January 27, 2014

Good Fats vs. Bad Fats: What's the story?

Veterinarian Deborah Shores
Everyone seems to be concerned about the rising levels of obesity-related diseases in humans, but what about our four-legged friends?  Statistics show that 20-40% of dogs are overweight or obese, a number that is quickly approaching that of human obesity levels in North America. Obesity plagues pets with health problems similar to what is seen in people, from arthritis to type-2 diabetes and skin disease. While there are many factors that need correction, I’m going to focus on fats and their role in this growing problem.

In the wild, dogs and relatives of dogs such as wolves, coyotes and foxes, are both carnivorous and omnivorous opportunists. Dogs in particular will scavenge for nutrition more so than actively hunting. So, it would make sense that dogs can readily digest many forms of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.  The question is: what are the right ratios of these nutrients and are they out of balance?

In the last 10 years, science has given us a lot of information about how dietary fat intake can harm or benefit our health. Western (human) diets are plagued with high levels of saturated fats and high-glycemic index carbohydrates such as sugar. Our pet’s diets are similarly formulated, and often contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acids) from soybean or corn oil.  I’ve even seen high-fructose corn syrup on a dog food label!  The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in our (human) diet is also the highest in the world, at around 16:1, which is linked to cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.

It is easy for us to be worried about saturated fats and omega-6s, labeling them as “bad fats,” since they cause such problems in human health. In the veterinary world, saturated fats don’t cause as many health problems as they do in humans. Also, veterinary nutritionists don’t think that the ratio of fatty acids in the diet is as important to our canine friends as the absolute amounts. However, there is a growing problem with pet foods having too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids.

One of the main reasons that our pets are often deficient is that manufacturing and shipping may alter the balance of fats by the time it reaches your pet’s mouth. In some cases, pets eat exactly what their owners eat and let’s face it- most Americans have less than ideal diets!  These deficiencies in your pet can lead to unwanted weight gain, skin problems and other health issues.

How can ‘shifting the balance’ help?

One of the most astonishing research findings lately is how omega-7s help regulate fat metabolism. A recent study showed that its addition into the diet prevented rats from storing excess calories as fat. Specifically, omega-7s may have an important “signaling” function that helps the body control weight and fat reserves at the cellular level. This can translate to easier treatment and prevention of obesity.

What can you do?

Even if you decide to completely overhaul your pet’s eating habits, it is necessary to supplement daily with beneficial omegas. Your best bet is to select a good ‘all-in-one” omega-3 and omega-7 supplement, such as from the sea buckthorn berry.  You can get a good variety of omega-3s from fish oil, but the omega-7 component will be lacking.

Resources
Cao, et al., Identification of a lipokine, a lipid hormone linking adipose tissue to systemic metabolism., Cell, (2008), Vol. 134: 933-944.
Roudebush, P. Fatty Acid Supplementation: Does It Really Work?  ACVIM Proceedings, (2006).

Simopolulos, A. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. (2002) Oct; 56(8): 365-79.

January 14, 2014

Why Does My Pet Need Nutritional Supplements?

Pet nutrition guidelines have been developing over the course of several decades and we know a lot about what our pets need to be eating. Most of this information is in the “nuts and bolts” of how much protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals our pets need based on their life stage. But with all of this data and pet food companies “knowing” what needs to be in our pet’s diet, I actually fear that something has gotten lost in translation.

The pet food industry seems to be in crisis in North America. Reports of manufacturing problems and pet food recalls due to contaminated ingredients abound in today’s media. The FDA is currently re-evaluating how pet food manufacturers are regulated in order to protect the public. If toxic compounds and deadly Salmonella are finding their way into our pet’s food, how can we be sure that it’s actually nutritionally balanced?

We also know from human nutritional research that all calories are NOT created equal. For example, 100 calories of whole-grain rolled oats is digested and metabolized differently than 100 calories of refined oat flour. Western-style human and pet diets also tend to be heavy on omega-6 fatty acids from soybean and canola oils and lacking in balance with beneficial omega-3s and omega-7s.

Some experts think that improper omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratios in our diets is contributing to problems like obesity and essential fatty acid deficiencies.

So what can you do to ensure that your pet is getting the right nutrition?  Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Invest in nutritional supplements. Select one made from a pure source such as sea buckthorn. Whole-food sea buckthorn not only provides omega-3 and omega-7 but a plethora of other antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
  2. Do a little research and stay informed about pet food recalls. Buy pet foods from reputable companies that have excellent quality control and manufacturing practices. There are also small pet food businesses that make fresh balanced meals that can be delivered to your door.
  3. Select pet food that is made from all-natural, whole-food ingredients. Look for ingredients on the label like “whole-grain brown rice,” and “chicken breast” instead of “high fructose corn syrup” and “chicken-by products.” 
  4. Talk to a veterinary nutritionist for balanced recipes for home-cooking. It is very easy to make your pet’s food at home using a slow cooker and whole-food, local, seasonal ingredients. 
  5. Do you have a special recipe your pets love? Share with us in the comments. 


Resources

  • Susan Wynn, DVM, CVA, CVCH, AHG.  Veterinary Nutrition and Integrative Medicine. Free, balanced recipe for home-cooking: http://www.susanwynn.com
  • Susan Lauten, PhD.  Pet Nutrition Consulting. http://petnutritionconsulting.com/
  • Animal Food Recalls and Alerts (AVMA): https://www.avma.org/news/issues/recalls-alerts/pages/pet-food-safety-recalls-alerts.aspx
  • Simopoulos, AP.  The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002 Oct; 56(8): 365-79.
  • Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM. FDA seeks upgraded standards for animal-food manufacturing. December 2, 2013. The VIN News Service. http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm247559.htm#pc_animal