NRC Essential Nutrients: Fatty Acids

Contrary to common belief, fat is not harmful when fed in the appropriate amounts for the individual animal’s need. Fat and fatty acids cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore these nutrients must be supplied by diet in adequate amounts for optimal health.

Fat Requirements

The fat macronutrient allowance is used to encompass all essential fatty acid requirements in addition to fulfilling the needs for nutrient absorption, transportation, and supplying the body with energy. The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended and maximum amounts for fat per 1000 kcal:

Fats contain fatty acids which all have individual roles. These fatty acids also have recommended guidelines when creating a complete and balanced diet and can be met when the right ingredients are selected. Essential fatty acids include:

Linoleic Acid (LA)

Linoleic acid (LA) is an omega-6 essential fatty acid that plays a physiological role in maintaining the water permeability barrier of the skin. Additionally, LA fatty acid is used to synthesize the EFA arachidonic acid.

In nutritional analysis, the fatty acid names are often listed in a shorthand notation – LA can be identified by “18:2 (n-6)” or “18:2 cis-9,12” in analysis and literature. The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended and maximum amounts for linoleic acid (LA) per 1000 kcal:

Linoleic acid (LA) is a fatty acid found in many nuts, seeds, oils, and animal fats. The primary source of LA fatty acids in a raw diet will be found in animal foods, particularly the raw fat versus the muscle tissue itself.

LA fatty acid is often abundant in raw diets that include poultry and pork ingredients with the fat and skin attached. Diets high in red meat with little amounts of poultry may be low in LA fatty acids because red meat proteins are often low in LA fatty acids. Alternative ingredients will need to be considered for pets with allergies/intolerances to poultry and pork products.

Arachidonic Acid (AA)

Arachidonic acid (AA) is an omega-6 essential fatty acid and it is primarily required for developing puppies, adult cats, and kittens. Cats require efficient levels of AA in the diet due to the lack of an enzyme necessary to convert LA to AA (an ability adult dogs have). This fatty acid is used as a starting material in the synthesis of two kinds of essential substances, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, both of which are also unsaturated carboxylic acids.

In nutritional analysis, AA can be identified by “20:4 (ω-6)” or “20:4(5,8,11,14)” in analysis and literature. The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended and maximum amounts for arachidonic acid (AA) per 1000 kcal:

Arachidonic Acid (AA) is primarily found in animal-based foods and is generally abundant in raw diets without the need for careful calculations. This fatty acid is prominent in eggs, poultry, fish, and beef.

Eicosapentaenoic + Docosahexaenoic Acid (EPA/DHA)

Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) are omega-3 essential fatty acids and have established recommended allowances due to the poor conversion rate of ALA to EPA and DHA.

In nutritional analysis, EPA can be identified by “20:5 (n-3)” and DHA can be identified by “22:6 (n-3)” in analysis and literature. The National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats provides recommended and maximum amounts for eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) per 1000 kcal:

Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) are often recommended in combined amounts and are highly concentrated in marine foods like fatty fish. Nutritional analysis provides the breakdown of EPA and DHA in foods which can then be added together to determine the total amount of fatty acids.

EPA and DHA can easily be met in raw diets by feeding marine based foods in addition to pasture raised meat and eggs. Marine sources are highly concentrated in EPA and DHA, therefore a small amount goes a long way.