Explore In Depth Why Fats are Important for Dogs and Cats
Dietary fats provide energy and essential fatty acids (EFAs). For metabolizable energy, it takes twice as much as protein or carbohydrate as a requirement. When feeding our cats and dogs, we should watch how much we are feeding them because fats are very energy dense, and we may overfeed them.
It is important to know energy-dense foods are excellent for periods of lactation, gestation, growth, and rigorous physical activity. So we will take advantage of fat-rich pet food for periods like this. For instance, working dogs take advantage of high fat content in their diet to keep their performance. We must be mindful of the calories for dogs that have adapted to a sedentary lifestyle.
Essential Fatty Acids
During pregnancy and lactation, there is a heightened need for essential fatty acids (EFAs) to deliver these nutrients to fetal tissues through the placenta and to newborns via breast milk. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays a crucial role in female reproduction and fetal development, as it is vital for the proper neurological and retinal growth in puppies and kittens. The best approach to ensure an adequate supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids is to enhance the mother's diet with these fats during pregnancy and nursing.
Functions of Essential Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid has an important function in skin health. It protects the water barrier in the skin. If dogs or cats suffer from deficiency, they may experience coat and skin issues.
AA is a key fatty acid in cell membranes and is important for immune response. AA is a precursor to certain eicosanoids, which are released when there is physical and chemical trauma to the cell. Eicosanoids also mediate allergic reactions in the body.
APA is also incorporated in cell membranes, and it is a precursor to eicosanoids. Its presence complements the function of AA in the body for the immune and allergic defense systems.
DHA is found largely in neurological tissue such as the brain. It is also very common in the retina. It is essential for vision and neurological system development for fetuses and young animals.
What Does It Mean for Dogs?
As noted before, fat is an energy source, a source of essential fatty acids, and a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins.
Most dry pet foods contain 5–13 percent fat and 20 percent or more for gestational, lactation, or performance formulations.
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) recommends a minimum of 5 percent fat for adult food and 8 percent fat for growth and reproduction stage pet food. This is given that pet food should contain 3500 kcal per kg. It should also contain linoleic acid at the level of 1 percent of the food's dry weight. There should be a balance of alpha-linolenic acid in the food. It was suggested 0.044% of dry matter of pet food. If LA is higher than 1 percent, ALA should increase because there is competition in the body.
The National Research Council recommends an LA-to-ALA ratio between 2.6 and 26. The adequate EPA and DHA intake is 0.11 gr per 1000 kcal of diet.
For Cats
AAFCO recommends a minimum of 9 percent fat for food containing 4000 kcal/kg for all life stages. Linoleic acid level is 0.5 percent, and arachidonic acid level is 0.02 percent.
The NRC provides adequate intake level 0.1 gr EPA and DHA conbined 1000 gr diet in a food containing 4000 kcal/kg.
Deficiencies and Excess
Palatability and calories are the first impact of deficiencies and excess levels of fat. The higher the fat content of pet food, the higher the palatability. The same logic also applies to calories.
Lack of EFA deficiencies promotes skin and fur issues. These issues can lead to secondary ones, such as skin infections.
Omega 3 fatty acid deficiencies can lead to neurological and sight problems.
It is important to have antioxidants in pet food so that EFAs and fats are not oxidized. This impacts the bioavailability of what companies put in the formulation. Vitamin E is a good source of antioxidants, but too much of it can also cause problems for dogs and cats.