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The blanket term 'Krill' refers to all 85 deep water marine planktonic crustacean species, which combined make up the world's most abundant biomass. Krill has been informally harvested since the early 1800's and they are one of the most efficiently renewable food resources. Precautionary regulations in Canada have prevented over-harvesting. Krill species harvested in North America include Meganyctiphanes norvegica, Euphausia superba, Euphausia pacifica, Thysanoessa inermis and Thysanoessa raschii. There is no waste Krill is available in several forms for our pets, including frozen, various grades of meal, whole freeze-dried, flaked/ground freeze-dried and oil. These can be used as ingredients in homemade pet food recipes or mixed with commercial food as a supplement. Cats will often eat pieces of flaked freeze-dried Krill as a nutritious treat. Krill is rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Phospholipids (stimulates the building of cell membranes) and Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), including Omega 3, 6 and 9. It is an exceptionally rich source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids and DHA. Both DHA and EPA are crucial to fighting and preventing disease and overall health. The most commonly available Krill species are E. pacifica and E. superba, which have similar fatty acid composition. E. pacifica boasts higher EPA (ca. 23%) and DHA (ca. 14%) unsaturated fatty acids (Yamada, 1964). The promotion of healthy growth has been proven in many studies, from fish to humans. The increased growth rate isn't only attributed to increased consumption or nutrients, but has also been connected to natural steroids. Asthaxantin, a carotenoide, is abundant in Krill. In fact, over 95% of the pigments present in krill are in the form of asthaxantin, measuring a whopping 100 to 300 parts per million (ppm=mg/1). It is a more powerful antioxidant than Lutein, Alpha-tocopherol, Lycopene and Beta-carotene. As a supplement, Krill Oil is naturally more stable and bioavailable than fish oil and it contains no heavy metals. Krill far outperforms fish oil for heart and liver fat reduction. It is also higher than fish (and vitamins A & E) in antioxidants. Another unique & valuable quality of Krill is its Hydrolytic enzymes. A rarely seen combination of cohabitating enzymes results in mutual protection, so that one does not degrade the other. The immunity enhancement provided by Krill through its amazing nutrient profile is combined with unique contributions such as Chitin, which is 2.4 - 2.7% of their dry weight. It also promotes early development of the immune system, resulting in increased surivival rates of newborns. Krill has been repeatedly linked to disease resistance in animals and humans. It all adds up to a fantastic tool in the natural, holistic care of pets! Since scientific research on the effects of any item can be lacking for specific species, we suggest you research the known benefits of each component. For example, Krill is a premium, natural source of antioxidants. We can take that fact and research how antioxidants can improve the health of our specific pet. It is an effective way to avoid getting caught up in product hype as well - arm yourself with basic facts so your pet's paws remain firmly planted in reality. Following is some basic information to get you started...
The use of Krill for pets has yielded positive results in regards to the following:
Aquarium Fish & Shrimp enjoy all of the above, as well as:
We were pleasantly surprised recently to have a user of our Immunition Krill Krumbles post in the Canadian Aquarium Connection forum about his experience with them (in part below). "... I can identify improvements in ALL my fish for example:
I can not say enough about how glad I am to be off the store bought feed. At one time I thought twenty bucks was a good deal for a container the size of my fist. Now the math has changed..." ~ J. Burgess, Alberta (To read the full post and view pictures, please click here) As with any 'wonder food', we have to be diligent when selecting sources. Many of the beneficial components of Krill, including enzymes, antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins, are heat sensitive. Adding Krill to high heat processed food will therefore drastically decrease its benefits. When seeking Krill products, look for cold pressed oil, freeze-dried whole Krill and bio-encapsulated feed. It is also important to know the source and how the Krill is treated from harvest to consumer. The Canadian Krill product that we have chosen for our pets and yours, is immediately flash frozen aboard the fishing vessel and the oils are cold pressed.
Remember, there are no shortcuts when it comes to naturally sourced nutrients. There are methods to preserve those nutrients, methods that result in minimal losses and methods that destroy or change so many of the nutrients that the product is rendered useless when viewed as a benefit source. Saying that a food contains Krill does not necessarily mean that you are receiving all of the above benefits. An ethical manufacturer will be forthright with you about any losses due to their processing methods. Refusing to use products with less ethical representation, even if the end product is still ok, sends a message demanding improvement of both the food itself and in ethical accountability. If they do not want to be accountable for their product, they should address the problems they're hiding instead of misleading consumers. We encourage you to ask specific questions of manufacturers, such as the scientific basis of their claims. For example, if they tell you the product improves immunity, ask them how. If they say it's due to Krill, ask them which component. If they say it's due to a heat sensitive component and the product is heat processed, demand to know how this could be the case. Arming yourself with basic facts is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself as a consumer and most importantly, protect the health of your companion. Please don't be intimidated by their use of terminology and studies. If they confuse you, take a trip to the library, do web searches for the terminology, ask in pet discussion communities (this can be a good source or bad source - always verify the information), and take it to your veterinarian for help in deciphering it. © Melody McKinnon, AllNaturalPetCare.com - All rights reserved.
Join us on Facebook or Twitter for exclusive contests, news and information!  100% Fine-Grind Freeze-Dried Canadian Krill References: Disclaimer: Statements on this website may not have been evaluated by the FDA, Health Canada nor any other government regulator. The information and products provided by AllNaturalPetCare.com are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, nor prevent any disease and are intended for educational purposes only. Please research and consult a veterinarian before treating any condition/illness or making dietary changes. The owners/operators of All Natural Pet Care will not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages or loss in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions, suggestions or products on this website.
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From fish to humans, the benefits of Krill and Krill oil have been proven time and time again for many species. We haven't even scratched the surface of what this wonderful little creature can do for us and our pets. It is difficult to not get caught up in those possibilities, but we have focused on the facts based on scientific studies here.
in Krill - even the biproducts have value.
The presence of the amino acids proline, glycine and glocosamine can stimulate feeding behaviour in some animals (Shimizu et al., 1990). It is a very effective palatability ingredient, masking everything from less palatable ingredients to medication.
