We’re keeping it short with this post, but I’ve got some cool information to share.
It’s from a study that was recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Evaluation of cognitive learning, memory, psychomotor, immunologic, and retinal functions in healthy puppies fed foods fortified with docosahexaenoic acid–rich fish oil from 8 to 52 weeks of age. In this particular study, three groups of beagle puppies were assigned different diets that varied in their DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) content. DHA is an Omega-3 Fatty Acid that is a key component in the structural makeup of the brain and retina, among other structures. These puppies were fed according to the guidelines, and then were evaluated in the areas of vision, motor, memory, cognitive learning and immune system.
The study showed that the puppies in the High-DHA group excelled in all of these areas compared with the Low- and Moderate-DHA groups. For instance, the High-DHA group excelled in learning exercises, in obstacle course maneuvering, and they also had higher anti-Rabies titers following vaccination.
What’s the take-home message? Supplementing a puppy’s diet with Omega-3 Fatty Acids containing DHA can have tremendous health and cognitive benefits! If you have questions about how to raise a healthy puppy, don’t hesitate to bring your questions to our attention at 330-929-3223.
