $26.76 ($1.52 per oz), per Amazon.com.
- LifeLine USA wild Alaskan salmon oil, 16.5 oz – $23.70 ($1.44 per oz), per Amazon.com.
Initially, the only downside, for me, about Kronch USA, was that the bottle wasn't bigger. I received one 8.5 Fl.oz. bottle in exchange for my thoughts on the oil. But then I saw that I can also order a 34 fl.oz bottle.
Whether you feed raw, cooked, or a commercial diet, Omega 3 fatty acids are important. Not all of us can afford to feed 100% organic, free-range, grass-fed (and fished) proteins. Therefore, the animals we feed to our dogs may be higher in Omega-6 fatty acids because of their diet, which means we have to offset those fatty acids in our dogs' diet. Kronch USA salmon oil is a great option for pet parents looking for a quality Omega-3 source.
Learn more about Kronch USA and their salmon oil and treats.
This post was sponsored by Kronch USA. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
Salmon Oil in Raw Food Diet for Fats
Source: https://keepthetailwagging.com/fats-i-add-to-my-dogs-raw-diet/