I know you want to boost and preserve your dog’s heath just as much as I do.
The problem is that we’ve been taught to be afraid of a key nutrient that is vital to the health of our dogs. That key nutrient is fat.
Dietary fats have been vilified in America for the past few decades. We were told that cutting fats (even healthy fats) out of the diet would help us lose weight and improve our heart health. This is one of the biggest nutrition lies that the public has ever been told.
The truth is that your body and your dog’s body need fat! More specifically, healthy fats. A high fat diet for dogs has incredible health benefits, so long as you’re feeding the right fats.
What counts as healthy fat and how can you be sure your raw fed dog is getting enough healthy fats in their diet? Keep reading for a list of foods packed with healthy fats and how to incorporate them into your raw fed dog’s diet.
What Are Healthy Fats?
Not all fats are created equal. Good fats greatly improve overall health while feeding unhealthy fats can contribute to chronic disease.
Bad fats include denatured fats in processed foods (kibble and cooked meats), highly processed oils, and fatty meats from commercially raised/confined animals fed a diet of grains.
Top Healthy Fats
The list below includes several sources of healthy fats that should be included in a high fat diet for dogs. From improving heart and brain health, to helping give your dog shiny hair and strong nails, your dog’s body will reap the benefits of these healthy fats.
- Fatty Fish
Fatty fish are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are absolutely crucial to your dog’s health. These fats are considered essential fatty acids because the body isn’t capable of producing them on its own. This means that your dog must rely on omega-3 rich foods in their diet to supply these key compounds.
Fatty Fish
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Anchovies
There are three different types of omega-3 fatty acids:
- ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
The preferred sources of omega-3s are DHA and EPA. Both are found in fatty fish like salmon and sardines.
If fatty fish isn’t a regular part of your dog’s diet, you may want to consider supplementing with fish oil: specifically salmon oil, krill oil or pollock oil. While whole fish is best because fatty acids are easily damaged through processing, these oils can still help deliver omega-3 fatty acids your dog needs to fight inflammation and promote better health.
- Eggs
Eggs are packed with a full amino acid profile, making them very healthful for a high fat diet for dogs. The choline found in eggs also helps keep your dog’s brain functioning properly.
Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It’s estimated that about 62% of the calories in whole eggs are from fat. Whole eggs are loaded with vitamins and minerals. They contain nearly every single nutrient we need.
The National Institute of Health reports that eggs also contain powerful antioxidants that protect the eyes and the brain nutrient choline.
The best eggs are from pastured hens fed an organic diet, who that spend their days in the sunlight, running around, eating bugs and playing.
Read why you should feed your dog’s whole eggs.
Duck eggs are especially high in fat and have twice the nutritional value of commercially raised chicken eggs. Duck eggs also have more omega-3 fatty acids.
Additionally, duck eggs are an alkaline-producing food. This aids your dog’s body in fighting abnormal cell formation because these cells cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. Chicken eggs, on the other hand, leave the body more acidic.
- Grass-fed, Organic Meats
It has been found that grass-fed beef provides up to six times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef and these comparisons for beef have been seen in all grass-fed animals raised for meat.
Grain-fed meats notoriously contain higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which cause inflammation if they aren’t balanced with omega-3 fatty acids. Shockingly, it’s been discovered that meat from commercially raised pigs has 24 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.
Here are some of the benefits of increased omega-3 consumption through grass-fed meats:
- Omega-3s are highly effective in decreasing all markers of inflammation.
- Researchers have seen an increase in mental well-being by supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids.
- Recent studies show omega-3 fatty acids alleviate hyperactivity.
Choosing grass-fed meat over grain-fed meat is important because, for example, meat from cows that eat natural forage is loaded with extra health benefits, on top of being a healthy source of fat.
Grass-fed beef contains:
- Two times the amount of lutein and beta-carotene.
- 500–800 mg of CLA, which is as much as 3 times the amount for grain-fed beef.
- As much as 3.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (the maximum amount for grain-fed is 1 gram).
CLA may reduce the risk of heart disease, thanks to its high antioxidant levels.
Benefits of Healthy Fats in a High Fat Diet for Dogs
Fat is absolutely essential to your dog’s health. Dietary fat helps your dog absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, it keeps your dog’s hair and skin healthy, forms the foundation of your dog’s cell membranes, supplies energy and promotes brain health.
Certain types of fats such as omega-3 fatty acids also possess anti-inflammatory properties, which help protect against chronic disease and help improve health. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to relieve inflammation and reduce symptoms of autoimmune conditions like arthritis.
Feeding a variety of foods high in fat can also boost brain function. Studies show that medium-chain fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fats play a critical role in brain function and development.
How Much Fat Should Make Up a High Fat Diet for Dogs
A well-balanced and nutritious high fat diet for dogs should include a good mix of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and moderate amounts of saturated fats from healthy sources.
Your dog’s raw diet should consist of at least 15% fat, but that’s considered a low-fat diet. As we see more research being published on the benefits of high fat diets, a raw diet of 20–30% fat looks to be more ideal. Some people are even eating between 40-75% fat on a daily basis and raving about their health.
My two dogs eat a diet of at least 25% fat. At times, in the past, when their fat intake has been reduced (when I’d run low on fish, pork/beef fat, etc.) I would see a change in their overall health. They would have less energy and their coats wouldn’t look as vibrant. Seeing those subtle changes made me realize just how important a high fat diet was for them.
The Importance of Variety
When feeding a high fat diet for dogs it’s as important as ever to make sure you’re feeding variety. Feeding additional grass-fed beef fat and calling it a day isn’t the healthiest approach. You also need to be adding fat through raw eggs and whole fish.
Since we don’t have exact nutritional measurements for many of the foods we feed our raw fed dogs, we must rely on variety to make up a healthful diet. If you get stuck in a rut of feeding the same 2-3 meats and organs long-term then your dog is at risk of developing deficiencies through a lack of variety.
Always be looking to add a greater variety of healthy meats, bones, organs, and eggs to your dog’s diet. If you choose to feed 3-4 staple meats long-term, always be looking to improve on the quality of the foods you’re sourcing as this will increase the nutritional level of your dog’s food.
Precautions When Feeding a High Fat Diet for Dogs
Although fat is an essential part of your dog’s diet, you must increase their intake slowly. Adding fat to the diet too quickly will cause digestive upset.
Additionally, adding plenty of nutritious fats to your dog’s raw diet is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to their health. Be sure to round out their raw diet with a good variety of meats, bones, and organs.