Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we often track many health concerns back to the administration of flea and tick treatments. Whilst correlation is not causation, there is still a correlation. So let’s take a look at how they work and see if we can understand why we don’t recommend them. Grab a cuppa, and sit tight! Permethrin, discovered in 1973, is predominantly administered as a spot-on formulation but has also been formulated in collars. A bit wordy but, permethrin works after contact with the arthropod and absorption into the arthropod either directly through the outer cuticle or through ingestion during feeding on the host. Permethrin is distributed throughout the arthropod nervous system. As this occurs, it interferes with the voltage-gated sodium channels of neurons by slowing down the activation and inactivation process of the sodium channel gates and significantly prolonging sodium ion influx. What this means is that it causes continuous nerve charges, resulting in restlessness, incoordination, tremor, paralysis, respiratory failure, and eventually arthropod death. It acts on the nervous system of the flea to kill it. Permethrin is touted for its fast metabolism in dogs – but cats lack the same enzyme necessary for this process, so any cats that are in contact with dogs who have been treated often show signs of toxicity – hypersalivation, motility disorders, lameness and in some cases death. Check out our article on cat detoxification here. Flea repellence is difficult to appropriately define and measure because fleas attack and bite so rapidly after arriving on the host – for this reason, it is claimed that products like this are designed to reduce flea numbers in the household, rather than to prevent new fleas from taking a bite. Fluralaner is a novel, recently developed chewable tablet, and a molecule of the isoxazoline class. Isoxazolines block the ligand-gated chloride channels of both GABA and glutamate receptors (and as we know these are chemical messengers in the nervous system). After oral administration and absorption int he digestive tract or topical administration and transdermal absorption, fluralaner is rapidly distributed by the circulatory system and maximum plasma levels are on average reached within 24 h after oral or approximately 7 days after topical administration in dogs. This compound has a slow-clearance rate in the body. Fluralaner is a systemically distributed anti-parasitic agent and, by definition, is not a repellent. The reason these products are used is to mitigate the risk of tick-borne disease is to disable the critter when they have latched on to your dog but a review carried out on the efficacy of flea and tick products concluded that there are no currently available acaricidal treatment that can completely prevent transmission of tick-borne diseases. Findings here The other reason these products are used is often if there are known allergies to fleas. But as these products don’t repel, you still run the risk of contact whilst the flea is being killed from ingesting the toxic compound. So, if these products don’t repel, is there anything we can do that can? 1) Start in the Garden! Plant pots of lemon balm, sage, rosemary, lemongrass, basil, and mint! These aromas are great for repelling those pesky fleas! Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis L., grows natively in West Asia,North Africa, and parts of Europe. As the name suggests, lemon balm has a lemony scent and flavour. And whilst you’re growing some, you may as well note the additional benefits: Antiviral Antispasmodic Improve cognitive function Promote digestion and mitigate griping pains Antioxidant Hepatoprotective Immunomodulatory Findings here 2) Apple Cider Vinegar! ACV can be added to water to support gut health in the dog, but it can also be used as a coat rinse – the smell is particularly repellent, to most! Never use neat, always dilute with filtered water. 3) Neem! Neem has a range of functions including: Fungicide – effective in cases of ringworm, yeast overgrowth and many more fungi species Antibacterial – neem has effectively suppressed several species of pathogenic bacteria Antiviral Insecticidal Controlling intestinal worms Findings here 4) Mint! Not just a breath freshener, it also repels pesky visitors. However, peppermint has been seen to possess the following benefits too: Antibacterial: Peppermint has demonstrated antimicrobial effects against a range of nasties, including:e.coli, salmonella, streptococcus, staphylococcus, Enterobacter and more! Attention is being paid to its role against multi drug resistance bacteria. Antifungal: Peppermint ha sbeen seen to have good fungicidal action against candida, and dermatophytic fungi. Findings here The reason we have considered additional benefits of these herbs is because worse outcomes are usually associated with a poorly functioning system – and so, in repelling nasties, and mitigating the risk of a burden, it is essential to take a whole health approach to parasite control. Ironically, the very administration of some of these treatments is often associated with a subsequently poorly functioning system. Reviews have even concluded that there is strong evidence that products not only target fleas and ticks but they compromise the health of the non-target species, in this case, the dog. Findings here And so, the single best thing we can do to support the overall health of our pets is provide a fresh, whole-food diet, use natural repellants, to find out more, click here. The body has cells, which have jobs to do. To do those jobs, they need nutrients, and whilst some nutrients can be synthesised in the body, many are ingested through the diet. Ensure the diet is full of bioavailable protein, fat, and a range of micronutrients. In order to fight any nasties that appear, a strong immune system is key, check out our article here to learn more about the function of the immune system here and for some top foods to help support it here. If you are concerned that any treatment you have administered has compromised your dog’s system, as the above review highlights, then check out our article on detoxification here and also ensure you are supporting their gut health here. If you would like any support with your dog’s health,
Whilst we often reference lip licking in anticipation food, there are a number of reasons why dogs especially, may demonstrate this behaviour. Some may even surprise you. So, let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons for lip smacking, or licking, that we see here at My Pet Nutritionist. 1) Anticipation of Food! We can head back to Pavlov and his dogs to put this behaviour into context. Most of us are familiar with the concept of conditioning that Pavlov introduced – he paired a bell with food, and eventually, the dogs would salivate in anticipation of the food, just by hearing the bell. This increase in salivation will encourage lip licking to help manage the extra fluid in the mouth! But what is also interesting is that food also stimulates the reward system in the brain – and the physical response to this type of reward is often saliva – again, the lip licking is a mechanism to manage the extra fluid in the mouth. 2) Lip Licking in response to stress! Not surprisingly, stress can result in hypo (too little) and hyper (too much) salivation! Either way, lip licking is often the result. On the one side, activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), redirects resources and in doing so, digestive functions are sacrificed. As saliva is an important part of the digestive process, production is therefore reduced. The resulting dry mouth can encourage lip licking behaviour. Licking is also a maternal behaviour – they would clean and groom their offspring, soothing them during the action. Many dogs demonstrate licking behaviour because it elicits positive responses. It is well demonstrated that those born to Mothers who engaged in grooming/licking behaviour, are more resilient to stress, and develop more appropriate coping mechanisms. Findings here That said, increased salivation can be implicated in certain health issues that are exacerbated by stress – here salivation may be a side effect of an underlying issue, like acid reflux. 