Benefits of Using Krill Oil As An Omega 3 Supplement for Dogs
All sources of omega-3s fatty acids for dogs are not made equally. Krill are technically fish, which might lead you to believe that Fish Oil and Krill Oil for dogs are similar and offer the same benefits, but that’s not exactly the case.
Both fish oil and krill oil for dogs contain long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These are essential omega 3 fatty acids that are beneficial to every cell membrane, supporting cell survival, renewal and growth. DHA and EPA directly benefit your dog’s kidneys, heart, brain, eyes, skin, coat, and joints. Numerous studies have shown omega-3 supplements can decrease arthritis severity on a day-to-day and progressive basis. Fish oil undoubtedly provides a healthy source of omega-3s, but there are advantages to sourcing omega-3s from krill oil.
Everything I’ve learned from leading industry experts and scientific studies points me in the direction of krill oil. First and foremost, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are in triglyceride form, while omega-3s found in krill oil are in phospholipid form. I'll dive into what that actually means for your dog further below, but at it's core it means that krill oil is easier to digest, and is less likely to be tainted by toxins.
KRILL OIL FOR DOGS VS. FISH OIL FOR DOGS: REASONS KRILL OIL IS BETTER FOR YOUR DOG
Both krill oil and fish oil provide a healthy source of omega 3 fatty acids, but krill oil for dogs provides far more benefits, including:
#1. KRILL OIL PROVIDES A BETTER VARIETY OF NUTRIENTS FOR DOGS.
First and foremost, krill oil contains essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, which your dog’s body cannot produce on its own. Sure, fish oil provides EPA and DHA too, but a primary benefit of krill oil for dogs is that it contains higher levels of EPA than fish oil. Plus, it’s packed with phospholipids, astaxanthin, and carotenoid, which are not found in traditional fish oil. The antioxidant astaxanthin gives krill its reddish coloring, it is a natural free radical that provides additional benefits to your dog, and helps protect freshness.
Both fish oil and krill oil contain omega-3s, but the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil are in triglyceride form, while omega-3s found in krill oil are in phospholipid form. Omega-3s bound to phospholipids provide better support for joint health. Furthermore, phospholipid omega-3s can decrease signaling molecules that cause your dog to overeat. Providing your dog with omega-3s sourced from krill can reduce their appetite and help maintain a healthier weight, which naturally takes pressure off joints and reduces the severity and progression of arthritis. Additionally, brain tissues can more readily absorb oils bound to phospholipids, hence why krill oil has been linked to cognitive improvements.
#2. KRILL OIL IS EASIER FOR YOUR DOG TO DIGEST.
Earlier I mentioned that normal fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids in triglyceride form, while the omega 3 fatty acids in krill oil for dogs are in phospholipid form. These phospholipids are essentially omega-3's that are more tightly packed than triglycerides, allowing them to pass through the intestine wall's cell membrane more easily. That means that the absorption rate in krill oil is significantly higher than fish oil.
Oftentimes the nutrients found in fish oil aren't able to get completely absorbed before passing through your dog's system. The benefit of krill oil for dogs is that since the absorption rate is so much higher, your dog sees all the benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids that your dog ingests.
#3. KRILL OIL COMBATS ALLERGIES & IMPROVES SKIN & COAT
One of the most known benefits of krill oil for dogs is how healthy it makes their skin & coat. Krill oil helps reduce skin issues like hot spots from allergies & dandruff in their coat. It also helps relieve dogs from itchiness that commonly results from poor quality protein sources & ingredients in dog food.
Because Alpha Dog Nutrition's Vitality is pure antarctic Krill Oil without additives & fillers like many fish oil & salmon oil chews & treats, it also has zero additional ingredients that can cause allergies in dogs. These allergies are often the actual cause of skin & coat issues, so it was critical to us that we were able to deliver all the benefits of krill oil supplements in their diet without potentially causing additional skin & coat issues.
#4. KRILL OIL CONTAINS FEWER TOXINS.
We source our krill oil from Alaska’s pristine waters, but that’s not the only reason krill oil contains fewer toxins than fish oil. Krill have a significantly shorter lifespan than the fish used in fish oils and they are not as high on the food chain. As a result, their exposure to contaminants like mercury, pesticides and PCBs are greatly reduced.
I probably don't have to explain why that is important to making sure our dogs stay healthy. Our goal here at Alpha Dog Nutrition is to make sure we strip away harmful byproducts in our supplements, which is definitely the case with our Vitality krill oil for dogs!
#5. KRILL OIL FOR DOGS CONTAINS ANTIOXIDANTS
The nutrients in krill oil are natural antioxidants to help guard against the oxidation of Omega-3 fatty acids and damage from free radicals. That sounds great, but what exactly are free radicals & why do we want to prevent them in dogs?
