Your pets’ skin and coat condition are early indicators of their overall health and wellbeing. Is their skin moist, itch free and clear of rashes? Is their fur thick, full, and shiny or dull and flaky with excessive shedding? Why is this important? Because if their skin and coat are not showing good condition, it gives a meaningful clue about your pet’s health. Skin and coat condition can be the first sign that something is wrong with your pet. Assuming that the coat is groomed regularly, what else can be done to care for skin and coat properly? One of the most effective things to do is to supplement with a good omega 3 oil.

When it comes to your pet’s nutrition, certain EFA’s (essential fatty acids - omega 3 and omega 6) have been determined to be ‘essential’ for proper health. The National Research Council advises that these, along with other vitamins and minerals must be provided in the diet to maintain proper health and body function. Which fatty acids are essential? For dogs, puppies and kittens the three omega 3’s that are essential are: ALA (camelina oil), EPA and DHA (fish or marine oils) and the omega 6 LA (camelina oil). For horses, the only omega 3 that is essential is ALA (camelina oil) and the omega 6 LA (camelina oil).

Is there enough omega 3 in my dog or horses feed? Omega 3 can be found in some horse and pet food, but the levels are most likely too low based on inclusion rates or degradation over time. So, what if there is not enough? If there is a deficiency of EFA’s, the symptoms can include – dandruff/excessive scale, skin redness or rash, hair loss (alopecia) or poor hair growth and greasy skin. There can be secondary bacterial infections (hot spots) and very itchy skin.

Omega 3 is shown to maintain moisture on the skin, reduce risk of allergic conditions, reduce dandruff and dry itchy skin from developing, improve fur quality and reduce shedding. In addition to these skin and coat benefits, omega 3 is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which helps boost immunity, supports joint health and mobility, and aids cognitive development in the young, and maintains cognitive health in the ageing. Reduced anxiety, depression and mood stability are additional benefits that may be realized with regular supplementation.

Omega 3 oil is a foundation for proper health and nutrition, so if you haven’t provided it yet, it’s not too late to start. Improve your pet’s health and start adding camelina oil to their bowls today.