3) Acid Reflux Acid reflux is where stomach acid ends up somewhere it shouldn’t. As we know, the body is pretty nifty and has a few tricks up it’s sleeve to deal with rogue compounds. In response to the irritant in the oesophagus (stomach acid), salivary glands can over produce in an attempt to neutralise it. Ironically, acid reflux can be a result of reduced salivary production in the first place. There are a number of causes of acid reflux, poor lower sphincter functioning, abnormal oesophageal clearance, altered mucosal resistance and delayed gastric emptying (which is why it can be implicated alongside stress). If you would like more information about tackling acid reflux, then check out our blog here. 4) To smell better! Dogs use their tongues to enhance their sense of smell. When they lick a surface their transfer molecules via their tongue to olfactory receptors and then to the vomero nasal organ. When a dog keeps their nose wet, they are lowering the surface tension of the scent molecules so they can be translated better! Dogs are incredible at detecting minute traces in their environment – this also applies to information from us humans. We must consider whether our dog is attempting to gain more information about those around him when he is licking his lips. 5) Gastrointestinal Disorder Lip licking is often paired with nausea,along with excess salivation, lack of appetite, increased swallowing and lethargy. For this reason, it is often considered that lip licking is more likely associated with some gastrointestinal disorder or discomfort. One particular study sought to investigate this. Dogs demonstrating excessive licking behaviour were studied. In 14 of 19 licking dogs, gastrointestinal abnormalities were noted. They included: Delayed gastric emptying Irritable bowel syndrome/disease Food intolerances or allergies Pancreatitis Gastric foreign body Giardia Researchers concluded that full gastric health should be considered in any dog presenting with excessive licking behaviour. Findings here If you would like a head start on supporting your dog’s digestive health, then check out our blogs here: The Dog’s Digestive System 7 Steps to Optimal Gut Health for Your Pet Natural Guide for Pets IBD Pancreatitis and a Natural Nutrition Regime 6) Disorders of the Mout Gum disease is an inflammatory condition,symptoms include bad breath, drooling along with mouth and tongue inflammation. Sadly, bacteria can be translocated from the mouth into the rest of the body, often causing secondary infections and issues. For more information on dental care for your dog check out our blog here. But disorders of the mouth aren’t limited to periodontal disease. They can also include lip disorders found in those breeds with dropping upper lips and lower lip folds (like spaniels,bulldogs and St. Bernards). The lips accumulate moisture, becoming the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The lip folds can become fowl-smelling,inflamed, uncomfortable and swollen, resulting in your dog licking them to try to soothe them. Keeping these folds is therefore essential to your dog’s health! As is supporting their skin and oral microbiome. Please check out blog on puppy microbiome here. Your dog can also develop lip wounds – from a rogue branch or grass seed that has gotten wedged. If you are concerned about your dog’s lip licking behaviour – checking in their mouth is a good place to start. These are the more common reasons why your dog may be licking their lips, but they are not the only ones. Your dog may lip his lips for any one of the following reasons: Medication side effect Infectious disease Car sickness Reluctance to swallow (irritation/blockage) Inflamed tonsils Structural defects in the mouth Metabolic disorder (liver or kidney issues), Natural Guide To Liver Disease and Natural Nutrition Guide to Kidney Disease. Abscess. Disorder/blockage of the salivary glands Pain Whilst we can’t change the structure of your dog’s mouth, we have a wealth of experience tackling gastrointestinal disorders in the canine. If you are concerned about excessive lip licking in your dog and are wondering where to start, check out our services to see
Whilst not our general remit, here at My Pet Nutritionist, we often see the longer-term impact of infection or infestation of certain parasites in dogs. We can often trace digestive discomfort to parasite treatment protocols too! For that reason, we thought we’d explore parasites in a little more detail. Parasites can be endo or ecto. The difference is their habitat. Endo = lives inside the host Ecto = lives on the surface, outside of the host. Ectoparasites The most common ectoparasites include ticks, mites, fleas, lice, mosquitoes, and flies. We are interested in them because: They may cause cutaneous lesions which may lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections and various kinds of dermatitis, They can induce immunopathological responses, especially allergic reactions, with flea allergic dermatitis (FAD)being the most important They can transmit pathogens They may be zoonotic or transmit zoonotic infections Their control is part of maintaining healthy pets – he direct health implications of ectoparasite infestation can be more than skin deep, for example heavy blood sucking arthropods can cause anaemia. Fleas In Europe the most common flea species found on dogs, cats and on other small mammalian companion animals are Ctenocephalidesfelis, followed by C. canis, Archaeopsylla erinacei (hedgehog flea), and occasionally other flea species such as Ceratophyllus gallinae, Echidnophagagallinacea (poultry fleas), Spilopsyllus cuniculi (rabbit flea) and Pulexirritans (human flea). Fleas are 1–6 mm long, flattened wingless insects, with robust hind legs enabling jumping and possess a mouth adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Once emerged from the pupa, adult male and female fleas start to actively seek a host. In the absence of a host, they can only survive for a few days. After the first blood meal, they need daily blood meals for survival and usually remain on the same host for the remainder of their life. Maximal recorded longevity is 160 days, but most fleas survive for about one to three weeks as they are groomed out by the host. Non-allergic animals may have few or no clinical signs and only show occasional scratching due to irritation caused by fleas or their bites. Animals that are allergic or develop an immunological reaction to flea saliva, show pruritus, alopecia, broken hairs, and scabs with crusts. Moist dermatitis may also be seen. In chronic cases, the skin shows thickening and hyperkeratosis. In young, old, or sick animals, heavy infestations with a large number of fleas can cause anaemia. Infection with tapeworm can be an indication of a current or recent flea infestation. Ticks Female ticks can increase their weight up to 120 times as they engorge with blood; when fully engorged they can measure around one centimetre in length and resembles a small bean. Ticks spend a variable time on their hosts;in some species, each stage feeds for only a short period of one to two weeks.Generally, ticks are seen as vectors of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and nematodes affecting both companion animals and humans. Infections can be transmitted in saliva as the ticks feed or, more rarely, after the tick is ingested. Generally, tick infestation is highly seasonal; in the UK and central Europe there are typically two peaks, one inMarch to June and a second in August to November. Ticks can be found all over the body but the main sites are the non-hairy and thin-skinned areas such as the face, ears,between the toes and perianal regions. Removal of blood, in heavy infestations and under certain circumstances, may lead to anaemia. The wound caused by a tick bite may also become infected especially if the if the tick is forcibly removed and the mouth parts remain in the skin. Attached engorging female ticks, which can measure 1 cm in length, are easy to see. The main concern of ticks is their role as vectors of pathogenic agents which cause a range of tick-borne diseases. Demodectic Mange Mites Female mites are up to 0.3 mm long, males up to 0.25 mm. Demodex mites in dogs are considered a normal community found in the skin and are seen in small numbers on many dogs without any clinical signs. They spend their entire life in the lumen of hair follicles, but in heavy infestations, they invade the sebaceous glands. Demodex mites are unable to survive away from their hosts. Demodectic mange caused by D. canisis a common skin disease in dogs. Newborn puppies usually acquire mites fromtheir mothers via direct skin contact during nursing, and so the first sites ofinfestation are the upper lip, eyelids, nose, forehead and ears. Over time, mites colonise the skin overmost of the body. Demodex spp. don’t infest other animal species(including humans) and although transmission of mites may occur during directcontact between older animals, the disease is not considered to be contagioussince most animals that develop demodicosis are thought to suffer from anunderlying condition or a genetic defect that compromises their immune systems. Endoparasites When we look at endoparasites, we are generally considering some type of worm. Roundworm Toxocara canis and toxascaris leonine are two species of roundworm that are known to affect dogs. Both are long, white and spaghetti-like in appearance and absorb nutrients from the infected dog. Roundworm larvae will initially infect adog’s intestinal tract but can burrow their way into other bodily tissues and organs. As the larvae mature, they will move onto the lungs to develop, then upto the airway before being coughed up and swallowed again, re-entering the intestine to complete their lifecycle. Toxascaris leonina however, do not move around the body and have a far simpler lifecycle. Tapeworm Tapeworms are flat, segmented little creatures. They belong to the cestode familyof intestinal worms. The tapeworm uses its hook-like mouth parts to attach to the wall of the small intestine. The adult worms may reach 30 cm in length. As the adult matures, individual segments, called proglottids, are passed in the faeces of an infected dog. The proglottids are about 12 mm long and about 3mm wide. They are easy to recognise as grains of rice. Tapeworms must first passthrough an intermediate
