Essential Fatty Acid Supplements

Dear Dr. Jody: Our Australian shepherd, “Holly”, suffers from excessively dry, flaky skin in the winter. Occasionally she seems itchier during this time of year as well. Are there any supplements that we can give her to help her skin be more comfortable in the winter? 

This is a common question presented by pet owners to veterinarians, especially in the dry Alberta climate. There are many supplements on the market that claim to promote shiny coats and healthy skin, but there are so many types of products available that it can be difficult to know which one to choose for your pet. Bear with me for a very brief organic chemistry lesson. 

Fatty acids are molecules that are made up of carbon backbones, with hydrogen atoms attached by either single or double bonds. In fatty acids with only single bonds, the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms is attached to the carbon backbone. These are called saturated fatty acids. In fatty acids with at least one double bond, there are fewer hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon backbone. These are called unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are those molecules with multiple double bonds. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are those fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and are necessary for health. They are further categorized based on the actual location on the molecule of the first double bond. If the first double bond appears at the third carbon, it is an Omega 3 EFA. The first double bond can also appear at the sixth and ninth carbon on the molecule, giving us Omega 6 and Omega 9 EFAs. 

Omega EFAs have several functions in the body. As a general rule, Omega 3 EFAs are anti-inflammatory, and Omega 6 EFAs are pro-inflammatory, because they lead to the synthesis of arachidonic acid, a compound that promotes inflammation in the body. In order to achieve optimum health, the correct ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 EFAs is between 5:1 and 10:1. The natural diet contains almost exclusively Omega 6 EFAs. Thus, in order to increase the ratio of Omega 3 EFAs, we need to restrict the fat content of the diet (which contains a large amount of Omega 6 EFAs) and supplement ONLY the Omega 3 EFAs. 

In the proper ratio, EFAs can decrease inflammation in various parts of the body, including allergy-related skin disease and perhaps even dry skin. There are veterinary formulated diets available that provide the Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs in the proper ratio to ensure maximum benefit. Alternatively, there are several fish oil supplements available that have high levels of Omega 3 EFAs. Many of these supplements, however, also contain high levels of Omega 6 EFAs, which counteract the anti-inflammatory effects of the Omega 3 EFAs. When choosing an EFA supplement for your pet, please avoid cod liver oil. This product has very high levels of vitamins A and D, which can be very toxic over time. 

Please contact your veterinarian for more information on how Omega 3 essential fatty acids can benefit your pet.