How much of a dog's diet needs to consist of naturally pastured animals to not have to use salmon oil daily?

Or should you keep giving it anyway?

Good question! I assume you have found a reliable source of grass fed meat. I can get it, but the prices are prohibitive, for my budget at least. I look forward to the answer.

I've been feeding quite a bit of deer lately.

Also found a few places that sell goats. Haven't gotten any yet, though. I'd like to find some for the dogs to try before I drop any money on a goat.

Also, if you did stop salmon oil would you stop vit E, too?

 Quote: Shody Lytle

I can get it, but the prices are prohibitive, for my budget at least.

The dalmatian is finally taking to her raw diet well. Hunting has definately made it easier to feed her. It would be very easy to make feeding a big dog VERY expensive.

My dogs LOVE goat meat. I personally stay away from the organs though since goats carry loads of parasites because of their dietary habits.

Goats are a browser where sheep, cows, etc are lawn mowers

 Quote: Michael_Wise

How much of a dog's diet needs to consist of naturally pastured animals to not have to use salmon oil daily?

Or should you keep giving it anyway?

I would keep giving it.

 Quote: connie sutherland

I would keep giving it.

I've read that there is no known risk to "too much" vit. E. Is it the same with omegas?

Pardon me if that is a silly question. I don't know anything about EFA's, except that they/we need them.

 Quote: michael_wise

 Quote: connie sutherland

I would keep giving it.

I've read that there is no known risk to "too much" vit. E. Is it the same with omegas?

I'll answer this for Omega 3s, since you're talking about fish oil. No, it's not the same.

Omega 3s and Omega 6s act very differently in the body. One type (the 6s) promotes the formation of a group of hormones that trigger inflammation (a necessary part of the healing mechanism) and the 3s promote the formation of another group of hormones that help to suppress unchecked inflammation that has become a problem in itself. (This is extremely oversimplified.)

There was probably a time when the normal diet included a 50-50 6s-to-3s ratio.

The modern diet is extremely heavy in 6s (poultry, grain-fed beef, soy oil, most of the supermarket oils and the oils and fats used in processed foods, etc.) and very low in 3s.

If I'm feeding, say, half the diet in the form of poultry or commercial slaughter meats, I'd keep on with fish oil.

All this is presupposing that the dog is not on a blood-thinner medication, in which case the vet (with a nutrition specialty, ideally) would be the person to set the EFA ratio.

And all this is JMO.

 Quote: michael_wise

I've read that there is no known risk to "too much" vit. E.

So far, yes, E is the oil soluble vitamin that appears not to have an adverse effect on dogs at high doses.

I still don't stray far from the common 200 to 400 IUs per day.

Who knows, really, with a vitamin that can store itself in the body fat? I'd rather not conduct lab experiments.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: michael_wise

I've read that there is no known risk to "too much" vit. E.

So far, yes, E is the oil soluble vitamin that appears not to have an adverse effect on dogs at high doses.

I still don't stray far from the common 200 to 400 IUs per day.

Who knows, really, with a vitamin that can store itself in the body fat? I'd rather not conduct lab experiments.

Even though Connie is a tattletale.....

I agree....no experiments at my house.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'll answer this for Omega 3s, since you're talking about fish oil.

Sorry...Didn't realize I was bouncing back and forth. Since I give it for the omega 3, I considered it one in the same.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

And all this is JMO.

That should read JMVWIO. Just my very well informed opinion.:wink: