Omega 3 rich foods???

[frawri]

HI group, I am looking for a supplement for my Chihuahuas. They have dry skin, and I want to see if it will help them with their coats too. I have been told to use Omega 3 for that problem. But what is out there that would be good to use. I use California Natural for their dog food. I want something that is high grade. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[bckrazy]

Fish oil (not cod liver oil) is good for the coat. ;) Safflower oil is also high in Omega 3's.

[dragondawg]

Doesn't matter if it's fish oil, cod oil, or salmon oil - look on the label and you will see the concentrations of the two Omega-3s are equivalent. You can also find fish oil that has been concentrated 2X at a higher price of course.

Flax and Safflower oil have a low bio-equivalent amount of Omega-3s as compared to Fish oil. The host organism in this case the dog has to convert the Alpha-LNAs into long chain Omega-3s and that conversion is at best 15% of the total precusor amount. Also they contain the precursors of Omega-6 fatty acids which would cancel out some of the benefits of the Omega-3s. Stick with the fish oil.

If your dogs seem to have a lot of dry flakey skin, it might beneficial to have a thyroid panel run. Low thyroid is sometimes a problem in older small dogs. If no thyroid problem then ask your Vet for the appropriate dose of Vitamin-E to give, dry succinate salt form for better absorption.

[zoey]

You can mix in flax seeds or ground flax seeds into their food.

[managemysite]

flax seed is good and will make them regular

[frawri]

Doesn't matter if it's fish oil, cod oil, or salmon oil - look on the label and you will see the concentrations of the two Omega-3s are equivalent. You can also find fish oil that has been concentrated 2X at a higher price of course.

Where can I get this fish oil? Is it in just any food market?

If your dogs seem to have a lot of dry flakey skin, it might beneficial to have a thyroid panel run. Low thyroid is sometimes a problem in older small dogs. If no thyroid problem then ask your Vet for the appropriate dose of Vitamin-E to give, dry succinate salt form for better absorption.

Pip is only 3, and he has always had dry skin. I have had him checked out, and they just said to use a good shampoo. I don't give him a bath that much, could that be it? As for the Dry Succinated salt, just what is that? And it use is for getting rid of the dry skin? I take Vita E, can I use the vitamins I get? Now what is best for him, the succinate salt, or the fish oil? I also have had problems with them going poo. Will the fish oil help with that? They are always eating something they shouldn't. And I am always on the poo watch. LOL

[frawri]

OH by the way they are Chihuahuas. And if you didn't know, Chi's are known for eating anything they can fit in their mouths. I have pretty much bomb proofed the house. But they always seem to find something I didn't think of. Like just this morning I found Belle had eaten some of their pee pads. Don't ask me why, she just likes it I guess. I swear I should buy stock in pumpkin mash. I have to give it to them enough. LOL

[dragondawg]

Pip is only 3, and he has always had dry skin. I have had him checked out, and they just said to use a good shampoo. I don't give him a bath that much, could that be it? As for the Dry Succinated salt, just what is that? And it use is for getting rid of the dry skin? I take Vita E, can I use the vitamins I get? Now what is best for him, the succinate salt, or the fish oil? I also have had problems with them going poo. Will the fish oil help with that? They are always eating something they shouldn't. And I am always on the poo watch. LOL

Think of the fish oil as greasing up the tract. To the best of my knowledge the only side affect of fish oil is loose stools if you overdose or give too much. If it happens just cut back. Also as time goes on the dog/human will adjust to the dosage. So in answer to your question it's likely to help relieve constipation, and possibly later have less effect.

The traditional Vitamin-E in oil is oil or fat soluble. Which means if you want maximum absorption it's best taken with additional fat added to the diet. The dry form or succinate salt form of Vitamin-E is water soluble, and easily absorbed.

Make sure you don't over shampoo and/or the shampoo itself does not have drying effects. Tell ya the truth I've never had puppies with dry skin. Maybe when Barney had puppy mange that might qualify. But in general unless they roll in deer beanies the only washing they get is their weekly dip in the pond for a swim, followed by a brushing after they dry to remove any loose hair. Must be the algae that adds to their coat luster. :D

[MajesticCollies]

Flaxseed oil is excellent for thier skin and coat, It is also good for thier immune system in ways of preventing kidney problems, cancer, ect. Also another one is Norweigien Kelp Seaweed. I use this one especially for my collies skin and coat.

[sabies]

Salmon oil was recommended to me as the best type of fish oil for dogs. Sadie takes it for kidney disease and heart murmur (3 pills a day) and her coat is in great shape for a 14 yr old :). She does occasionally get diarrhea :( but that is not the norm.