This episode was recorded at the 2025 PetFood Forum event in Kansas City, Missouri.
Episode 4: Supplementing Omega-3s in Companion Animal Diets
Timestamps:
To begin Alexandra and Jim introduce themselves and their backgrounds, as well as sharing what they do in their current roles. In their discussion, they touch on why Omega-3s are important in companion animal diets. (00:58)
Next, Dr. Ranovic gives an overview of her presentation at the conference, including a review of how dogs and cats metabolize fatty acids, current recommendations for EPA and DHA requirements, and alternative fatty acid sources like algae oil. She notes some of the differences in fatty acid metabolism between dogs and cats and whether or not adult animals really have a recommended requirement for omega-3 fatty acids. Some of her research has found that algae oil is less shelf-stable than fish oils, and perhaps feeding excess omega fatty acids does not benefit pets. When supplementing Omega-3s in diets, these factors must be considered. (12:13)
Jim shares the Pet Sustainability Coalition has software called How Good, which is the world’s largest ingredient database for sustainability. He explains how it works and ties in with diet formulation software. While he doesn’t specifically mention supplementing Omega-3s in companion animal diets, the implications for sustainable ingredient sourcing are clear. (22:53)
Jim gives some insight on how pet owners make decisions about sustainability. Pet owners’ decisions directly shape the inclusion of Omega-3 supplements in companion animal food formulas. (25:51)
Dr. Rankovic details what future fatty acid research still needs to be done in dog and cat nutrition. To begin with, she notes that another longer-chain, plant-derived fatty acid, SDA, in particular, might be one avenue of investigation. This is because it could be useful both for its role in conversion to EPA and DHA and, more importantly, for its merit alone. Ultimately, such research could significantly impact understanding of supplementing Omega-3s in companion animal diets. (28:26)
The panelists wrap up the episode talking about balancing formulation and pet owner education to achieve the best outcomes possible for pet health and wellbeing. Lastly, they give some recommendations for where pet parents can go to find more information, especially on topics like Omega-3 supplementation. (32:50)
Conclusion
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