Do you know that flaxseed oil has immense nutritional benefits for dogs? Yes, because it contains a substance called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that seems to hold great promise in keeping arthritis and cardiovascular diseases at bay. Moreover, it also keeps their coat shiny and glossy. Nowadays, dogs seem to suffer from a deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids since the foods they consume lack this important nutrient. Research, however, shows that in earlier days dogs mostly fed on the flesh of wild animals that were high in their fatty acids content.
I have summarized some of the potential benefits of flaxseed for my readers.
Here’s a quick look:
Keeps the coat glossy – Surprisingly enough both dry and greasy coat can be an indication of fatty acid deficiency. If there is a lack of this vital nutrient in your dog’s body, his skin can turn dry and flaky. But if there is an excessive amount of oil in his coat, chances are that he is suffering from a similar deficiency. Fatty acid insufficiency can also lead to ear infections and other skin problems. So, if your dog is suffering from any of these problems, you can supplement his diet with flaxseed oil in consultation with his vet.
Prevents Arthritis – Just like humans, arthritis too can affect dogs. It is indeed distressing to see our buddies groan with pain. As we are very often unaware of the cause there is very little we can actually do to ameliorate the situation. The joint pain stems from a deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. In the absence of this nutrient, inflammatory prostaglandins, hormone-like substances produced from wrong kinds of fat can attack the joints, resulting in pain and inflammation. So, what we can do is treat them to a flaxseed meal which tends to lower the inflammatory response. This in turn reduces swelling and in turn, arthritis pain.
Prevents cardiovascular diseases – Flaxseed has multifarious benefits on the cardiac health of dogs. Its thinning properties help in preventing blood clots. Flaxseed also lowers blood cholesterol and high blood pressure by improving the elasticity of blood vessels. Flaxseed has been found to be useful for other conditions, like allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and cancer.
Flaxseed oil is available both in liquid form and also as chunks. However, for appropriate guidelines you should consult his vet.
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