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ALA (Omega-3) - Vegetable in dog and cat diets

A short guide to the role of ALA (Omega-3) - Vegetable in dog and cat nutrition.

Alpha-linolenic acid is a fatty acid from the Omega-3 family of plant origin. In humans and herbivores, it serves as a base for the production of anti-inflammatory acids EPA and DHA. In carnivores, this mechanism is insufficient: dogs convert it to only 5-10%, and in cats the conversion is very low and practically negligible (although not zero) [1] [2] [4]. Giving linseed oil to a dog with arthritis or generalized allergies will not provide relief. Linoleic acid (LA), not ALA, is primarily responsible for the tightness of the epidermal barrier in dogs and cats and protection against inflammation - therefore the importance of ALA alone in the carnivore’s diet remains limited.

What it contains: Linseed oil, chia seeds, hemp oil, rapeseed oil, walnuts. In a balanced BARF diet, vegetable oils are deliberately avoided in favor of fish oils.

Deficiency: It is not of great importance in the diet of dogs and cats, because the target and fully functional omega-3 acids for them are the animal forms EPA and DHA [3].

Excess: It is not toxic, but pouring vegetable oils “forcibly” into a bowl most often results in strain on the pancreas, fatty diarrhea and the pet’s obesity.

Sources

  1. National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
  2. Bauer JE (2006). Metabolic basis for the essential nature of fatty acids and the unique dietary fatty acid requirements of cats. JAVMA 229(11):1729–1732. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.229.11.1729
  3. Burron S, et al. (2024). The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition. Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae143
  4. Chamberlin AJ, Bauer JE (2014). Dietary gamma-linolenic acid supports arachidonic acid accretion and associated Δ-5 desaturase activity in feline uterine but not ovarian tissues (cats have insufficient Δ-6 desaturase activity). Journal of Nutritional Science 3:e43. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4473166/