The longer the fatty acid chains are, the healthier they are. They are lighter, they are liquid, they have more double bonds, more omega 3 and they are healthier in general.
Fat can be found in both the liver and spread throughout the fish in between muscle layers, in cells or most often at special places such as base of fins, skin and in the head. Some fish species, such as Alaska pollock, have very little fish oil in the body (0.2-2%) then the fish oil is found mainly in the liver. Salmon has most of it´s fats in between muscle layers as body fat.
Fat is defined as that part of an animal or plant that is soluble in organic solvents (ether, chloroform, benzene or acetone). Fat is mostly composed of glycerol and fatty acids via ester bonds (triglycerides) they can all convert to soap by enzymes, and by adding caustic soda to the fats.
Fatty acids are usually rather long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen attached as well as one acid group on the other end of the chain.
The fatty acids have different terms of length, but it can range from 4 C atoms to 26 and everything in between, most often in even numbers (C14, C16, etc.) but some have odd numbers (C15,C17 and C19). Vax is a group of short chain fats that is not liquid unless heated.
We talk about fatty acids as saturated when they are C16 or lower.
In many fatty acids, there is a double bond between carbon atoms and they can be from one to six. The number of double bonds mainly determines the melting point of the fat or how light it is.
Coconut or sheep fat is a hard-fat at room temperature while fish oil is liquid at same temperature.
Fish fat is different from other liquid fats such as soybean or olive oil, because it contains very long fatty acid chains, ie. from C20 to C26, which plant oils do not. Furthermore, fish fat contains more double bonds in general. They have original Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential fatty acids, and they cannot be made in the body of the dog. These fatty acids are essential in cell reproduction and aid in uncountable ways in dogs.
I recommend Salmon Oil and Alaska Pollock oil as a way to give your dog essential fatty acids, the dog needs it to reproduce cells for better and healthier life. Long chain fatty acids are healthier and easier utilized in the dog's body.
By Snorri Halldorsson
Seafood Science Expert,Director of R&D at TickledPet