The terms Omega 3 and 6 can be seen everywhere nowadays, including on a lot of pet food packaging. But what are they? What functions do they have in your dog’s metabolism? And how important are they for your pet’s health?

What are they?

Omega 3 and 6 are known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which form the building blocks of fat in our bodies as well as in the food we eat. They are essential fatty acids, which means that they cannot be produced in your pets’ body, and therefore have to be acquired from the food they eat. However, just because they are essential, does not mean that more is better. The reality is quite the opposite and too much can have detrimental effects.

Omega 3 is a family of fatty acids which includes fatty acids of animal origin like EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and also of plant origin like ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid). Examples of sources of Omega 3 would include green-lipped mussels, sardines, anchovies, salmon oils, ostrich oil, flaxseeds oil, chia seeds, and canola oil. Similarly, Omega 6 is also a family of fatty acids which includes LA (Linolenic Acid) and AA (Arachidonic Acid). Examples of sources of Omega 6 would include soybean oil, maize oil, sunflower oil, as well as fat derived from chickens, cattle, and pigs.

Essentially, Omega 6s are very common in the modern western diets and are often consumed, whereas Omega 3s levels in food have tended to decrease over the last few decades.

Both Omega 3s and 6s play important roles in growth and development in the body. They are also crucial for skin and bone health. And are both involved in the immune system and inflammation, but this is where we see a major difference between them as Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory while Omega 6 is pro-inflammatory.

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is a process triggered by the body’s own immune system to protect your dog against disease, infection, and injury. For example, if your dog has an injury due to trauma, an inflammatory reaction is triggered to repair the damaged area. Inflammation is simply a way for your dog’s body to manage and accelerate self-healing. And as such, it is a perfectly natural and an indispensable process.

There are two types of inflammatory reactions. An acute one, which is short-lived. And a chronic one, which can last long after the initial cause of inflammation has disappeared.
In rare cases, the body’s inflammatory system can overreact and start damaging itself known as an autoimmune disease. Stress can also play a role in chronic inflammation. From this we can see that there is a very important balance between normal inflammation and repair vs too much inflammation that can cause tissue damage.

Omega 3s are anti-inflammatory while Omega 6s are pro-inflammatory

Omega 3 helps the body repair itself and has anti-inflammatory properties. The lower the ratio between Omega 6 and Omega 3, the better. On the other hand, omega 6 promotes inflammation and is therefore pro-inflammatory. Which is why it is so important to have the right ratio to keep this balance healthy and functioning. Too much omega 6 in a diet can inhibit the function of omega 3.

Unfortunately, human and pet nutrition together with modern agriculture and a western type diet has evolved towards excess levels of Omega 6 and very low levels of Omega 3. A ratio of 20:1 (20 Omega 6: 1 Omega 3) is often seen in many diets compared to the more ideal ratio which should be closer to 1:1.

At this stage of the discussion, it is interesting to ask ourselves, how did such high levels of Omega 6 creep in our pets’ diets. The answer is very simple and has to do with the source of fat included in your pets diet.

How do we fix this?

Stop considering high levels of Omega 6 fatty acids ‘a must’ in pet foods, just because the marketing teams of many pet food companies decided that it was a good idea. Even if fat is present in a diet at a reasonable level, there will never be a shortage of Omega 6, but more than likely an excess.

Realize that all fat sources are not equal and those that are excessively high in Omega 6 should not be part of your pets diet.

If the food you feed to your dog shows a high Omega 6:3 ratio, you cannot just add supplements to fix this. Which is why it is essential to know what is in your pet’s food!

All Amigo products contain high levels of healthy Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids for shiny coats and healthy skins in addition to a healthy balance of high quality protein to help develop and maintain your dog’s muscles and activity level. The products are made with natural ingredients that are free of wheat gluten to improve your dog’s well-being. Due to a short local supply chain Amigo guarantees full traceability of all products, ensuring a safe and transparent journey all the way from their kitchen to your dog’s bowl.

Romain Trousser is the owner Amigo Pet Food, and an animal nutritionist. Romain holds a MSc. In Animal Science, having combined studies at École Supérieure de Purpan in France and McGill University in Canada