We know that physical exercise is one of the pillars of health for our canine friends but getting outside, benefits both them and us in more ways than one. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we advocate a holistic approach to health and well-being, so let’s go a little off the beaten track, and take a step back from nutrition per se for a moment. Did you know that being in nature reduces scores of anxiety and depression? Our species has existed for thousands upon thousands of years – but even the oldest cities have only been around a fraction of that! What this means is that we largely evolved in nature, and this environment therefore shaped our brains – for want of a better phrase, going back to nature almost takes us back to our roots. What the data says: Being in nature is seen to improve sleep scores Spending time in green spaces simply makes us happier Mental stress scores significantly reduce when we live in urban areas with increased green spaces Time in nature improves our relationships with others and also cognitive functioning Findings here Findings here Findings here Not only that, but it is thought that exposure to green spaces reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death and high blood pressure. Findings here Spending time outside is also beneficial for our microbiomes. Nature and The Microbiome The skin can be seen as an ecosystem, composed of living biological and physical components occupying diverse habitats. Disruptions of this ecosystem can result in skin in disorders or infections. These issues call the immune system to action, creating inflammation. Sadly, chronic inflammation is linked to a range of issues throughout the body. Exposure to toxins can disrupt this ecosystem, but it can become imbalanced simply by not having exposure to enough of the “good guys!” We can find these good guys outside, in nature. It is well established that those who live in rural locations possess more diverse bacteria on their skin. But this similarly applies to the microbiome found in the lungs too! A particular study wanted to explore the impact of nature on allergic disease suffered in the lungs. Two groups of mice were housed, one group with potted soil, one with sterile bedding. Mice who had lived on clean bedding were more susceptible to developing lung inflammation in response to asthma-triggering allergens than those housed with soil! As an aside, in this particular study, those housed with soils also scored lower on standard stress tests. Findings here In short, what is concluded is that exposure to soil supports immune tolerance and stress resilience. It is clear that being in nature is beneficial to both our physical and mental health – not only for the rewards of movement. The same applies to our dogs. Nature and Our Dogs We know that exercise improves cardiovascular health and more, but we don’t always have to exercise our dogs when outside. Yes, we said it. Stick with us a moment. Dogs use their nose to explore their environment, and what is particularly interesting is that after activity, their sniffing capacity significantly reduces. Findings here This also applies if they are stressed,stress results in the same physiological responses as activity in many ways. Therefore, it’s clear that getting outside and allowing your dog to “just be” and explore their environment, is of benefit to them. If we return to those studies on mice – as dogs sniff, they are exposing themselves to more diverse bacteria, which could potentially support their immune tolerance. Nose breathing also stimulates the vagus nerve, which as we know is the chief of the parasympathetic nervous system – this is why we often hear that allowing a dog to sniff lowers their heart rate. The simple exposure to soils through their paws and fur can also be of benefit to their whole body. Dogs groom themselves, so the soil they have walked through, is then potentially ingested. The good bugs can help support a diverse community, but this same mechanism occurs with soil laced in pesticide and exposure to harmful pesticides can result in dysbiosis. This is one of the main concerns facing us. Many countries are managing to significantly reduce their usage of pesticides, but others are increasing it. For example, Armenia have seen a 2650% increase in pesticide use since 1990. USA have seen a 125% increase in use. In the UK, we have reduced usage by 34%! Findings here If you would like to explore more about how pesticides and more affect the microbiomes in our dogs, check out our blogs here, And here. On the subject of toxins – rural air has significantly less air pollution than that found in urban locations. It is believed that half of the world’s population are exposed to increasing levels. Findings here Trees remove pollutants from the air and plants are often seen as the “lungs” of an ecosystem because they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. They also act as an ecosystem’s “liver,” filtering atmospheric pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide through their leaves. Trees are particularly effective at removing particulate matter (PM). PM comes in the form of tiny particles of organic chemicals, acids, metals and dust which are emitted from fossil-fuel-burning vehicles and factories, as well as construction sites. The largest of these particles measure up to 10 micrometers across (known as PM10s), which is around a fifth of the width of a human hair. There are also PM2.5s, measuring 2.5 micrometres across, being even smaller nanoparticle pollution. Fine particulate matter can easily permeate the respiratory system, causing lung and cardiovascular issues, but it has also been linked to inflammation and heart disease, so reduced exposure is particularly important and trees can help us here! Summary It is clear that spending time in nature ticks all boxes for all our bodily systems; it supports immune function, cardiovascular health, mental health and more! Dog walks as exercise are necessary – but dog walks in nature are
Did you know that body wasting is found in 65-90% of patients with advanced liver disease? These patients often develop micronutrient deficiencies which ultimately results in malnutrition. Being a more common disease than we’d like to see here at My Pet Nutritionist, it is clear that there are nutritional implications in any treatment plan. For that reason, we thought we’d explore liver disease in a little more detail, with specific reference to food choices. What is Liver Disease? Liver disease can present in many different ways – it can range from chronic hepatitis, acute liver failure, portosystemic shunts to hepatic encephalopathy. For more information on these specific manifestations, check out our blog here. Here you will also find any signs and symptoms to look out for. But before we get into what happens when it goes wrong, let’s look at what a healthy liver does. The major functions of the liver include: Bile production: Bile helps the small intestine breakdown and absorb fats, cholesterol, and those fat soluble vitamins. Bile consists of bile salts, cholesterol, bilirubin, electrolytes, and water. Absorbing and metabolising bilirubin: Bilirubin is formed by the breakdown of haemoglobin. The iron released from haemoglobin is stored in the liver or bone marrow and used to make the next generation of blood cells. Supporting blood clots: Vitamin K is necessary for the creation of coagulants that help clot the blood. Bile is essential for vitamin K absorption and is created in the liver. If the liver does not produce enough bile, clotting factors cannot be produced. Fat metabolisation: Bile breaks down fats which makes them easier to digest. Metabolising carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are stored in the liver, where they are broken down into glucose and siphoned into the bloodstream to maintain normal glucose levels. They are stored as glycogen and released whenever energy is needed. Vitamin and mineral storage: The liver stores vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12. The liver stores iron from haemoglobin in the form of ferritin, ready to make new red blood cells.The liver also stores and releases copper (which is why copper toxicity in dogs is associated with liver failure). Filters the blood: The liver filters and removes compounds from the body, including hormones and compounds from outside the body, like medications. For more information on detox, check out our blog here. Immunological function: The liver is part of the mononuclear phagocyte system. It contains high numbers of Kupffer cells that are involved in immune activity. These cells destroy any disease-causing agents that might enter the liver through the gut. Production of albumin: Albumin is a protein found in the blood. It transports fatty acids and steroid hormones to help maintain pressure and prevent the leaking of blood vessels. It is the higher circulating albumin found in dogs that suggests they possess an increased fat oxidation capacity, in comparison to humans. Synthesis