Fish Oil Benefits for Cats
Just like humans, one of the most lacking nutrients in cats is fatty acids. The prime reason is that cats, like humans, are not equipped to produce fatty acids on their own, rather they need to get these in sufficient amounts from the cat food and supplements. A lack of these fatty acids leads to different health problems in the cat. These can be solved using fish oil.
Inflammation can be cured using fish oil. If not treated, inflammation can lead to many serious health conditions like stroke, heart attack, premature death, arthritis, and high LDL cholesterol levels. Fish oil helps in protecting the whole vascular system, controlling skin allergies and yeast infections, and preventing cancer as well.
Its usage has also benefited in reducing the cartilage degrading enzymes that can cause joint damage, regulation of blood circulation, improvement of the brain function, etc. Thus, it is found to be very effective in treating various health conditions of cats and also increasing their survival rate.
Required Amount
Considering the above benefits, fish oil supplements are widely-recommended by many veterinary doctors. As a matter of fact, this oil gets easily absorbed in the body system and starts showing positive effects very soon. However, it is to be remembered this is still not used as a permanent form of alternative treatment in cats.
One of the best ways to introduce it to your cat is to add it to the cat food. Cutting off a capsule containing this oil and mixing the contents into the cat’s food is what most owners do. It is one of the easiest methods. The amount of oil that is to be given will be decided by the vet. There are chances that he/she will recommend a 9 weeks to 12 week course. It depends on the responsiveness of the cat and how fast it begins to show positive effects. There are chances that your pet may be getting enough of fatty acids if it regularly consumes foods like fish. In such cases, there is no need of extra oil.
It is always better to consult your veterinary doctor before you include fish oil in your cat’s diet. Once the doctor gives it a go ahead, you can feed it to your cat in the recommended dosage.
