Here we are, part 3 of the cancer series (no Home Alone analogies this time). Part 3 is just as important as understanding the pathogenesis, diet and supplementation segments. This is about minimising exposure to external factors that affect the immune system. Whether that be mental well being, stress, how they exercise, monthly chemical treatments and yearly boosters etc, they are all points that must be considered and addressed. Reducing stress in your pet’s life We know anxiety is a silent killer. It reeks havoc on your body and creates immense inflammation that can led to much disease. Dog’s in particular experience a lot of stress living in a 21st century home. Stress can lead to a TH2 dominant immune system, this is also the dominant state your body is in during cancer. Helping to reduce, modulate the stress response is key in supporting this disease state. This can be done in a manner of ways and we always suggest looking into what we call ‘life load’ in functional medicine. How much is your cat or dog taking on? Are they happy being an only pet, do they love their companion, do they get overwhelmed easily, excited easily, do they have a safe space just for them, are they attached to you, are they left home alone a lot. We are not suggesting any one thing is responsible for cancer but taking into account the entire picture and looking at the mental state of mind correlates and can impact physical health greatly. If you feel there are some behavioural constraints, then consulting with a behaviourist is a good idea. If money is too tight to mention, look at some subscription sites or groups on Facebook to help with general tips. Always be careful how you select your support. We once had a family greyhound and she was very nervous of life generally. We made her a den, got her another friend for play dates and played classic FM A LOT and used natural essential oils to induce a more relaxed environment. She had plenty of walks, chewed certain bones under supervision (this has shown to help with stress, exercise and mental stimulation, as well as cleaning teeth) and numerous other things. Please always consider if your pet’s needs are being met. We know how important it is to reduce stress and to feel happy in our own lives, our pets are no different. Exercise Exercise is always important but there is research out on certain types of exercise being cancer respondent. HIIT type exercising, where there’s intense short, sharp bursts of exercise with intermittent periods of rest (basically how most dogs tend to play), may help support cancer patients in a positive way. This has not yet been ‘exercised’ in dogs but research shows some promise as part of a healthy and supportive regime. Not to mention that exercise for dogs is part of a healthy lifestyle where they get to explore, socialise and keep active. Reducing Toxic overload in your dog’s life Toxic daily metabolic overload challenges the immune system every day. This not only includes radiation and environmental pollutants but grooming products, flea and worming products, vaccinations, household items, garden items and the impurity of the water in your pet’s life. Ok so lets’ touch on grooming If you need to wash your dog, then we recommend a gentle and natural shampoo like Helios for itching pets and general applications: Helio shampoo To moisturise, help heal wounds, help itchy dry and flaky skin, I like leucillin as a natural option: Leucillin If you dog has a wound or hotspot that isn’t healing, I recommend green clay as something to have in your emergency cupboard, no chemicals for us: Green clay Flea products and Vaccinations Flea products and tick products are incredibly toxic and overload the body when the immune system is already under challenge. Fleas aren’t a great concern but ticks are so make sure after every walk you check your dog thoroughly and invest in a tick removal kit if you are in a zone for ticks. They can be dangerous to your dog as they carry disease such as Lymes. There are lots of natural products out there. Rotate them as fleas and ticks are adaptable and you need to make sure your pets are not desirable hosts. If your dog is sensitive to oils try diatomaceous earth, it’s a great option and effective. If we aren’t meant to handle topical flea treatments, how can this safely be used on your pet? A lovely spray with beautiful essentials before you go on a walk can be helpful: Flea and Tick repellant Flea & Tick Spray for Pets + Home with Natural Essential Oils A natural flea collar or amber collar can be deterrents and non-toxic: Flea collar Amber Collar If you wish to avoid worming due to toxicity you can buy worm egg count kits. Advised to do every 6 months. Greens also offer a heart worm count. Egg worm count Vaccinations can be over stimulating to the immune system. With yearly boosters and exposure to toxicity on a regular basis, this will only challenge your sick pet further. Vaccinating responsibly is important. There is a movement of vets who are starting to titer test rather than vaccinate yearly.This is a blood test and chargeable by the vet to check antibodies in the blood to see what your pet is currently inoculated against. It’s much safer and less challenging for your dog’s immune system and 9.5/10 your pet won’t need another booster in their lifetime after their initial vaccinations. Titer is not required after 9 years of age. Talk to your vet about it, it’s a supply and demand thing. We recommend looking into Vaccicheck. They have a lot of data and scientific research on titers regardless of what some sceptics may say. Household items Washing up detergents, dish washer detergents, clothes detergents, floor cleaning, general cleaning products can all be hazardous and some dogs
