January/February 2011 - Dogs Naturally Magazine

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THE SLIPPERY SUBJECT OF OILS FOR DOGS What You Need to Know About Oils for Dogs (and Yourself!) by Deb Percival Fish oil supplements are the new black – for people and their pets. My family doctor recommends them. My veterinarian recommends them. My osteopath suggests I take them by the fistful. Numerous studies indicate that omega 3s might stave off a variety of diseases in people and pets. The evidence that omega 3s improve cardiovascular health is especially strong. While some other omega-3 benefits are less universally studied and results are more anecdotal, there is evidence that they help everything from brain function to cancer suppression, and more. The most easily assimilated omega-3s – EPA and DHA – come from oily, wild-caught, cold-water fish. The bazillion dollar question: Is that a good thing? DEAD OCEANS In 2003, before fish oil had ‘arrived’, the Pew Oceans Commission warned that the world’s oceans were in a state of “silent collapse,” threatening our food supply (not to mention the lives of everything that lives in the sea). Today the world’s fishing fleets are two to three times larger than what the oceans can sustain. Scientists predict that seafood stocks will totally collapse by 2048. At that point the oceans will be basically dead, consisting of algae and jelly fish. The thought is unbearable, but even if you don’t care about the oceans, know this - at least 70 percent of our oxygen is generated by ocean life. It’s estimate that our behavior over the next nine or so years will determine the fate of the oceans. At this chillingly pivotal time, people are rethinking their consumption of fish – in all forms. This article explores two fish-oil alternatives – coconut oil and organic butter from grassfed cows. COCONUT OIL The health benefits of adding coconut oil to your dog’s diet are many. Plus, coconut farms have been identified as a way to mitigate climate change. While fish oil is a long-chain fatty acid, coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride; also called a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). It got a bad rap for a while because it’s high in saturated fats, so there was a misconception that it was unhealthy for the heart. Today, it’s considered to be a heart-healthy oil. It is important to use organic, expeller-pressed, virgin coconut oil. COCONUT OIL BENEFITS FOR PEO- PLE AND DOGS Coconut oil is an omega 9 fatty acid. The lauric acid in coconut oil helps prevent heart problems like high cholesterol, reduces high blood pressure, and prevents atherosclerosis. In addition, coconut oil boosts the immune system, promotes normal thyroid function, improves nutrient absorption, aids in weight loss, relieves arthritis, provides relief from kidney problems, and helps reduce allergy symptoms. It helps with diabetes by improving the secretion and production of insulin, and helps the body use blood glucose more efficiently. It aids in stress relief, improves skin and coat, and helps control body and breathe odor. It is used in the Indian healing system known as Ayurveda. Coconut oil also can be used topically. Because of its antibacterial powers it is used to disinfect and heal wounds. It’s been reported to clear up warts, precancerous lesions, ringworm, bites and stings. I read a report of a dog owner whose dog had a bump on his nose for several weeks. The vet wasn’t concerned about it, so it went untreated until the owner read about coconut oil, put a dab on the bump once a day, and in three days it was gone. I’ve also heard that it’s great for helping dry up hot spots. My dogs are crazy about it, and start levitating as soon as I get the container out. (I put in their food two days a week.) It smells great, and if I get it on my hands I rub it in. I’ve read it’s good for dry, cracked paws, but when I tried that trick it was hard to get it past their tongues. It might be a two-person endeavor – possibly worthy of a YouTube video. DOSING Begin slowly. Add it to their food (or feed it to them off the spoon) and gradually work up to about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day. Coconut oil is a detoxifying agent, killing viruses and harmful bacteria. If your dog seems tired or uncomfortable, or has diarrhea when you start using it, reduce the amount until the symptoms stop, and then increase it gradually. ORGANIC PASTURE BUTTER Here’s another interesting source of omega 3 – raw, organic pasture butter from grass-fed cows – a supplement recommended by Dr. Michael Fox, a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior, and author of many books on animal care. This butter reportedly contains 110 mg of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), 120 mg of omega-3, and 219 mg of omega 6 essential fatty acids per 14 gram serving. The greater 12 January-February 2011 | Dogs Naturally Magazine
the percentage of a cow’s diet that comes from grass, the greater the amount of unsaturated fatty acids, the lower the amount of saturated fatty acids, and the more optimal the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Butter made from the milk of pastured cows has also has higher levels of true Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Vitamin K2. Organic pasture butter from grass-fed cows has appreciable amounts of short-and medium-chain fatty acids, which support immune function, boost metabolism and have anti-microbial properties. Choosing organic minimizes the risk of exposure to antibiotics or synthetic hormones and pesticides. Butter is rich in important trace minerals, including manganese, chromium, zinc, copper and selenium (a powerful antioxidant) and also is an excellent source of iodine. Iodine and Vitamin A are essential for proper thyroid gland function. The