of angiotensinogen: This hormone raises blood pressure by narrowing the blood vessels when alerted by production of an enzyme called renin in the kidneys. But perhaps the most interesting function of the liver, is its ability to regenerate. In mice, if two thirds of their liver is removed, the remaining tissue can regrow to its original size within 5-7 days! In humans, this process takes slightly longer, but it can still occur. In dogs, the mechanism is thought to occur similarly to that in the mouse., but maximum response is seen after three days, as opposed to 24-hour peak in rat regeneration. Findings here Liver Guard This regeneration is helped by a number of compounds, including growth factors and cytokines like: hepatocyte growth factor insulin transforming growth factor-alpha epidermal growth factor interleukin-6 norepinephrine Micronutrients to Support Liver Health Almost all chronic liver diseases are under the background of elevated oxidative stress. Great sources ofessential antioxidants are foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, and trace element selenium. Plant foods also contain compounds that have antioxidant activity, such as ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, curcumin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, lipoic acid,lycopene, N-acetyl cysteine, quercetin, and resveratrol. Blueberries This versatile berry contains anthocyanins, an antioxidant, protecting the liver from oxidative stress. Studies have found that in the livers of rats, such protective compounds found in fruits like blueberries slowed the development of scar tissue, and may be useful in the prevention of hepatic fibrosis. CruciferousVegetables (Brussel sprouts, broccoli) Not only does this family of vegetables provide a wide range of nutrients and health benefits, they also have the added ability of increasing the liver’s natural detoxification enzymes and improving overall liver function by decreasing oxidative stress. Findings here Nuts Nuts, which are high in healthy fats and Vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant) as well as other phytochemicals, have shown potential for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by reducing inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver. Fatty fish (mackerel, tuna, salmon, trout) Consuming fatty fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids regularly can modulate inflammation and enzyme levels. Findings here A review of plant-based foods for liver health indicated the following as beneficial: broccoli carrots collard greens kale sweet potato cabbage banana papaya pomegranate watermelon Findings here Patients with liver disease are advised to avoid nightshade plants like tomatoes and eggplant as they can become hepatotoxic. Macronutrients to Support Liver Health The liver plays a crucial role in the metabolism of proteins along with carbohydrates and fats. It carries out four main functions in protein metabolism. The first is the formation of blood proteins. These blood proteins include clotting factors, carrier and transport proteins, hormones, apolipoproteins, and other proteins involved in homeostasis and the maintenance of pressure, such as albumin. The liver is also involved in amino acid interconversion. Amino acids are divided into two groups, essentials—those that the body is unable to produce,which must be obtained from the diet and non-essentials, those that the body can synthesise. The liver is able to alter the structure of amino acids and transfer amino radicals to a keto acid to produce the amino acids needed for the body. This process is critical in many body functions, especially gluconeogenesis. The third function is amino acid deamination, or breakdown, the by-products
Being the most common clinical condition in adult dogs, periodontal disease raises the flag on why dental care is so important in optimal canine health. Sadly, here at My Pet Nutritionist, we see it, a lot. Periodontal disease begins when bacteria in the dog’s mouth forms to create a substance called plaque. The plaque sits on the surface of the teeth and with the help of saliva, it hardens to form tartar. Not only does it sit on the teeth, plaque and tartar seeps into gum lines which causes inflammation. Over a period of time, this inflammation and presence of bacteria causes damage to the structures surrounding the teeth; causing receding gum lines and eventually tooth loss. These bacteria can also travel to other parts of the body, causing a range of additional health concerns. So, let’s look at periodontal disease in more detail and what we can do to prevent it! But, before we get to the diseased mouth, let’s take a look at a healthy mouth. The Canine Mouth Puppies are born without teeth and they then develop 28 of them. They will shed these between 4-6 months of age as their 42 adult teeth erupt. A dog will possess: incisors canines premolars and molars Incisors are used for cutting food; dogs have 6 upper (maxilla) and 6 lower (mandible). Next come the canines, which are used to grab and tear food, there are 2 canines in the mandible and 2 in the maxilla. The premolars are used for chewing, tearing, and biting; there are 8 in both the mandible and maxilla. Finally, molars are used to crush food; dogs have 4 in the maxilla and in the mandible. Teeth in fact provide the first step of digestion, but over their lifetime and in consideration of genetics and poor hygiene, many dogs will lose most, or all of their teeth. Dental Disease From the moment a tooth erupts it is exposed to food, saliva, and bacteria. Periodontal disease occurs when there is a buildup of bacteria in the mouth, which forms plaque. Eventually,this hardens to form tartar. This can sit in the gum line causing inflammation, known as gingivitis. Left untreated, further harm occurs which results in periodontitis, where teeth fall out and damage can occur to the surrounding bone. Signs your dog has dental disease: Bad breath Pawing at his mouth Reluctance to eat Food or toys will have blood on them Smaller breeds are statistically more likely to suffer with periodontal disease, as are brachycephalic breeds. Their teeth are often closer together which means food and bacteria can more easily get stuck. But what is also interesting is that it is generally accepted that the inflammation and resulting tissue damage is due to an improperly regulated immune response to bacterial infection, and not solely from the bacterial pathogens themselves. This suggests that if your dog already has immune mediated health concerns, then they may be at a higher risk of dental disease. Findings here The point to make is that gingivitis is thought to be reversible, whereas periodontitis is not. Not only is the mouth and teeth a concern, but the bacteria found in the mouth of your dog can be released into the circulatory system, which then travels through the body. It has been found to damage cardiac tissue causing endocarditis (infection and inflammation in the heart). Studies have also shown that periodontal disease is linked to increased insulin resistance and kidney, and liver issues. Findings here All things considered, prevention is certainly better than cure, so what can we do? 1) Avoid ultra-processed refined foods Ultra-processed food is defined as any food that undergoes multiple processes like extrusion and milling. They may also contain added ingredients that are highly manipulated. Sadly, many dry based dog foods fall directly under this definition. In human Hunter-gatherer studies, it is demonstrated that cavities and gum disease were a rarity, and this remains in modern times; Aboriginals living a traditional lifestyle do not generally get dental disease until they adopt a Western diet. There are a number of reasons for this. The mouth, just like the gut contains its own microbiome. It is a community of microbes that maintain balance; the good guys can keep the bad guys in check. Not only do ultra-processed foods skew the balance in the mouth, but they do also the same in the remainder of the digestive tract. As we know, the gut houses much immune tissue, and so it does in fact train the immune response. As we mentioned early, it is thought that much of the damage originating in the mouth is due to an improperly regulated immune response and not solely the bacterial pathogens themselves. For this reason, we would advocate the removal of an ultra-processed diet for oral and gut microbiome health. For more information on the microbiome in your dog, check out our blog here. 2) Dental Sticks There are a number of chews on the market promoting oral health, but it is actually the mechanism of chewing that helps to reduce build up. Chewing stimulates saliva which produces anti-bacterial agents, helping to keep the mouth clean. Not only this but the abrasion that occurs during chewing helps to scrape deposits off the teeth. What type of chew is best? Here’s what the data suggests: Raw bones reduced mouth bacteria by 79% Daily brushing reduced it by 70% and, Marketed dental chews reduced it by 54-60%. Findings here Raw bones lead the way in reducing bacteria,and the added bonus? You know exactly what you are feeding. There is no long list of ingredients to consider. If you are opting for raw bones, ensure they are a manageable size for your dog; chicken necks and wings are a great place to start if you’ve never fed them before! If you’d learn to learn more about the benefits of chewing for your dog, check out our blog here. 3) Diet It is thought that periodontal disease may be related to
