I was just wondering is this Ok to use for the fish oil supplement or should I still be adding fish oil as well or not using this at all??

http://www.sprintergold.com/#!energy-e

My dogs have been on it for a couple months now and seem healthy enough with great coats etc

Do you have a detailed ingredient list? This isn't nearly enough info: "ENERGY-E™ contributes a careful balance between Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 fats. Cold water fish oil included in the blend of
oil ..."

My opinion about using it instead of fish oil is almost certainly going to be a resounding no, because a big purpose for supplementing with fish oil is to improve the balance between Omega 6s and long-chain Omega 3s. That is, even beyond providing long-chain 3s, we want to improve the ratio between 3s and 6s.

I see several red flags on this page:
http://www.sprintergold.com/#!energy-e

1. What is the main source of the Omega 3s? If only a small portion is fish oil, then it's not going to have the long-chain 3s (EPA and DHA) that are the main reason we give Omega 3s.

2. What is the ratio of 6 to 3, even if the 3s are indeed long-chain 3s? Most dogs are on a diet rich in 6s. Poultry, for example, is high in 6s. It's long-chain 3s that are so scarce in the modern diet, causing an imbalance between 3s and 6s. (6s promote inflammation-producing hormones {a necessary immune response} and 3s promote the control of inflammation so it doesn't run amok, as in such maladies as diabetes, osteoarthritis, and about a zillion others.)

What almost all dogs need is not a mix of 3-6-9, but mostly long-chain 3s from marine sources (salmon oil, sardine/anchovy oil, etc.) plus the natural vitamin E that should be given with oil supplements. (What form is the E in that product? That's the least of my queries, but I'll bet money it's dl-alpha and not d-alpha with mixed tocopherols, or even d-alpha alone.)

Nice coats can certainly be an effect of adding EFAs, which this product does contain.

But beyond that, we need the details I listed.

Thanks Connie, that's the biggest problem with this is I haven't been able to find detailed ingredients anywhere. I bought it as a trial and was using this plus fish oil and then just this when I ran out of fish oil, think I'll go back to just the fish oil and vitamin E

delete duplicate

Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/27/2012 07:11 PM)
Edit reason: delete repeat

 Quote: Brad Higgs

Thanks Connie, that's the biggest problem with this is I haven't been able to find detailed ingredients anywhere. I bought it as a trial and was using this plus fish oil and then just this when I ran out of fish oil, think I'll go back to just the fish oil and vitamin E

Even on the container, no detailed contents info?


" I haven't been able to find detailed ingredients anywhere. "

Huge problem, to me.

Update: I got the ingredients zoomed in.

Blended cold water fish oil, canola, and sunflower oils 915g
Oil soluble dl-a-tocopherol acetate 2000IU
Pure Garlic Oil Flavour

Those are only the active ingredients listed on the front of the 2 litre can. I can't find a full ingredient list.

Duh, sorry I was only looking at the stuff on the side never looked down the bottom on the front. Thanks Cathy!
The 5 ltr I got says the same but d-a-RRR tocopherol acetate 2000IU

The point is, how much of each.

"Blended cold water fish oil, canola, and sunflower oils" means pretty much nothing (except, to me, it strongly implies canola oil at fish oil prices).

And dl-alpha is not the vitamin E you really want. You want d-alpha at least, and preferably with mixed tocopherols. (Minor compared to canola oil -- or flax or any other non-marine source -- of Omega 3s for dogs. Remember that the inefficient human mechanism that converts a small amount of the ALA in canola, flax, etc., to long-chain 3s is close to nonexistent in dogs. They need their EPA and DHA to come to them AS EPA and DHA.)

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

And dl-alpha is not the vitamin E you really want. You want d-alpha at least, and preferably with mixed tocopherols. (Minor compared to canola oil -- or flax or any other non-marine source -- of Omega 3s for dogs. Remember that the inefficient human mechanism that converts a small amount of the ALA in canola, flax, etc., to long-chain 3s is close to nonexistent in dogs. They need their EPA and DHA to come to them AS EPA and DHA.)

I love it when Connie talks like this.

I can barely understand a word she's saying but I always get the "IMO" part and blindly follow.

I agree CJ! Thanks Connie I'll stick to the fish oil and vitamin E