Oh yeah baby Cancer in Pets Part 2! Are you excited (maybe not the right question)? Just a word to the wise, if you haven’t yet read part 1, it would be helpful to get a grasp on immunity and what to consider diet wise first. It won’t ruin part 2 (a bit like watching Home Alone 2 before Home Alone), it’s not a deal breaker but kinda nice to get some back story and structure. Cancer in Pets Part 1 So we now know what type of diet to consider in cancer but we need to compliment this route by looking at immunity and supplement choices, to help support the body and rid the body of as many toxins as possible. After all, Dr Thomas Seyfried did demonstrate that cancer is triggered by toxic overload. When looking at every client, once we have considered genetics, history and presenting symptoms, we then look at the 8 systems in functional medicine. This allows us to approach it with a framework, piecing things together like a jigsaw. Functional medicine isn’t diagnostic, it looks at the what, why and the how. In our consultations we look at the pathophysiology’s in great depth and consider a number of other processes not even mentioned here (we want you to read on). The 8 systems Stress; we know this to be a trigger for cancer. Stress releases cortisol, this tends to shut down the digestive system somewhat. We know this leads to leaky gut and mass inflammation in the body if extended periods of stress are experienced. This type of inflammation is TH2 dominant and cancer is a TH2 dominant disease. If we know there is a lot of stress, we would address this to try and help mediate this response and reduce some inflammation. Immunity; Immunity is effected by absolutely everything and when your pet has cancer this is an immune malfunction and must be treated as such. This is where we look at TH1 and TH2 and help support it with mushrooms, herbs, probiotics and so forth. Stress, detoxification, digestion and pretty much every system greatly impacts immunity so we need to look at everything closely and support all processes. Detoxification; detoxification encompasses the lymphatics, digestion, kidneys, liver and gallbladder. We would look and have particular questions for each system within detoxification. If these systems aren’t in check and in particular the liver, cancer can become a monster. The liver is the powerhouse. It breaks down and filters pretty much everything in the body including toxins and if this isn’t working well, we need to address it. We would definitely look at phase 1 and phase 2 of detoxification pathways in the liver to ensure support during this difficult time. Digestive health; microbiotia is very important to help immune signalling and detoxification. If this isn’t in good balance and your pet is exposed to a lot of allergens, pathogens, toxins and so forth, this can trigger leaky gut and inflammation. Making sure bacteria, acid levels, enzyme production and the integrity of the gut are all in balance is essential for a robust environment to ensure well-being and support in cancer. Reproductive health; this is often an issue as most animals have been desexed and so this has a knock on effect regarding the hormonal system, the immune system and the neurological system. This is very particular to each and every pet but is definitely closely correlated to immunity and in some cases can be the driving factor of certain cancer. Cardiovascular health; heart and kidney function are closely correlated. Strong heart and kidney health is essential in cancer. Methylation is a process that is considered here. We know poor methylation can lead to high homocysteine which appears to be a health marker in heart disease and cancer. Hormones; we tend to just think of sexual hormones but actually hormones come under the endocrine system. These are responsible for a number of things such as growth and development, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction and mood. Serotonin (your feel good hormone), Gaba (the relaxing hormone), Insulin (blood sugar regulation), Cortisol (the stress hormone) and Thyroid (for metabolism) are just to name a few. Hormones such as insulin are inflammatory and high blood levels of insulin indicate a higher risk of cancer which is why we don’t advocate much sugar in your pet’s diet (PERIOD). Structure; making sure connective tissue and the skeletal system are strong is also an essential part of the health matrix. In cancer there is a lot of free radical damage and connective tissue can easily become damaged. This is why antioxidants (in the right form) are essential. Reducing inflammation is key. So lets look at some supplements that may help support your pet. Supplements As a generic approach we would look at the stress, digestion, immune support and detoxification in cancer support. Supplements are an important consideration in cancer but seeking advice from a health care professional is ALWAYS advised. Here are my top 6 supplements Ashwaganda; we love me a bit of Ashwaganda. Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing that has been used for over 3,000 years. It’s a beautiful adaptogenic herb that supports the stress response and immunity in your pet. It’s classically known as a nervine tonic but this beauty has many strings to its bow. The clinical studies and research so far is very promising.The more I formulate with and research this herb, the more I am in awe (and in love). Some research here on Ashwaganda! Probiotics; your dogs microbiome is as individual as they are. Microbiome is a community of thousands of different diverse bacteria, fungi and virus, all working together to fuel health and immunity. Gut microbiotia is essential in health and driven/affected by diet, stress, environmental conditions and so on. Probably the most important bacteria phylum in your dog is Bacteroidetes. These bacteroidetes produce short chain fatty acids that
