High-energy molecules called lipids also referred to as fats, help mammals achieve their nutritional and physiological needs. The physical and chemical properties of being insoluble (hydrophobic) in solvents like water is a characteristic of lipids in general. Oils are lipids that are liquid at room temperature, whereas fats are lipids that are solid at normal temperature.

There is a distinction between good and bad fats and good and bad carbohydrates. Processed foods contain unhealthy fats, including trans or saturated fats. Mono- and polyunsaturated fats are examples of healthy fats. Avocados, eggs, fatty fish, nuts, and animal fats are excellent sources of healthful fats for dogs.

Lipid structure ranges from simple to complex, making it challenging to use any classification system. The fundamental building blocks of lipids are hydrocarbon molecules, which are joined by a variety of covalent connections to themselves and other molecules to provide the diverse diversity of functions and structures seen in nature.

Fats are beneficial to dogs because they give them energy. For dogs to remain healthy, essential fatty acids like EPA and DHA are crucial.

The environment for absorbing vitamins is also made favorable by essential fatty acids. The most valuable source of energy in a dog's diet is dietary fats, which supply more than twice as much energy as proteins and carbohydrates.

Excess lipids may be absorbed and stored as fat in the form of adipocytes, depending on the energy needs of the dog. Triglycerides, which comprise the majority of the fat found in adipocytes, can be produced from non-fat precursors like glucose or protein.

Some lipids are necessary for appropriate physiological processes and must be included in the diet. For instance, the body cannot produce long-chain fatty acids; they must be derived from food. Additionally, the diet must supply the body with vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Dogs have no physiological need for plant carbohydrates in the diet and should be provided protein and fat as sources of energy instead. Situations where dogs benefit from carbs are working dogs or pregnant and lactating females. Otherwise, a dog's diet doesn’t need to  contain any carbohydrates.

However, carbohydrates help in the rendering process and are a cheap source of energy for pet food producers. In pet food, carbohydrates help bind the ingredients together.

The food's high concentration of energy can help dogs consume fewer calories overall when they have a strong need for energy. Increased dietary fat allows for more energy to be consumed when the overall volume of the food is a constraint.

Since fat calories are utilized more effectively than carbohydrate calories during exercise, eating more fat encourages an improvement in endurance.

A lack of fatty acids delays the healing of wounds, resulting in dry, brittle fur and skin that is scaly and changes the lipid layer of the skin, possibly subjecting the animal to pyoderma, a serious skin condition. If the lack of fatty acids continues, alopecia (loss of fur), edema, and moist dermatitis may develop.

The most frequent locations for moist dermatitis, which is associated with essential fatty acid deficiency, are between the toes and the external ear canals. However, lesions can develop anywhere on the body. Malnutrition may result from a severe or chronic EFA shortage.

An EFA deficiency can also affect reproductive performance. Infertility is not the only issue as some females can conceive but have small litters, reduced growth rate of the puppies, high pup mortality, and other disorders with the newborn puppies. 

An increase in the lipid content of dog food has several purposes.  The food becomes more calorie-dense, enhances palatability, and provides more efficient energy than food loaded with carbohydrates. Food that has a higher carbohydrate content is more likely to cause obesity than an increase in dietary fats. Obesity is controlled by the balance of energy intake versus output. Fats are more efficiently used as energy sources, so food higher in fats will be used more efficiently by the body than those with high carbohydrate levels.

When dietary fat levels are high, extra vitamin E or other increased antioxidant protection is needed. If dietary lipids don't contain enough antioxidants, they will oxidize and become rancid. 

Since rancidity decreases palatability, vitamin activity, and perhaps body fat oxidation, it has a detrimental effect on your dog. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids require extra antioxidants because polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are more susceptible to peroxidation than the majority of omega-6 fatty acids.

Overconsumption of unsaturated fat in the diet along with a deficiency in antioxidants can result in pansteatitis, sometimes known as the "yellow fat disease."

Body fat that is yellow, brown, or orange in color is due to the byproducts of adipose tissue's rancidification. Affected dogs may display signs of weakness overall, lack of appetite, depression, and/or lethargic behavior.