Essentially, free radicals are a result of oxygen in your dog's body splitting into atoms with unbalanced electrons. Atoms don't like when electrons are unbalanced, so they start to scavenge your dog's body to find other electrons to balance themselves out. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA.
Again more fancy, hard to understand technical free radical terminology, right?
Free radicals are associated with various diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and many others. These free radicals also may have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free radical damage, according to Christopher Wanjek, the Bad Medicine columnist for Live Science.
So to sum it up, the omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil supplements for dogs contain the antioxidants that fight against free radicals. Scientists have found numerous benefits from fighting these free radicals, ultimately giving your dog an extra tool in the toolbox to help prevent cancer, slow down the aging process, etc.
#6. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS SUPPORT A HEALTHY CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
The omega-3 fatty acids & antioxidants that are contained in krill oil supplements serve to promote a healthy cardiovascular system in dogs. A healthy heart & cardiovascular system helps promote good blood flow, ensuring that oxygen & nutrients are getting everywhere efficiently.
While it hasn't been proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, there is plenty of evidence that it can help lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure, which is essential to keeping your dog's heart healthy!
#7. IT LUBRICATES JOINTS & ENHANCES OTHER JOINT SUPPLEMENTS
While we wouldn't necessarily consider krill oil a joint supplement all on its own, we did mention earlier that it helps promote a healthy cardiovascular system. That, in turn, ensures that all the nutrients that your dog ingests are getting to the right locations.
Because of this, many experts & veterinarians recommend combining the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil with joint supplements. The combination of antioxidants to prevent free radicals, a healthy cardiovascular system, and the benefits of a great joint supplement for dogs are all going to help in making sure your dog has healthy joints for years to come.
#8. KRILL OIL IS MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN FISH OIL.
There are far more krill in the ocean than people on the Planet. Their large numbers make them more sustainable to farm than fish. From 1990 to 2009, it is estimated that 1/10 of all krill were harvested. That probably seems like a lot of krill, right? Well, think again!
The Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources helps maintain sustainability by reinforcing a precautionary limit of 6.6 million tons (13.2 billion lbs of krill) of harvested krill. Under these guidelines, if krill fishing increases by 50 times, as predicted, there will still be plenty of krill in the ocean to avoid disruption of fragile eco-systems.
Additional Benefits of Vitality Krill Oil Supplements for Dogs
Vitality krill oil supplements support joint health and can reduce the severity and progression of arthritis, but that’s not all! Here are some additional benefits to feeding your beloved dog Vitality krill oil supplements:
- Improved cognitive health
- Since heart muscles rely on omega-3’s for peak performance, krill oil supports your dog’s cardiovascular health
- Improves eyesight through proper development of the visual cortex and retina
- Can slow the development of yeast infections in dogs and cats
- Helps regulate blood-clots
- Can help slow the development of certain cancers
- Can reduce allergies and associated symptoms
- Promotes a healthier, shinier coat
Where is Krill Oil Sourced From?
Krill oil is made from tiny ocean crustaceans called Krill that belong to the order Euphausiacea. Krill are itty-bitty, on average measuring between 1-centimeter and 2 ½-inches. The largest varieties are no bigger than a paperclip. Krill are found floating in huge swarms in oceans all around the world, sometimes swarms are so large that waters appear pinkish-red.
Where is Fish Oil Sourced From?
Fish oil is far less specific than krill oil, and can be made from a variety of cold-water oily fish, such as Salmon, Cod, or Pollock. Since fish oils come from a variety of sources, total fat content varies. Some fish oils contain over 80% fat content.
Vitality is vital to Maintaining Alpha Status!
By feeding your dog nothing less than the best, you give your dog what his body needs to thrive for many more years to come. And that’s a good thing, because you still have a lot of adventures left to enjoy together! I know Trigger and I still have a lot of living left to do, and that’s why I feed him Vitality supplements every day.
Alpha Dog’s Vitality Nutritional Supplement is packed with high quality human-grade krill oil sourced from pure Alaskan waters. Through the power of omega-3 fatty acids, our krill oil promotes joint lubrication, heart health, a shinier coat, and healthier skin.
Try Vitality today and witness the benefits firstpaw!
Vol. 11: Arthritis in Dogs: Everything You Need To Know In 9 Commonly Asked Questions |
How To Care For Your Dog’s Bone Health |
SOURCES:
http://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/3411-nutrition-update-functional-fatty-acids?v=preview
http://www.krillfacts.org/1-krill-facts-center.html
https://breakingmuscle.com/fuel/krill-oil-vs-fish-oil-whats-the-difference
https://www.onnit.com/academy/krill-oil-vs-fish-oil/
