Too much Omega-6, not enough Omega-3? The result? An imbalance that could be quietly affecting your pet’s well-being. Let’s break down why that ratio matters — and what you can do about it.
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.
- A chronic one, which can last long after the initial cause of inflammation has disappeared.
What does Omega 3s and 6s have to do with inflammation?
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.
- 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. The reason for the high levels of Omega 6 has to do with the source of fat in your pet’s food, typically chickens, cattle, and pigs – all sources of Omega 6.
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.
- Understand 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.
Product tip: Try Amigo Pet Food from Pet Heaven.
