7 healthy oils for your dog (that you should know)
- Veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic
- Updated: 2024-02-06
Which oil is right for dogs? Oils are a really useful addition to most diets for dogs. That's why in this post I'm going to show you 7 healthy oils and when you can best use them. In addition, I have for this article Advice from veterinarian Mag.med.vet. Emin Jasarevic obtained. Note: This article is written for the german country.
For a healthy diet, oils also play an enormously important role in dogs.
Especially important are valuable, cold-pressed oils. That's exactly what we're talking about today. We'll tell you what you really need to know about them.
They contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are needed by the organism. They can be formed neither in the human body nor in the body of your dog. Therefore, they must be included in the food intake.
They are important for the brain power of your furry nose and for a shiny, radiant coat.
Healthy diet oils
Saturated fatty acids are responsible for donating energy. Unsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, activate the cell structure and strengthen the immune system. A healthy and active dog needs a good amount of cold-pressed oils.
Through the oil your protégé can build up his physical resistance, develop his brain, form a good visual behavior and get a dense, shiny coat and supple skin. In bitches, the saturated fatty acids are also responsible for fertility.
Known fatty acids and their occurrence
- Saturated fatty acids
Found in many animal products. In particular, a large amount of saturated fatty acids can be found in butter, coconut fat and lard. - Monounsaturated fatty acids
Occur in vegetable oils. Rapeseed and olive oil are the main carriers. - Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Also found in vegetable oils. They are particularly at home in fish oils, sunflower and safflower oils. - Essential fatty acids
Occur in many unsaturated fatty acids. They are necessary, but cannot be produced by the organism itself. - Omega-3 fatty acids
Come mainly in Fish oils and linseed oil before.
Dog food and cold pressed oils
In principle, many high-quality foods contain cold-pressed oils. With a high-quality food, your pet does not need any additional oils.
In the raw food or barf diet, the food does not contain any additives. So that your protégé still gets a sufficient oil, add them to his food.
When choosing oil, make sure it's a cold-pressed oil.
Consequences in case of oil shortage
The consequences of oil deficiency can be severe. Not only will deficiencies occur, but your pet will become ill more quickly. As soon as he is supplied with sufficient oil, you will quickly notice improvements.
He will soon look healthier and better. The physical condition improves noticeably. In addition, his coat becomes beautifully dense and gets a healthy shine. The skin also improves visibly.
Good oil in dog food
A good dog food has a transparent declaration. The declaration shows exactly which composition and which ingredients are contained in the food. The amount of oil and the variety should also be listed here.
As a rule, good dog food contains either fish oil or linseed oil. In the declaration, these two oils should be titled the same.
Beware of the non-declaration of oils and fats. With such a declaration you can assume that it is bad oils. Mostly animal fat is then processed by the knacker.
How much oil does my dog need?
How much oil your four-legged friend needs depends on his size.
A small to medium-sized dog is perfectly fine with half a teaspoon of oil a day. Either the oil is already included in the food or can be added to the food without any problems.
For a large dog must be calculated. Here, half a teaspoon is necessary for every 10 kg of weight. Example: A dog with a body weight of 40 kg needs 2 teaspoons of cold-pressed oil per day.
The oil is simply mixed into the food. Do not give more than necessary, otherwise your faithful companion will soon have weight problems and digestive problems.
Basically, you should not stick to one type of oil, but change it regularly. Each oil contains different vitamins and special fatty acids.
Not only for nutrition
Various oils are essential not only for the diet of the dog. They can also be used in other ways. First of all, we are talking about the external application.
Paw care is simplified by the use of oils. Wounds, dandruff, skin problems and eczema can also be treated with the right oil. They can work wonders here and are also natural.
Among the best known oils for external use are clove, thyme, Evening primrose-, tea tree and yarrow oil. They are antibacterial and healing. In addition, they can even be used against viruses and fungi.
In contrast to artificially produced remedies, oils have another great advantage in addition to their healing effect. They have little to no side effects. Nevertheless, it is recommended to consult your veterinarian before using an oil.
When should you not use oil?
There are also exceptions to the administration of oil. This is the case if your protégé suffers from food-related allergies. Also, he may have oily or flaky skin. Even then, you should not administer oil.
After adding oils, your pet may experience digestive problems and diarrhea. Then discontinue the oils for the time being.
You should also be careful when giving oil to dogs with kidney problems and older specimens. As soon as an intolerance becomes apparent, the oil must be cancelled immediately.
In addition, pregnant dogs and puppies sometimes can not tolerate oil.
As a rule, you should carefully observe your protégé when you administer oil. As soon as a change in the negative sense occurs, the administration of oil must be stopped immediately.
Oil from the supermarket or pet store?
There is now a good selection of high quality oils available in the supermarket that can be used as an alternative to special dog oils.
Ideally, you should go for an oil from a trustworthy and good brand. These are specially adapted to the needs of the dog and have a higher compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Salmon oil has valuable omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for your dog. He can not form them himself, but must take them in through food. Therefore, it is very healthy to provide your dog with salmon oil.
Taking hemp oil has positive effects on the state of health of your protégé:
- Strengthening the immune system
- dense and shiny coat
- Stop eczema and inflammation
- allergic reactions are reduced
Even though hemp oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, only the active ingredient THC is subject to narcotics law and is therefore only available by prescription. Hemp oil can be purchased quite legally.
As long as your dog doesn't have an intolerance to an oil and you stick to the recommended dosage, oils have few side effects.
Evening primrose oil has a very beneficial effect on skin diseases. It helps here against itching, irritation, allergies and parasite infestation. It also contains valuable omega-6 fatty acids, minerals and vitamin E.
The 7 best oils for dogs
Here I'm happy to introduce you to the 7 best oils for your dog:
First of all, we should mention black cumin oil. Just a few drops in your four-legged friend's drinking water can be enough to protect against flea infestation. Because the smell of black cumin oil is avoided by the parasites. This is also true for ticks. Salmon oil is also suitable as a feed supplement. It contains lots of omega-3 fatty acids and alpha linolenic acid. It is perfect for itching, flaky skin, coat problems and eczema.
Pumpkin seed oil gives you vitality and is very rich in vitamins. But for skin and coat problems is also suitable Hemp oil. Hemp oil is obtained from useful hemp and is also good for intestinal problems and constipation. Coconut oil is our choice, especially for a shiny coat and skin. We also like to use it against ticks.
Here is our list of the seven best oils:
- Hemp oil: Good for intestinal problems
- CBD oil: Soothing and pain relieving
- Pumpkin seed oil: Vital and rich in vitamins
- Coconut oilGood for coat and skin. Also for external use against ticks.
- Salmon oilRich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Black cumin oilAbsolute tip against flea infestation or ticks if you give it to your dog regularly. (If your dog is pregnant or has liver damage, you can also use Coconut oil take.)
- Evening primrose oil: Secret tip for shiny coat
In general, many types of oil are fine and variety is often best for your pet. Good solutions are olive oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil or linseed oil.
The main thing is that it is cold pressed, because in this process the important fatty acids and vitamins are preserved! Cold-pressed oil is thus much higher quality than hot-pressed oil.
I am a veterinarian and writer on animal health topics. Animals are my passion, and it is my personal goal to create medically accurate articles and videos to educate pet owners as much as possible.
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