We all understand the importance of taking our dog for that daily walk – not only to provide physical exercise, but to sniff, play and have a stroke from the neighbours. Yet, what we sometimes forget, is the importance of mental stimulation for our faithful friends. Not only are brain games known to help ward off cognitive decline, which is crucial for our ageing pets but brain games help reduce stress and manage anxious behaviours too! Findings here Time and time again,when given the choice, animals will always choose a more complex environment. So, as we look to support optimal health in all ways we can here at My Pet Nutritionist, we thought we’d compile some of our favourite brain games for dogs! 1) Name Game! Here, we are teaching our dog the name of all his toys. Encourage your dog to retrieve one of his toys. As soon as he collects it, label the toy, “ball!” “rope!” etc. Repeat and praise as he retrieves it. Start with one or two toys. If he doesn’t falter to retrieve the correct toy, introduce more toys. This game is testing his memory as well as his recognition. This game is perfect for those toy orientated dogs – providing they don’t choose to run off with the toy and ignore you. If this happens, calmly ignore them until they return. Remember, you are praising and providing attention for the behaviour you want to see! You can always use this game to introduce tidy up time – as you ask your dog to retrieve specific toys, hold your hands over an allocated storage box. As he brings the toy to the box, label the behaviour “tidy!” Praise and reward. 2) Spin the bottle! Perfect for those food orientated pooches. You will need: A sturdy plastic bottle (we know it’s not eco, but not so bad if you are able to recycle) A cross bar – a piece of doweling or bamboo Pierce holes on opposite sides of the bottle – large enough so you can push the cross bar through. You should be able to hold the cross bar and the bottle will spin around on the bar. Put some small treats into the plastic bottle to start with, so it’s easy for your dog in the first attempt. Food orientated pooches will immediately sniff out the treats in the bottle and attempt to get them out. They need to learn to spin the bottle, so the treats fall out. Once they have figured out the basic idea of the game, you can make it more difficult by using a range of sized treats, so some fall out quite easily, others don’t. Or you can move you hands to the cross bar and provide some resistance as they spin the bottle. Remember to make allowance for any additional food/treats in allocated mealtimes. It can soon add up! 3) Gone Potty Another one for those food orientated pooches and another one to make them think. What you will need: High value treats 3 plastic plant pots Start with one pot upside down and place a treat underneath it. Allow your dog to watch you place the treat. Encourage your dog to knock the pot over to get to the treat. Introduce another plant pot – allowing your dog to watch which pot you put the treat under. Eventually, you can be working with the three plant pots. Your dog has to figure out where the treat is – he may have watched you, or he may have sniffed it out. Watch for impatient dogs who just knock all the pots over to find it; a different game may be best for them; brains over brawn after all! 4) Shy Dog! What you will need: Post it notes Treats Place a post-it-note on your dog’s nose. He should instinctively paw at it to remove it. As he does, praise and reward him. Repeat. Don’t worry if he removes it, just apply another one. As he paws to remove the note, label the behaviour “shy dog” or whichever command you think fits. Repeat. Eventually, he should be a shy dog, on command. 5) Treasure Hunt A super-easy brain game is the good old treasure hunt. First of all, figure out which reward your dog places a higher value on. Offer him food and toy rewards on the ground. Watch the reward he chooses first. This will be your treasure. Whichever he opts for, you are going to hide it around your home. Place treats/toys behind cushions,curtains, under tables or stools, behind doors, in boxes etc. Just be mindful that you place the treasure where it’s safe to access and you’re sure your dog won’t just barge their way around your home to find it! You may have to show your dog where you are hiding the treasure when you first introduce this game, just until they get the hang of it. You can build tidy up time into this game if you are using toys too! Inadequate mental stimulation can present in many ways from pacing and destruction to self-licking and self-harm. To support our dog’s health and well-being, we need to provide for both his physical and emotional needs. Brain games are a great place to start! Whilst we may conjure up images of our dog’s equivalent of Sudoku, brain games simply provide cognitive challenge. The important thing is to provide just enough challenge – if your dog seems disinterested, try a different game, if they seem frustrated, end the session with something you know they can do, and try to approach the game in a different way next session. As Ignacio Estrada poignantly suggested, “if a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” The same applies to our dogs. Thanks for reading! Team MPN x
Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we are often presented with a range of tests, that seemingly identify what your pet is allergic to. These tests will often even highlight how severe the allergy is. But do you want to know a secret? They often don’t help. We realise that this may a bold statement, so we’ll explore the mechanism behind allergies in a little more detail, and why there are better tools to establish what’s going on in your pet. An allergy is an unnecessary immune response to an innocuous substance, but a true allergy can be fatal. Immune Responses The innate immune system provides the first line of defence; broadly divided into physical/chemical barriers and nonspecific response. The physical barriers include the skin and mucosa of the digestive and respiratory tracts. Saliva, tears, and mucous all help to provide a barrier, as does the microbiome of the skin and gut and of course stomach acid. Hair inside the nasal capacity also traps pathogens and environmental pollutants. Pathogens that sneakily get past these first defences are next welcomed by the nonspecific innate response. Here cells recognise and bind to pathogens and engulf them. White blood cells are recruited to the site of infection, leading to the well-known inflammatory response. The inflammatory response, whilst often on the receiving end of bad press, is a vital response to injury, infection,trauma, and other insults. Mast cells release histamine, and histamine causes blood vessels to widen, there by increasing blood flow to the area and so, we have the usual signs like redness, heat, swelling and pain associated with inflammation. Mast cells are particularly numerous at potential sites of injury like the nose, mouth, feet, internal body surfaces and blood vessels. Histamine is also stored and released from cells in the stomach. Histamine is involved in stomach acid secretion, but it also has effects on smooth muscle which is why it is thought to be involved in increased peristalsis (movement of food through the digestive system) in food allergies. This is why antihistamine use can be implicated in poor digestive function. The inflammatory response is also a key player in the third line of defence, adaptive immunity. This system is likewise activated by exposure to pathogens, but it uses an immunological memory to learn about the threat and adjust its response accordingly. The adaptive immune response is much slower to respond to threats and it relies on fewer types of cells to carry out its work. Some of these cells manufacture immunoglobulins which are proteins that circulate in the blood stream and bind to antigens (allergens). Immunoglobulins also known as antibodies, abbreviated as Ig, are involved in our dog’s systems when they fight off infections, but they are also involved in sensitivities or allergic reactions to things in the environment or food. A food allergy or other allergic response is caused by an IgE antibody reacting towards that allergen. IgE binds to mast cells to promote histamine release. IgA is an antibody that lives in mucous membranes, inside nasal cavities, and lungs. It helps to protect the respiratory tract as a first line of defence. IgM is the first immunoglobulin that is encountered in an infection, or vaccines for the first time. IgG is the work horse antibody; it is the soldier, the memory antibody. This is what gets drafted when your dog is exposed to something they have already figured out a response to. Here in lies the problem – many allergy tests claim to test IgG. IgG is the memory antibody – so all this is really indicating is exposure. Tests Available Blood – this test is where a sample