How Healthy is Flaxseed Oil in Dog Nutrition?

A generally unhealthy dog ​​diet cannot be compensated for with linseed oil. As a supplement, however, flaxseed oil can be healthy because it contains essential fatty acids. Read here what else you need to know about it.

Linseed oil is considered to be particularly healthy for people due to its unsaturated fatty acids. Flaxseed oil should also contribute to the health of the four-legged friend in dog nutrition – but it is not necessary.

Ingredients of Linseed Oil

Both humans and dogs need omega-3 fatty acids to stay healthy over the long term. Linseed oil consists of around 60 percent alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid can be partially converted in the body to the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In addition to linoleic and oleic acid, linseed oil also contains vitamins B and E, which are also healthy.

However, not all of the alpha-linolenic acid can be converted into valuable fatty acids by the dog. Your four-legged friend can only process about 15 percent of this. Since there are other ways of getting the required fatty acids directly, for example by adding fish oil to the feed, linseed oil can in principle be dispensed with in dog nutrition.

Dog Nutrition: When is Linseed Oil Healthy?

As long as you feed your dog high-quality meat and the occasional fish, he will usually get all the nutrients he needs. On the other hand, dog food that contains a high grain content and only vegetable oils may need to be supplemented with fish oil or linseed oil. However, be sure to ask your veterinarian for advice before attempting any experiments. He can first check whether your dog has a nutrient deficiency at all and, if necessary, calculate the correct dosage of linseed oil for you.

In addition, it can be useful for sick dogs that suffer from cancer, for example, to supplement the feed with valuable oils and fats. Linseed oil is said to have an anti-cancer effect. But the same applies here: Discuss dog nutrition in detail with your vet beforehand.