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Can Fish Oil help cure an overly aggressive Dog?
New research in the human sector has demonstrated that depressive, impulsive, and aggressive disorders can be exacerbated by deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acid intake.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism examined dozens of these studies to determine if low levels of omega-3s (best source found in fish oil) were related to an increased risk for aggressive and depressive behaviors. This is what they wrote in their conclusion: "In human adults and children, clinical studies suggest that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may reduce aggressive, impulsive and depressive behaviors."
So does this research apply to our dogs?
Well, Veterinarians at Italy’s University of Pavia wondered the same thing. So what they did was conduct a study on 36 otherwise healthy German Shepherds averaging 5 years of age.
18 of the German Shepherds were chosen for their stable dispositions and the other 18 were chosen for their overly aggressive disposition.
What they found was amazing…the aggressive dogs, compared to normal dogs, had lower levels of omega-3 DHA, which is critical to brain cell membrane function. Also, the aggressive dogs had higher omega6/omega-3 ratios and lower cholesterol levels which are all associated with depression and aggression in humans.
The Italian researchers concluded, “Altogether, our results suggest that low [levels of] omega-3 fatty acids may adversely impact behavior in dogs, resulting in greater propensity to aggression.”
The researchers suggest the results will encourage rigorous clinical testing of supplemental omega-3s in aggressive dogs. Since positive effects have already been demonstrated in human studies, there are high hopes that supplementation with a quality omega-3 source, such as pharmaceutical grade fish oil, may reduce aggressive and other impulsive behaviors in the canine!
ADD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HERE:
Why you use it as a trainer.
I.e. all dogs in our aggression rehab program are supplemented with 2 grams omega-3/day large dogs.
1 gram/day small dogs and we have been getting encouraging results combined with training and amazing skin and coat results too!
The highest quality and affordable pharmaceutical fish oil for human or dog use we have found is here:
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