They move stiffly and generally show signals of pain when handled because of the inflammatory subcutaneous fat. The illness is managed with dietary modifications and oral vitamin E therapy until clinical signs disappear.

In the manufacturing of commercial food, a range of vegetable fats and oils are used as lipid sources. When a specific fat is ingested, a distinct fatty acid profile is created, and this fatty acid profile affects storage and metabolism. You are what you eat more so than with any other macronutrient since fatty acids have such a strong impact on the type of fat that is stored. The fatty acid profiles of body fat are influenced by the types of fats consumed.

Due to their beneficial effects on the management of disease, fish oils have gained popularity in the dog community. In fish oils, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are frequently present. The main fish supplement, which is higher in omegas than animal fat, is made from menhaden. Even though omega-6 is generally more prevalent in vegetable sources, omega-3 often outweighs omega-6 in fish.

Fish oil's fatty acid composition changes based on the fish's diet, type (carnivore vs. plankton feeder), freshwater vs. saltwater habitat, and time of year it is caught. Unfortunately, no data has been acquired to pinpoint the precise nature of these variations.

There are techniques to determine how much fat is required for the diet, but as a general rule, including seafood in the raw bowl will help achieve the proper balance. The advice is to increase omega-3 fatty acids and decrease omega-6 fatty acids when a dog shows signs of inflammation.

Approximately half of your dog's calories should come from fat and the other half from protein. An ancient diet closely resembles this recommendation. Providing kibble-based diets, which can contain up to 60% carbohydrates, leaves little place in the diet for protein  and fat to maintain a healthy body.

The majority of the lipids in the kibble that your dog is currently eating likely came from a rendering factory. If there is animal fat, the ingredients list should say "beef fat" or "chicken fat." If there are animal fats in the product, it will usually only state "animal fat" as a source.

If you feed your dog kibble, try to avoid most fish supplements as many will oxidize by the time they reach the shelf. Additionally, many fish oils are heavy metal-rich, which can be detrimental to your dog's health.

To improve your dog's bowl, add fresh, whole sardines to the top.  In addition to being a rich source of fat and protein, fish tend to contain fewer contaminants the smaller they are. Feeding green-lipped, blue, or black mussels is also advantageous.

Make sure to integrate a variety of seafood into your dog's diet, whether you're feeding it raw or cooking it at home. To ensure variety, there should be at least three different seafood sources offered to your dog. Sardines, anchovies, oysters, and mussels could be included in your dog's bowl.

A higher-quality protein source, such as organic grass-fed or pasture-raised eggs, can also give your dog more healthy fats. In general, red meat has more fat than poultry. 

You can purchase some canned goods for your dog, but make sure they don’t contain harmful oils like sunflower oil, which is high in fatty acids. This can do more harm than good. Look for anchovies or sardines that have been canned in water. However, whenever possible, fresh is preferable. 

Essential fatty acids are crucial to keeping your dog happy and healthy.

Variety helps maintain balance in your dog’s diet.

Fats aren’t inherently bad for dogs, and there are a variety of healthy fats, like those in sardines and anchovies.

National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats", 2006 Edition, National Academies Press, Washington, DC.Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

Habib, Rodney; Becker, Karen Shaw. (2021) The Forever Dog. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Brady, C. (2020). Feeding dogs dry or raw? The science behind the debate. Farrow Road Publishing.

Essential fatty acids in veterinary dermatology: do they have a place?. 

Role of Dietary Fatty Acids in Dogs & Cats - Today's Veterinary Practice 

Lipid metabolism and hyperlipidemia in dogs 

Essential Fatty Acids For Increased Canine Health - Whole Dog Journal 

FSHN14-03/FS243: Facts about Carbohydrate 

Science and Politics of Nutrition: Dietary carbohydrates: role of quality and quantity in chronic disease - PMC 

Dietary carbohydrates: role of quality and quantity in chronic disease | The BMJ 

High-energy molecules called lipids, or fats, help mammals achieve their nutritional and physiological needs. The physical and chemical properties of being insoluble (hydrophobic) in solvents like water are characteristics of lipids in general. Oils are lipids that are liquid at room temperature, whereas fats are lipids that are solid at room temperature.

Isn't Fat Bad for Dogs?

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