Benefits of Omega 3's in Pet Treats

What omega-3s actually are

Most of us know omega-3s from our own diets, but the science behind them is the same reason they matter for our dogs and cats. Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fat. The three that come up most often are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the plant form, and the two long-chain marine forms, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

They are classed as essential fatty acids. That has a specific meaning: it is a fat that has to be supplied in the diet because the body cannot make enough of it on its own. As one veterinary nutrition resource puts it, dogs and cats require omega-3 fatty acids in the diet because they cannot produce these essential fatty acids on their own (Today's Veterinary Practice, a United States publication). An Australian study out of the University of Sydney has since looked closely at how much EPA and DHA local pet products actually contain, which we come back to below.

Why fish-based treats carry omega-3s

Not all omega-3 sources are equal for pets. EPA and DHA are found primarily in marine sources, including fish oil (Today's Veterinary Practice, overseas). Fish oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and is typically drawn from cold-water fish such as salmon (VCA Animal Hospitals, a United States veterinary group).

Plant sources like flaxseed and walnuts mostly supply ALA rather than EPA and DHA. The catch is that the conversion rate of ALA to EPA is very low in dogs (Today's Veterinary Practice, overseas), so the plant form is not an efficient way to top up the marine omega-3s. That is the simple reason real fish is such a useful ingredient. Treats genuinely made from fish, rather than flavoured to taste of it, carry these marine fats naturally as part of the fish itself.

What vets say about skin, coat and joints

This is where it pays to stay measured. Overseas veterinary sources describe omega-3s as helping to modulate inflammation and as affecting skin and coat health, and note that supplemental fish oil is used as adjunctive therapy for inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory skin disease and osteoarthritis (Today's Veterinary Practice, United States). VCA Animal Hospitals similarly describes fish oil omega-3s as anti-inflammatory agents used for skin allergies, dermatitis and arthritis (VCA, United States).

Two things are worth holding onto there. First, that is fish oil used deliberately as a therapy, not a handful of treats. Second, the amount matters. The Australian University of Sydney study measured the fatty acid content of local veterinary diets, supplements and fish oil capsules and found the numbers vary widely, with some products carrying more of the less active ALA than EPA and DHA. So if your dog or cat has an itchy coat, a skin condition or sore joints, the right move is to talk to your Australian vet about whether omega-3 supplementation and the correct dose make sense for your pet.

Our real fishy range

If you simply want to add some genuine fish to your pet's treat rotation, we bake and dehydrate a few favourites. On the cat side, our cat treats collection includes Fish Nibble 50g, a gently dehydrated fish treat, alongside our Green Lipped Mussels. If you are new to feeding cats, our cat treats Australia guide walks through how treats fit around a balanced diet.

For dogs, the dog treats collection has Little Fish Bites for training and enrichment, our Australian Whole Sardines, and Hemp Cookies made with mackerel. Everything is made in Australia from real ingredients. If you would rather rotate fish with something meaty, our natural meat dog treats give you plenty of variety through the week.

Sensible, treat-sized expectations

Here is the honest part. Treats are a tasty top-up, not a measured supplement or a medicine. A few fishy bites bring real fish and a little natural omega-3 to the day, but they are not formulated to hit the therapeutic omega-3 doses that a vet works out by bodyweight. Those doses are designed to come from a complete balanced diet or a supplement chosen with your vet.

So enjoy fishy treats for what they are: a genuine, made-in-Australia reward your pet will love, that happens to come from an ingredient rich in the good fats. Keep treats to a small part of the daily diet, feed the rest as complete food, and leave anything therapeutic to a conversation with your Australian vet.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Today's Veterinary Practice (United States): https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/nutrition/role-of-dietary-fatty-acids-in-dogs-cats/
• VCA Animal Hospitals (United States): https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/fish-oil
• Peer-reviewed Australian study, University of Sydney, Veterinary Dermatology (2021): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33720452/