Which oils are a good choice for dogs?
Fat is an important nutrient for dogs, so it should be included in your pet's food. However, just like the other ingredients in dog food, oils vary greatly in quality and can sometimes even affect the health of dogs adversely.
To help you know which oils are suitable for dogs and which frequently used oils are best avoided, this article will take a closer look at this topic.
Why we advise against sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is probably one of the most used vegetable oils of all. This also applies to dog food, in which it is very often contained. This should not be a problem for most dog owners. After all, sunflower oil generally has a reputation for being extremely healthy.
But the truth is different. Regular consumption of sunflower oil can cause serious health problems in both dogs and humans.
Are unsaturated fatty acids healthy or not?
One of the main arguments put forward with regards to the health benefits of sunflower oil is its relatively high content of unsaturated fats. Although this may sound positive to you as a dog owner, there is one important point that is often left unsaid.
After all, unsaturated fatty acids are certainly healthy. However, the exact type of fatty acids is also important in this context. The unsaturated fats contained in sunflower oil are mainly omega-6 fats, while omega-3 fats make up only a small percentage.
Although omega-6 fats are fundamentally healthy and important, it is above all the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids that is crucial to the effects on health. If your dog constantly consumes too many omega-6 fatty acids because of the sunflower oil in his dog food, this can sooner or later lead to health problems such as inflammatory reactions in the body.
Why processing sunflower oil is a problem
In addition to the unfavourable ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the processing method also ensures that sunflower oil is anything but a recommended ingredient for dog food.
This is because not only high temperatures are usually used during production, but also chemicals such as bleach and solvents. Although this is certainly not the case with all sunflower oil, you can be sure that dog food is more likely to contain inexpensive oils.
Trans fats in sunflower oil
However, in addition to the disadvantages already mentioned, there is another point against the use of sunflower oil as an ingredient in dog food. This is because when the oil is partially or completely hardened, so-called trans fats are formed in it.
These are associated with numerous health risks. Among other things, trans fats are believed to increase cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
High-quality oils as an alternative
At Bellfor we attach great importance to the fact that our products are easily digestible and that your dog is optimally supplied with important nutrients through his food. For this reason, we have consciously decided to use linseed oil as an alternative to sunflower oil.
Why linseed oil is perfect for dog food
Linseed oil has several advantages over sunflower oil. For example, it can score points for its high content of omega-3 fats. This ensures an optimal balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
This not only prevents potential problems due to an unfavourable ratio between the two fatty acids but also has a positive effect on the health and well-being of your dog.
A sufficient supply of omega-3 fatty acids has the following benefits for your dog's health:
- Reduction of inflammation in the body
- Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Improving insulin sensitivity
- Support for the health of cartilage and joints
- Reduction of high blood pressure
- Promotion of vascular health
Apart from that, the linseed oil in our dog food is free of trans fats, which is a great advantage, not least with respecting the cholesterol levels of your four-legged friend.
Although linseed oil is considerably more expensive than sunflower oil, we believe that we have made the right decision for the reasons mentioned above and that the use of this high-quality oil will undoubtedly pay off for our four-legged customers.
Our conclusion about oil in dog food
As you can see, sunflower oil enjoys its good reputation, at least in part unjustly. Both the high proportion of unsaturated omega-6 fats and the most common manufacturing processes can lead to health problems in the long run.
However, sunflower oil is particularly inexpensive. For this reason, it is very often used as an ingredient in dog food, despite possible health risks.
However, we believe that price should not be the most important criterion in dog nutrition, by far, and have therefore chosen linseed oil as a high-quality alternative for our Bellfor dog food.
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