Can omega-3s in the diet help my dog stop itching and scratching?
A. A lot has been made recently of omega-3 fatty acids or alpha linolenic acid in the treatment of inflammatory dermatoses or atopic dermatitis, and the appropriate balance of omega-3s with omega-6 fatty acids. However, not much is known of the underlying mechanisms by the average lay person or indeed the industry as a whole. What actually happens is that when a cellular injury occurs, the cell membranes release their fatty acids and are then metabolized into substances known as eicosanoids, which are compounds such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, etc. (“eico” is Greek for “twenty,” indicating that they are a metabolite of twenty carbon atom fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and eicosapentanoic acid). First, omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid) are metabolized into gamma-linolenic acid by the enzyme delta-6-desaturase, then into di-homo gamma-linolenic acid by the enzyme elongase, then finally into arachidonic acid by the enzyme delta 5-desaturase. Omega-3 fatty acids