of blood is taken. It has been noted to measure total IgE antibodies found in the blood, but there are also specificIgE tests which measure the level of antibodies in response to particular allergens. Other blood tests measure IgG antibodies. There are many test providers to be found online – so what they measure is usually very individual. Fur – these tests are usually carried out using bio resonance technology which measures the frequencies emitted from the hair sample. It is based on the idea that unhealthy cells or organs emit altered electromagnetic waves due to DNA damage. Saliva – these tests generally measure IgM, IgA and IgG. It is thought that the same immunoglobulins that are generally found in the blood, are found in the saliva, but this way is less invasive. That said, there are food sensitivities that are deemed non-IgE, meaning they don’t recruit IgE antibodies, which would suggest a blood test would be inconclusive, despite showing symptoms like vomiting, bloating and diarrhoea. What the Data Shows: Testing often show positive results for apparently healthy dogs (not demonstrating any symptoms of discomfort). Findings here There are often no clear differences in positive reactions between allergic dogs and healthy dogs. Findings here There is no clear difference in total IgE and IgG before starting an elimination diet, and completing an elimination diet, despite there being symptomatic improvement when re-challenged. Findings here When comparing saliva and fur samples from healthy and allergic dogs, the distribution of positive and negative results was no different to that expected by random chance. This sample also include fake fur. Findings here This doesn’t mean the reaction doesn’t occur – what this means is that that testing is inconclusive. For that reason, elimination diets remain the gold standard for diagnosing adverse food reactions in dogs. Findings here A true allergy can be fatal, but true allergies are less common than you would think. In our pets, we are generally tackling sensitivities, and this often starts with a poorly functioning digestive system. In normal conditions, the digestive tract should be impermeable to antigens. When it is damaged, antigens can boldly go where no antigen has gone before, resulting in the immune response we discussed earlier. The inflammatory response, if prolonged, can result in further damage, permeating other antigens, and so the cycle continues. Therefore, gut healing is so
You are what you eat! This is a phrase that has dominated the media for decades. On a biochemical level it’s true – each cell in the body has a function, to carry out that function, it needs nutrients, co-factors and energy. Whilst some nutrients and cofactors can be synthesised within the body – in one way shape of form, what cells need must come from somewhere, and that somewhere is the diet. This also applies to the cells that tell us, and our dogs how to behave, or more interestingly, influences how us or them feel. So, can food affect behaviour? It sure can! But the full answer needs a little more explanation, so grab a coffee and join us as we take a look at the link between food and mood, and specifically which compounds or foods may play a role. What is Mood? Mood is the way us or our dogs are feeling at a particular time and they can change – depending on internal and external factors. Although they can change – moods still have physiological symptoms – for example, during anger, heart rate increases and in humans, a noticeable red flush to the face. When calm, heart rate reduces. Being focussed or distracted is also a mood and this is largely affected by biochemical processes too. In this case, the right balance of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and these chemical messengers are in fact a key element in how food can influence behaviour. Neurotransmitters are like the nervous system’s carrier pigeons. The main neurotransmitters that do that work are acetylcholine, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, histamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Neurotransmitters can be excitatory, or inhibitory. They either make something do something or stop something doing something. Like an accelerator and a brake pedal. All of these neurotransmitters must be made from something. We can think of it like a recipe for behaviour – we have main ingredients, but we also need some seasoning (co-factors)! So, let’s take a look at the recipe book for some of the heavy lifting neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine Acetylcholine stimulates muscle contraction, both skeletal and smooth. It is also involved in attention, memory, and learning. Acetylcholine is needed in high amounts during waking hours, but in low levels during restorative sleep. In most cases acetylcholine is excitatory. What is of interest is that acetylcholine is released by nerve cells during times of mild stress (or concentrating on learning something new), so during these times, demand is increased. Acetylcholine is synthesised from choline and it is carried out in the liver. Sources of choline include egg yolks, liver, kidney and seeds. Dopamine Dopamine can be both inhibitory and excitatory depending on the receptors it acts upon. It contributes to the control of voluntary movement and influences learning, attention, and emotion. It is largely associated with reward mechanisms in the brain and plays a part in pleasure seeking. Dopamine gets particular interest in incarcerated humans, but also in aggression in dogs. Aggressive dogs have been found to have significantly different alleles for dopamine receptors than their non-aggressive counterparts; short form alleles demonstrate greater impulsivity. Whilst it is easy to suggest that aggression and impulsivity is in the genes, there are processes that can regulate gene expression. DNA methylation is one such epigenetic mechanism. If you would like to know more about this then check out our blog here. Findings here Dopamine is synthesised from phenylalanine and tyrosine which are both amino acids. Sources of phenylalanine include dairy, eggs, nuts, chicken, beef, pork and fish. Sources of tyrosine include chicken, turkey, fish, bananas, yoghurt, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. Dopamine is broken down by a couple of enzymes, and there can be genetic variants which affect how quickly it occurs –for some, dopamine may hang around a little too long, for some it may disappear incredibly quickly. Increased breakdown can lead to attention deficit behaviour and often fatigue like behaviour. On the other side of the scale, decreased breakdown is sometimes noted in aggressive behaviour. Altered protein intake can sometimes help to balance this out. GABA GABA is the primarily inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, this stops the firing of neurons and we call it the breaks on the brain. By inhibiting neural activity, GABA facilitates sleep, reduces mental and physical stress, lowers anxiety, and creates a calmness of mood. Its relationship with glutamate is key to overall balance. GABA also modulates intestinal motility,gastric emptying, and gastric acid secretion. Findings here GABA’s recipe includes an amino acid too, glutamine. Sources of glutamine include beef, chicken, dairy, fish, eggs, cabbage, spinach, carrots, kale, and papaya. Serotonin Serotonin has a wide-ranging role in the body including regulation of energy balance, food intake, and GI and endocrine function. But its behavioural processes include mood, perception, reward, anger, aggression, appetite, memory and attention. In cases of canine aggression, serotonin levels are found to be significantly lower than their non-aggressive counterparts. Serotonin is synthesised from tryptophan, but you might already know this! However, in times of stress, tryptophan gets stolen. We’re not lying. It’s called the “tryptophan steal”. Tryptophan also feeds another pathway in the body, known as the kynurenine pathway which is a necessary pathway, but in times of stress or inflammation this pathway steps up a notch and siphons the little tryptophan we did have! Foods to boost serotonin: Banana Pineapple Pomegranate Strawberry Spinach Nettle Kiwi Lettuce Tuna Turkey Chicken Oats Nuts and Seeds Glutamate Glutamate has excitatory effects on nerve cells, and it can actually excite cells to their death. Both too much and too little glutamate are harmful. The oversupply of it can lead to seizures, and environmental stress can significantly enhance glutamatergic release. Findings here But like everything in the body, we’re looking for goldilocks – just enough! Glutamate occurs naturally in protein-containing foods like diary, mushrooms, meat, fish and some vegetables. Histamine Histamine is a transmitter in the nervous system and a signalling molecule in the gut, skin, and immune system. It is
