🐾 Yes, Pets Need Fats – But Only the Right Kind, in the Right Amount
There was a time I believed leftovers were love.
In our house, no food went to waste – especially not rice with stew, or yam soaked in palm oil. Our dog back then, Zero, would lick up a plate of eba and egusi like it was gourmet.
We were sure we were doing good – feeding him richly, like family.
Until one Sunday evening, he couldn’t stand.
His belly looked swollen like soaked garri. His eyes were teary, and he kept pacing like something was eating him from the inside. The vet looked at us and said,
“Too much fat. Bad fat. His body is rejecting it.”
My panic was obvious.
Not just because Zero suffered – but because I caused it.
🔁 Present Day
That’s why when I saw Chinedu the other day preparing fufu and palm oil stew for his two dogs, I had a micro meltdown.
His dogs looked just like Zero did back then:
🚩 Bloated stomachs
🚩 Red, irritated eyes
🚩 Constant panting
🚩 Slow movement
🚩 Itchy skin patches
🚩 Dull, greasy fur
And in a moment, I relived everything.
The way I dropped my beans and called out could have startled even Goliath of the Philistines.
“Chinedu! Are trying to kill those dogs?" Was all I could shout.
We had a chat. I explained and showed him pictures of Zero’s old inflamed condition.
Zero had died at just 6 years old. I even brought out Stu – my chunky but balanced cat – to show what a healthy coat and posture should look like.
Stu looked up at him, yawned, and walked away like a passive-aggressive nutritionist.
🤔 If your pet is looking bloated, dull, itchy, or lazy – could it be the kind of fat you're feeding them?
🧪 Did You Know?
✍️ Dogs and cats need fat for energy, body insulation, vitamin absorption, and skin/coat health.
✍️ But not all fats are created equal:
✍️ Good Fats: Omega-3 & Omega-6 from fish oil, chicken fat, flaxseed
✍️ Bad Fats: Palm oil, fried food remnants, pork grease, spicy oil from stew
The wrong kind (and quantity) can lead to:
🚩 Obesity
🚩 Pancreatitis
🚩 Inflammation
🚩 Skin issues and lethargy
Cats, like Stu, need specific fatty acids (arachidonic acid) not found in plant oils.
📚 What I Know Now
⏹️ Feeding pets like humans is a fast road to regret.
⏹️ Palm oil is inflammatory for pets.
⏹️ Leftover stew is salty, spicy, and damaging.
⏹️ Dogs and cats need balanced animal-based fats, not heavy, oily extras.
🚫 Signs of excess/bad fats include:
🚩 Bloated stomachs
🚩 Red or irritated skin
🚩 Hair loss or oily coat
🚩 Weight gain with little energy
🚩 Diarrhea or constipation
🚩 Excessive scratching
🛠️ What I’m Practicing Now
✅ I use Omega-3 fish oil supplements for Blaze and a lick-safe salmon oil spray for Stu.
✅ I balance their kibble with unseasoned boiled chicken, boiled eggs, or sardines (in water, not oil).
✅ I keep their fat portion at 10-15% of total calories — never more.
✅ I rotate healthy oils: flaxseed, salmon oil, and sometimes coconut oil in small drops.
✅ I check for ingredients like “animal fat preserved with BHA/BHT” and avoid those.
🚨 What to Take Seriously
✍️ Just because your dog eats stew and fufu doesn’t mean he’s thriving.
✍️ The wrong fats inflame the body.
✍️ Always measure, never guess.
✍️ Pets are not built to eat spicy party food – no matter how much they beg.
✍️ If your pet's coat looks too greasy or patchy, look at the food – not just the shampoo.
🛍️ Helpful Links–some of them affiliate in nature
❤️ Grizzly Salmon Oil Omega-3 Supplement
❤️ Zesty Paws Omega Bites – Fish Oil Chews
❤️ Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw
❤️ Dinner Patties – Good Fat Ratio
❤️ Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Cats & Dogs
🎬 How It All Ended
Chinedu, after our rooftop chat, reluctantly tossed the stew.
He now uses small cooked chicken bits and sprinkles fish oil on their food once a week.
The change?
Their dogs no longer pant like old generators. Their eyes are clearer, and their coats don’t shine with stew oil, but with actual health.
He even greeted me loudly across the fence last week to say thank you; he had to shout because everywhere was vibrating to the oppressively loud sound of their gigantic power generator.
🧠 Final Thoughts:
Fat is good, but only when it’s:
✅ The right type
✅ In the right amount
✅ Balanced with protein and carbs
Don't let leftover guilt make you serve your dog what your own belly couldn’t finish.
If in doubt, ask your vet – or Stu (he judges silently but honestly).
🔮 Coming Up Next: “They Always Look Hungry!” The Truth About Pet Begging, Overfeeding, and the Power of Scheduled Meals"
You’ll learn how to desensitize yourself from yielding to those puppy dog eyes, without severing your nasal artery of course(like in "Black Widow ")😉
😂 Affiliate Disclosure:
Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I get a small commission – which I use to fund Stu’s luxury catnip addiction and Blaze plus Raya’s coconut biscuit lifestyle. No red oil involved.
✌️ Signing Out!
Nene Ajayi
Former stew-feeder. Now fat-fact evangelist. Rooftop storyteller with 2 dogs, a cat, and a conscience.
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