glycosphingolipids in butterfat aid in digestion. CLA has strong anti-cancer properties, and helps build muscle rather than store fat. CLA disappears when cows are fed even small amounts of grain and processed food. The Wulzen factor, or “anti stiffness” factor, is a compound that’s present in raw animal fat. Researcher Rosalind Wulzen discovered that this substance protects humans and animals from degenerative arthritis, hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and calcification of the pineal gland. Pasteurization destroys the Wulzen factor – it is only present in raw butter, cream and whole milk. FISH OIL If you are going to buy fish oil, give it to your dogs. It’s a waste for those of us who eat meat or fried foods, drink coffee or alcohol, or have stress in our lives. We can convert ALAs to DHAs and EPAs – inefficiently – but we can convert. A dog’s ability to convert plantbased omega-3s is very limited. I would suggest that you rotate your oils and not use fish oil on a daily basis, especially not in a prophylactic fashion. It’s likely to come to a decision of whether you love your dogs or your grand dogs more. Small-fish populations are collapsing: Most fish oil is made from small “prey” fish. The reason prey fish and sometimes squid are targeted is they’re low on the food chain and have short life spans, so the accumulation of pollutants is less than it would be in larger, longer-lived fish. There are grim problems with using prey fish. For one thing, there aren’t enough of them for us and for their natural predators, which rely on them for food. Their populations are crashing. Current consumption is wiping out prey fish, which also leads to starvation and extinction for tuna, salmon, dolphins, seals, penguins, birds, and whales. Many of these species are already under serious stress from over fishing and other sustainability issues. Without adequate food they can’t recover. Our collective appetite for fish also complicates things. The oceans can’t provide the fish we want without the help of aquaculture, or farmed fish. Farmed fish are fed prey fish. Lots of prey fish. It takes approximately 20 pounds of small fish to create 1 pound of fish for your dinner. That industry is frantically looking for alternative food sources. A recent report from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) concluded that 80% of all marine fish stocks are currently fully exploited, overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion; including stocks of the seven most important prey fisheries. The reading I’ve done on “sustainable fish” leads me to believe that there is no longer any such thing. If we don’t stop eating fish now, there will be no more fish, perhaps in our lifetimes. Toxins: All fish are contaminated with toxins. True, the lower on the food chain the fewer toxins, but they are still there, and they can still build up in your dog’s body, or yours. In addition, fish oil is processed – it’s not a whole food. Parts of the fish (guts, heads, fins, skin, or, in some cases the whole fish) are processed using high temperatures and harsh solvents, such as hexane and ethanol. Rancidity: The oil becomes rancid if exposed to light, heat, or air. Rancid oil is pro-inflammatory – just the opposite of what you want. Quality varies: consumerlab.com recently selected 24 products for review; 17 passed quality tests (they met requirements for freshness and purity, and contained the claimed amount of omega-3 fatty acids), and roughly 30% failed the tests. The amounts and ratios of EPA and DHA vary significantly from product to product. Only about a third of the oil from fish is EPA and DHA. Some companies offer a concentrated product. Some companies use semisynthetic (ester) forms of EPA and DHA, which may or may not be as active as the natural triacylglycerol forms. Hard to absorb: Omega 3s and 6s must exist in certain proportions. A diet high in omega 6s (from processed food, fried food, caffeine, alcohol, etc.) blocks absorption of omega-3s. Stress is also a complicating factor. What a waste! So if you’re deciding whether you should take it or give it to your dog, perhaps your dog is the better choice! CONTRAINDICATIONS Fish oil does have a mild blood-thinning effect, so if your dog is on any blood-thinning drugs, be sure to consult your veterinarian before administering any supplements. Too much suppresses the immune system. In people, three grams is generally considered too much. ROTATE OILS I’ve decided to rotate oils for my family and my dogs. That rotation will include coconut oil, small amounts of organic butter from grass-fed cows, extra virgin olive oil, and a ground flax and cottage cheese mixture (my dogs are great with flax, but be aware that it can sometimes be an allergen). I may mix in a wild salmon oil on occasion. I’m hoping this will be a good solution for us all, for fish, and for future generations. DNM Deb Percival was fortunate to spend her childhood camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, vacationing at national parks with her family and their dog, and writing about her experiences. As an adult she coauthored two books (Strengthening America’s Competitiveness, and Street Smart Franchising), and owned and managed a large public relations firm. The latter eventually kept her from actually writing anything, so she sold it to return to her roots. Today she writes about animals, sustainability, eco-travel, and wellness for a number of magazines and websites. She and her husband share their house with two angels – one disguised as the magical rescue lab, and the other disguised as the wonderful snuggly lab. Dogs Naturally Magazine | January-February 2011 13
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January/February 2011 - Dogs Naturally Magazine

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