Is it true that DNA is our destiny? This concept is much like Schrodinger’s cat – a paradox. With Schrodinger, his cat was both alive and dead until his box was opened. With our DNA, we can blame our Grandma for something that has gone wrong, but equally how we choose to live our lives can also affect whether or not we have something to blame Grandma for. Are you lost yet? So were we. But here at My Pet Nutritionist, we like to give you, as pet owners tools to support your pet’s health, so we’ll give you the 411 on DNA and how we can use nutrition to lessen how much we blame Grandma for (or Grandad, could be him too!) Pretty nifty, don’t you think? This is what we call nutrigenomics. Let’s start off with some key definitions: Genomics: This is the study of all genes and gene products. It explores how they interact and influence biological pathways, networks and physiology. Nutrigenomics are therefore a subset of genomics with focus on the genes that relate and respond to nutrition and lifestyle interventions. As it’s relevant, epigenetics is the study of how the environment and other factors can change the way that genes are expressed. Epigenic markers are chemical compounds that are added to genes to regulate their activity. Whilst these modifications do not change theDNA sequence itself, epigenetics affects how cells read genes and whether the cells should produce relevant proteins. The point to note is that DNA doesn’t change – gene expression does. This is where the idea of turning genes on and off comes from – epigenetic markers can turn genes on, and off. Gene Writers Much like I’m writing this blog now, we can think of our DNA having workers at a word document. The fact that I had a nutrient dense breakfast and have a cup of tea next to me, with the birds singing by my window, places me in good working conditions. The blog should therefore make sense – be well-formatted and do the job it is meant to do (share information). If I had not slept for days, gorged on ultra-processed food, and been bombarded with stressors, the blog may not make as much sense, it may even have a few typos, and not in fact do you the job it was meant to (you have no clue what I was writing about). Our gene workers are similar. If they have supportive working conditions,they do what they are supposed to, they send the correct information out; cells know what they are supposed to do, and they even know when they’re not supposed to be doing anything. If they have poor working conditions, they send out half finished messages (or coding), which may contain typos; cells don’t really know what they are supposed to be doing and start to go a little rogue. The genome is malleable – our genes are like a word document – it is a living document. They also eavesdrop on every choice we make, or those we make for our pets. Dirty Genes and those that just act Dirty The reason we think DNA is destiny, is because its partly true. When us, or our pets are born, we have our very own DNA. Within that, there may be these alterations, or variants known as single nucleotide polymorphism (or SNPs, we call them snips). These SNPs can cause problems – they are like the inbuilt typos on your word document. Like the Microsoft paperclip assistant that would always pop up no matter how many times you tried to get rid of him! So, both us and our dogs can be born with dirty genes that send unclear messages to our cells. But, lifestyle, and nutrition, can also make the genes dirty. Luckily, we live in an age of washing machines, so we’ve got some great ways to clean them up again! One of the ways in which our DNA expression can be altered is through methylation. This is the addition of a methyl group – demethylation is the removal of a methylation group. Methylation is a key chemical process for every cell and cellular activity, constantly and dynamically regulating our daily function. It supports growth and repair, immune function, synthesis of neurotransmitters and phospholipids, and plays an important role in detoxification. If you’d like to know more about detoxification then check out our blog here. But what is also nifty is this positioning of the methyl groups can be passed down from generation to generation – which ultimately affects the health of future generations. Take note breeders! Poor DNA methylation has been increasingly associated with many diseases, from cancer to autoimmunity. And of course, this process requires a number of co-factors. Where do these co-factors come from? The Diet. Nutrients crucial in DNA Methylation: Folate: spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, daikon radish, liver. Vitamin B12: liver, sardines, salmon, lamb, beef, dairy, all meat,eggs. Vitamin B6: spinach, cauliflower, all meat, liver, sweet potato, salmon, leafy greens, daikon radish, liver. Vitamin B2: spinach, beetroot, mushrooms, eggs, broccoli, kale,peppers, daikon radish, liver. Zinc: beef, spinach, mushrooms, lamb, pumpkin seeds, turkey,seafood. Magnesium: leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, spinach, sunflower seeds,daikon radish. Choline: egg, collard greens, brussels sprouts, spinach, chicken, turkey, salmon, sardines, beef. Betaine: spinach, sweet potato, turkey, veal, beef, liver. Methionine: nuts, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, shellfish, eggs. Not surprisingly, ultra-refined foods place a strain on methylation, which is why we would always advocate a fresh, wholefood diet for your pet. So if you want efficient methylation processes – ensuring a sufficient supply of these co-factors is essential. There are also certain food compounds which ultimately affect gene expression through their influence on DNA methylation. This is where the concept of nutrigenomics comes in. Polyphenols Catechins have been seen to modulate gene expression. They are polyphenolic compounds found in plants. Sources include apples, blackberries,pears, green tea (opt for decaf if you’re feeding it to your dog). They also exhibit antioxidants
Everyday, ours and our pet’s bodies are exposed to toxins. They are produced internally in the body, like lactic acid and consist of waste products from gut microbes, hormones, and neurotransmitters. But the largest threat is possibly those external toxins, like air pollution, chemicals from cleaning products and volatile organic compounds from the plug-in air diffuser in your lounge. Here at My Pet Nutritionists, when considering your pet’s well-being, detoxification is largely looked at as part of the health picture. It is thought that in the 25 years between 1970 and 1995, the volume of synthetic organic chemicals produced tripled from about 50 million tonnes to approximately 150 million tons, and this number has grown year on year since. Findings here These toxins can disrupt essential biological structures in the body. A toxin is defined as any substance that must be neutralised and eliminated to avoid its promotion of ill-health if left to accumulate. What surprises most people is that the body produces waste products every second of every day in the form of used hormones, neurotransmitters, or oxidised lipids. For this reason, even if we manage ours and our pet’s environments well, we still need to support our detoxification system, simply to eliminate the exhaust fumes of daily life. So, what is detoxification? Detoxification is carried out by a range of mechanisms and this comes in particularly handy if one pathway is overwhelmed, another can pick up the slack. We can think of it like a waterfall, water will always find a way down. In a healthy system, toxins will be able to find a way out. Initially, the body will attempt to detoxify at source. These locations include the intestinal mucosa, the respiratory mucosa, the microbiome,and the skin epidermis. Whilst these also provide a physical barrier to prevent toxin penetration, they also express a range of enzymes which are essential in sweeping toxins away. Detoxification falls into three phases. The first two phases are concerned with breaking down the toxin in the body, and phase three is concerned with excreting it. For us to manage ours and our dog’s toxic load, all three phases need to be working optimally. Liver Guard Phase I PhaseI is primarily undertaken by a superfamily of enzymes and they are predominantly concentrated in the liver (but are found in the oral and nasal cavity). t also includes enzymes like MAOs or monoamine oxidases to deal with neurotransmitters (those chemical messengers involved in mood and behaviour ) and PON1 or paraoxonase 1 dealing with pesticides and oxidised lipids. The names aren’t important, but the point is that at this stage the body needs to be efficiently producing these enzymes to metabolise the toxins. So, it stands to reason that this stage is particularly nutrient demanding and sufficient levels of key vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3 and iron, along with cysteine, are essential. This phase also generates high numbers of reactive oxygen species, or ROS leading to oxidative stress (there is also evidence of poor antioxidant capacity in obesity). These enzymes are also highly polymorphic – which means they are prone to altered gene expression. If you would like to know how gene expression can alter detoxification in the cat, then check out our blog here. But, whether the expression starts to cause problems can often depend on the nature and exposure to toxins. Once toxins have been passed through phase I, they are not finished with. Intermediate metabolites are produced, and they sit in the body. t’s almost like putting your