DOGS AND CATS ARE MEAT EATERS, SO IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT FATS FROM ANIMALS — NOT PLANTS — ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR PEAK HEALTH
As carnivores, dogs and cats are biologically adapted to digest and metabolize animal fats. Animal fats are essential for dogs and cats, providing a concentrated source of energy and a biologically important function in providing insulation, vitamins, essential fatty acids and mechanical structure to every cell.
Unlike humans, dogs and cats don’t suffer from cholesterol problems or heart disease caused by higher levels of animal fats. Dogs and cats are extremely efficient at digesting animal fat which contributes to their healthy skin and hair coat, healthy immune function, regulation of the inflammation process, and prenatal development.
While humans require some carbohydrates for energy and endurance, carnivores need fats for creating glucose and developing stamina. While both fats and carbohydrates provide energy, they function very differently in the body of a dog or cat. Animal fats digest at rates of about 95% and are an essential part of the natural diet, while carbohydrates are not.
Just as with protein, fats are also not created equally and differ greatly in their component structure and quality.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Fat contains essential fatty acids (EFAs) — these are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the body, must be present in the diet, and are vital for health.
Two fatty acids in particular are important for dogs and cats: omega-6 or linoleic acid (found in animal sources such as chicken, pork and beef), and omega-3 or linolenic acid most commonly found in fish and flax seed.
While more and more people are learning the importance of omega-3 in their diet, few understand the distinctions between omega-3 types and its sources. There are the two primary categories of omega-3 fatty acids from different source, animal or plant:
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) found in animal organs such as brain and liver, and cold water fish.
- ALA (Alpha linolenic acid) found in plants such as flax.
The difference between Omega-3 from animal source (DHA and EPA) and plant source (ALA) is important. EPA and DHA omega-3s are considered to be in ‘active form’, which means they are readily absorbed by the body.
Extracted from plants such as flax or canola, ALA is an ‘inactive’ form of omega-3 that is not utilized by dogs and cats. For ALA to be utilized in the body of a dog or cat, it must first be converted into EPA and DHA, a process for which carnivores like dogs or cats do not have the required enzymes.
Although reputable sources like the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition report that Omega 3 from plants (ALA) is of little nutritional use to dogs and cats, conventional pet food makers continue to use sunflower, flax, coconut or canola oils, largely due to their lower cost and longer shelf life.