Northwest Naturals is pleased to add a new protein species to our carnivore-based treats, bones, and diets for our cats and dogs. Since protein is the mainstay food for carnivores, having a wide variety of proteins adds nutritional value and increases palatability for our pets.

At this point in time our meat protein options include:

• Beef (canine & feline diets, treats, toppers, bones)
• Bison (canine diets, treats)
• Chicken (canine & feline diets, treats, toppers, bones)
• Duck (feline diets, bones)
• Green lipped mussels (treats, toppers)
• Lamb (canine diets, treats)
• Minnows (treats)
• Pork (treats)
• Rabbit (feline diets)
• Salmon (canine & feline diets, treats, toppers)
• Shrimp (treats)
• Turkey (canine & feline diets, bones)
• Trout (canine & feline diets)
• Whitefish (canine & feline diets, treats)

To this list we are now adding herring, a whitefish that hatches in fresh water but spends most of its life in oceans.  Our herring is sustainably sourced from the mineral-rich, fertile waters of the Baltic Sea.  In the FDA’s advisory list of the healthiest fish for consumption, herring always ranks in the top bracket. It is considered very low for the presence of mercury.

Herring is an extremely important dietary addition for carnivores because of its high levels of Essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Humans’, cats’, and dogs’ bodies lack the enzymes necessary to create Omega-3 fatty acids on our own, so since Omega-3 is vital to our health, we must consume foods rich in this nutrient to survive.  Marine animals are considered the best source for Essential Omega-3 fatty acids, with salmon, herring, mackerel, and sardines providing the richest amount. Some plants (flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts) contain Alpha-Linolenic Acid which the body can convert to Omega-3 but in a much less efficient process.  Seal and whale blubber and zooplankton are also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, but good luck finding them at your local supermarket or pet store.

The Essential Omega-3 fatty acids found in herring assist heart function, promotes healthy skin/hair/fur, enhance fetal brain development and adult brain functioning, improves insulin sensitivity, aids eye and retina health, helps prevent anemia and contains vitamin B 12, Vitamin D, the hard-to-find mineral selenium and iron. Essential?  Absolutely!

In addition, herrings are rich in Omega-11 fatty acid, the little known but full of possibilities Cetoleic Acid.  Recent research has shown that Cetoleic Acid appears to boost the efficiency of Omega-3’s powerful benefits, making it a useful component in our pets and our own diets. If you want the benefits of a convenient, powerful source of Essential Omega-3 fatty acids in your pet’s diet, herring is a healthy choice.

Herring is now available in the Northwest Naturals Raw Rewards line of freeze-dried treats. For optimal nutritional value, we freeze-dry the whole herring, giving your pet the added benefits of consumable bones, organs, eyes, etc., making them a perfect part of a whole prey diet. Herrings’ size is approximately 5”, offering a satisfying-sized treat for most dogs.  Smaller dogs and cats may need them broken into more easily consumable pieces, but this is easily done. The gently crisp texture, rich aroma and unique herring flavor are very tempting to most pets.

We love our pets and we enjoy giving them treats, but so many commercially produced treats are high in calories and have low-to-no nutritional value. Herring treats give pet parents an opportunity to enhance cats’ and dogs’ health with nutritious essential fatty acids, please their palates and improve their wellbeing, all in one guilt-free treat. Our pets will feel good when eating this treat, and we can feel good about feeding it. Who knew that one little fish, herring, could do so much!