rubbish in the outside bin, but missing collection day. The rubbish remains. Welcome to phase II Within phase II there are number of pathways and they are all responsible for detoxifying different compounds. Methylation The process of methylation deals with heavy metals, plastics, medications, mould,histamine, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This process requires nutrients like folate, vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium. Many environmental factors can limit methylation capacity including low dietary intake of co-factors, use of proton pump inhibitor medication, stress, use of anti-depressant medication, gut dysbiosis, high exposure to toxins and a high histamine diet. This can then become more of an issue in those with genetic SNPs in the genes that code for the enzymes involved. Poor methylation can also impair bile synthesis, which then impacts on cholesterol maintenance and glucose metabolism. Sulphation The process of sulphation deals with heavy metals, heavy smoke, hormones, neurotransmitters, plastics, phenols, and medications including antibiotics. Efficient sulphation requires an adequate supply of sulphur (included in cruciferous vegetables for example), but also iron, molybdenum and vitamin B12. Deficiency in any of these can result in an accumulation of sulphites and then an increased sensitivity to sulphite containing foods or supplements (MSM for example). Since this pathway modulates catecholamine levels, poor function can result in higher circulating levels too. Glutathione conjugation This deals with heavy metals, plastics, mycotoxins, mould, heavy smoke, pesticides, and medications like steroids. Glutathione is a master antioxidant so is also important in neutralising the reactive oxygen species produced in phase I. Steady supply of the enzymes in this pathway relies on vitamin B2. But what is also of interest is that the more the glutathione pathway becomes overloaded with long-term paracetamol use, the more depleted glutathione stores become, which places increased pressures on other Phase II pathways and Phase I processes. Low selenium also contributes to poorer enzyme function here. Glucuronidation Glucuronidation is involved in managing heavy metals, sex hormones, neurotransmitters, plastics, mould, alcohol, smoke, medications including paracetamol,non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, warfarin and immunosuppressants. Important nutrients in this process include vitamin B3, B6 and iron. The glucuronidation pathway is particularly affected by digestive health. Anything that promotes gut dysbiosis, like antibiotics, high sugar intake or the use of certain medications which later digestive function can result in toxins being recirculated throughout the body. This then results in increased oxidative stress, which has its own ramifications throughout the body. Acetylation Acetylation supports the detoxification of smoke, halides, tyramine, caffeine, neurotransmitters, histamine, and
In 1988 a hospital launched a “healthy eating day” in its staff canteen at lunchtime. One dish contained red kidney beans, and 31 portions were served. At 3pm one of the customers, a surgical registrar, vomited in theatre. Over the next four hours10 more customers suffered profuse vomiting, some with diarrhoea. All had recovered by next day. No pathogens were isolated from the food, but the beans contained an abnormally high concentration of the lectin phyto haemagglutinin. What on earth are these we hear you wonder? Well, lectins are often described as an anti-nutrient and as they are found in potatoes, beans, lentils, peas, soybeans, nightshade vegetables and grains, we thought we’d give you the 411 on them. Lectins are carbohydrate binding proteins present in most plants, especially seeds and tubers like cereals, potatoes, and beans. Their original purpose was protection. They would produce an inflammatory response in the animal that ate them – so they wouldn’t eat them again. Humans and Dogs are largely unable to digest them, but friendly bacteria in the gut can lend a hand. Until recently their main use was as histology and blood transfusion reagents, but in the past few decades we have realised that many lectins are (a) toxic, inflammatory, or both; (b) resistant to cooking and digestive enzymes; and (c) present in much of our food Well, it’s not sounding good is it! The really disturbing finding came with the discovery in 1989 that some food lectins get past the gut wall and deposit themselves in distant organs. At high dietary levels, it is thought that lectins cause damage to the structure of the brush borders of the small intestine. In lectin fed rodents, the mucosal membrane in the small intestine was stripped, compromising the gut integrity. This compromise has also been linked to abnormal bacterial proliferation. Findings here As we know, the gut wall does exactly that – keeps things in and keeps things out! It requires tight junction integrity to ensure rogue particles of food don’t get where they shouldn’t. Whenever and however this integrity is compromised, inflammation ensues! The other issue here is that lectins are also seen to inhibit the repair of resident gut epithelial cells. Sadly, not only do rogue particles get where they shouldn’t, but so do the lectins and because of their binding properties, lectins stimulate antigens on cells that do not normally display them like pancreatic islet and thyroid cells – what this means is the body will attack cells it normally wouldn’t because of the confusion. This is why lectins are sometimes implicated in autoimmune disorders, including cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Lectins and Rheumatoid Arthritis A normal IgG (type of antibody) molecule possesses carbohydrate side chains, which end with the molecule galactose. In rheumatoid arthritis much of the galactose is missing, so the next molecule along—N-acetyl glucosamine—is exposed instead. Wheat lectin has an affinity for this molecule, and so binds (when it normally wouldn’t with the terminal molecule inits normal place). This is why glucosamine has found it’s way as an anti arthritic supplement – wheat lectin can be blocked by N-acetyl-glucosamine. Lectins and Urinary Tract Infections In a similar premise, D-mannose is a sugar with a similar activity to N-acetyl-glucosamine. This too binds to lectins found on some microorganisms. Some bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections contain lectins specific for the sugar mannose and use these lectins to bind tightly to mannose -rich tissue in the bladder walls – therefore initiating infection. D-mannose supplementation provides a decoy for these bacteria. Lectins and Gluten There is also the idea that gluten can act as a lectin with toxic properties for intestinal cells. Together with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and the neuroendocrine network, the intestinal epithelial barrier plays a role in the tolerance and immunity to non-self-antigens. Zonulin is a protein that helps regulate permeability in the gut by opening and closing tight junctions. Zonulin has been shown to be upregulated in many autoimmune diseases and it appears that gluten may be a strong trigger of zonulin. Lectins and Histamine Lectins also cause discharge of histamine from gastric mast cells which stimulates acid secretion. We need acid secretion to aid digestion, but it’s like the story of Goldilocks again – we need just enough, not too much (or too little). Not only does histamine stimulate acid secretion, but it has also its own little purpose in the body, chiefly the immune response. So, not only do we have rogue particles escaping due to poor gut integrity (thanks to lectins), but we also have increased histamine production, when then increases the likelihood of cross-reactivity. In short, tricking the body into thinking it needs to react to something it most likely doesn’t. Can you see why lectins are often dubbed the great mimics? They confuse the body into doing all sorts of things. They also appear to mimic insulin. Now, insulin is needed in the body, it helps get glucose to where it needs to be, but do we really need things mimicking it? Not when “Low concentrations of wheat germagglutinin (plant lectin) enhance the specific binding of insulin to receptors of fat cells and liver membranes.” Findings here In this case, imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery. But there are other reasons why lectins are deemed anti-nutrients. Animal and cell studies have found that active lectins can interfere with the absorption of minerals, especially calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Legumes and cereals often contain these minerals, so the presence of lectins may prevent the absorption and use of these minerals in the body. As we have already explored, lectins can also bind to cells lining the digestive tract which may also disrupt the breakdown and absorption of nutrients and affect the growth and action of intestinal flora. However, on the other side of the scale, lectin containing foods are sometimes associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, because they are rich in fibre. So, what do we do? Lectins are most potent in their raw
