Fats play such an important role in the diet of a dog. Too little fat, and the dog’s health suffers – too much fat, and the dog becomes obese, resulting in a different set of problems. Knowing the facts about fats is thus quite useful.
All fats are derived from two sources. Dietary animal fats are usually solid at room temperature e.g. the fat in and around meat and chicken, lard (pork belly fat) and tallow (rendered beef fat, usually) and fish oils derived from the livers of certain fish e.g. salmon and cod. Dietary plant fats, which we call oils because they are liquid at room temperature e.g. sunflower, safflower, olive, flaxseed, coconut, palm, palm seed/kernel, peanut, soyabean, canola.
Solid fats and liquid oils are both fats. They all contain essential fatty acids –linolenic, linoleic, arachidonic, Omega 3’s & 6’s in varying quantities, good and bad cholesterols, and the fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E, F, and K, each of which has specific health benefits.
Dietary fat plays a very important part in a dog’s health. Fat is required for energy – it provides 2½ times more energy than the equivalent amount of carbohydrate (starch). Fat is essential for brain health and for a properly functioning nervous system, which in turn manifests in a less stressed dog. Fat is essential for metabolic regulation and the integrity of cells throughout the body. It is essential for the production of hormones. It is a temperature regulator, especially in winter. The fat-soluble vitamins play a vital part in the development and health of the eyes, and promote a healthy skin and a shiny coat. Omega 3 in fats decreases inflammation. Lastly, fats make food palatable and more digestible.
Despite all these wonderful attributes this is NOT a good reason to feed a lot of fat to your dogs, as they need very little fat per day for good health. Excessive intake of fat is definitely detrimental, causing obesity and related diseases. Dogs under 10kg need only ¼ tsp fat/oil per day, those between 10-25kg need only ½ tsp fat/oil per day, and those over 25kg need only 1 tsp fat/oil per day.
The best fats for dogs are the saturated fats found in and on the outside of meats and chicken and a reasonable portion of these foods will supply a dog’s daily needs. Do you feed your dog real meat or chicken? Good for you if you do. Unsaturated fish oils e.g. cod liver oil, salmon oil or fish meal, if given regularly, may lead to a deficiency of Vitamin E. Dogs should never be given more than 2 drops of fish oil (cod liver oil) a day (average-size dogs).
Polyunsaturated fats obtained from plant sources are not as easily converted into energy by a dog. When choosing any plant oils it is best to buy cold-pressed organic oil. These are much more expensive – but you can be sure that the oils contain no pesticides or chemical residues, (which are carcinogenic), nor have been processed with heat, which alters the composition of the oil cells.
By far the best plant oil for a dog is cold pressed Flax seed oil. It supplies the most Omega 3; it boosts the immune system, promotes very healthy skin, facilitates the absorption of all vitamins and is good for the colon – prohibiting constipation. Canola oil is the second richest in Omega 3 and 6. Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin E and Omega 6 but contains no Omega 3. Safflower oil is rich in Omega 6. All the other plant oils are best left on the shop shelf. Palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil are to be avoided as they are high in saturated fats. Olive oil is the only plant oil that is made from the flesh of the fruit rather than the seed, and contains very little Omega 3 and 6. Cottonseed oil is the most widely used oil in most processed foods (including some dog foods) because it is cheap. It is the worst dietary oil, sourced from plants that have been heavily sprayed with agricultural chemicals, and it is highly processed.
The affordable plant oils and their ugly sisters, hard and soft margarine, are found in large quantities on the shelves of your nearest supermarket. They are highly processed products. They have been subjected to high temperatures, toxic chemicals and solvents in their journey from seed to final product. The result is a lifeless substance far removed from its natural state, devoid of any benefit to good health. These cheap oils should not be given to your dogs at all.
A deficiency of good fats, or an over-supply of poor quality fats in a dog’s diet results in malnutrition and manifests in a dull, dry coat, red, scaly and inflamed skin, and an increase of skin infections, impaired reproduction, and stressful animals, while a shortage of good fat in a puppy’s diet will result in poor overall development. Your dog depends on you to provide it with good food.