THE WONDERS OF FISH OIL

      As a practicing holistic veterinarian, fish oil has recently become one of my favorite supplements. Fish oil is helpful for a wide range of medical problems. It is readily available, safe, and well tolerated by animals and people.

WHAT IS FISH OIL?

     Fish oil is comprised of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are further broken down into EPA (eicosapentaenoicacid) and DHA (docosa-hexaenoicacid). Reliable sources include natural wild salmon oil and pharmaceutical grade fish oil.  Quality pharmaceutical grade fish oils will have been purified by a process to remove dioxins, PCBs, and heavy metals.  Fish oil is supplied in the form of gel caps or liquid that can be mixed with the pet’s food.

CANCER

     Research shows fish oil is essential in the prevention and treatment of disease. Experimental and epidemiological data shows fish oil to act as an inhibitor of development and progression of a wide range of human and animal cancers. EPA suppresses cell proliferation, hence it has an anti-tumor effect. DHA can induce apoptosis (a process of breaking down cancer cells). Fish oil has also been shown to inhibit cachexia and may enhance some chemotherapeutic protocols. Research has shown it prolongs disease free intervals and survival times in dogs with lymphoma. Additional studies with lymphoma patients show it may inhibit metastasis.  It certainly has an anti-inflammatory effect which can help almost any type of cancer patient. The list of animal cancers that can benefit from fish oil is long and varied: nasal adenocarcinoma, hepatic adenocarcinoma, lung cancer, mammary cancer, mast cell tumor, melanoma, osteosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and paraneoplastic syndrome.

DIABETES