These babies hold such wonderful health and anti-inflammatory effect, mostly known to support joint health. GLM’s contains around 90 different fatty acids, glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulphate), glutamine (a glycosaminoglycan precursor), vitamins C and E and minerals including zinc, copper and selenium. The synergy of these nutritional components work in perfect harmony to support joint and mobility issues in pet. When looking at joint health you need to consider all mechanisms responsible for the disease and then how to address them. These 4 corners of joint health are all well covered by GLM’s: Inflammation; it’s generally the inflammation and rubbing of joints that create pain and stiffness. The fatty acids in green lipped mussels with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) are the most abundant. These are the important fatty acids that are known to reduce inflammation. GLM’s are natural COX inhibitors just like NSAIDS (non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs), so they can obtain the same pain free results without the negative side effects. They are also natural LOX inhibitors too. Degradation; is the main reason for the breakdown of the joint matrix. The joint matrix and connective tissue need to be supported by components that replicate the structure of joints, naturally. GLMs are rich in glycosaminoglycans and glycosaminoglycan precursors, known as GAGs. An important GAG found in GLMs is chondroitin sulfate a well-documented structural ingredient for joint support. Oxidation; free radical damage can create more degradation and inflammation so we need to support this with natural antioxidants found in GLM. Vitamin C and E are both abundant in GLM’s and essential for joint care. Joint Lubrication; synovial fluid within the joint matrix is incredibly important to support cushioning and movement. Alterations in synovial fluid (SF) lipid composition have been linked to both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). GLMs provide polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAGs), the building blocks for cartilage and joint fluid. There are many things to consider in joint health and diet is primary. If you need to know more, please check consultations. Caution must be taken if you think there could be a shellfish allergy. If not, your pet just got real lucky! In our professional opinion and years of using this ingredient, we can safely say it’s totally groovy and a much safer and effective alternative to NSAIDS in joint support! A blog that, for a change, is short and sweet, just the way you like it! MPN Team x
Cancer is the second most common reason clients consult with MPN. Cancer is an epidemic! It’s estimated that almost 50% of cats and dogs will die from some form of cancer. When considering the full picture of health, at MPN we look at genetics, breeding, health of pregnancy, birthing, weening, environment, nutrition and the functionality of all 8 body systems (neurological, digestive, cardiovascular etc). In order to truly understand your pet’s needs, all these factors must be taken into consideration to obtain the best plan. Particular breeds or certain breeding will transcript coding that makes cancer more likely in certain cats and dogs, however this isn’t exclusive to genes and breeding. This is prevalent and likely in pets who experience chronic inflammation and experience an immune malfunction due to a number of factors. What is cancer Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanisms cease to work. Old cells do not die and form new, abnormal cells that can grow at a fast rate. These extra cells may form amass of tissue, called a tumour. The Immune system In 2013, Dr Thomas Seyfried demonstrated that cancer is a metabolic dysfunction of the mitochondria (energy producing organelles in cells), triggered by toxin overload. That is the very nature of cancer but how we end up there is very much to do with the immune system. In order to support cancer one of the major contributing factors is the immune systems functionality and how it responds to invading cancer cells. Cancer is an inflammatory disease. I see Cancer as an ‘immune malfunction’ where a consistent imbalance in the immune system, tips into inflammation. In more than basic terms, the immune system is split into 2 phases, Th1 and Th2. In a healthy pet, Th1 and Th2 cells are maintained in a carefully regulated balance. If a bacterium enters the body, it activates Th2 cells that dominate the network to begin a cascade of immune events leading to an antibody response that clears the infection. If a virus enters cells in the body, it activates Th1 cells which dominate and instruct the killer cell response to clear infected cells. Once the infection is cleared, suppressor cells are activated to shut down the dominate response and bring the network back into a resting state. If the suppressor cells do not act to bring the network back to a resting state, a pathological Th1 or Th2 dominated immune system results. A Th2-dominated immune system is characteristic of cancer patients where the killer cell response in TH1 is suppressed (recognising defective cells). Patients with advanced cancer often have impaired cell-mediated immunity associated with a switch from Th1 to Th2. Research shows that cancer patients, exist in a state of Th2-mediated “chronic inflammation”. Findings suggest that Th2 dominance status encourages carcinogenesis (the initiation of cancer formation). There’s a lot we know about immunity but still so much we don’t. It’s a complex issue but understanding the very basics can help us look at things differently and can help to support your pet. Cancer diet Nutrition is obviously a key factor in supporting cancer. We find the fresher the food the better. Natural, fresh, homemade, and perhaps raw are best (it depends on the immune function: I often suggest lightly cooked dependent on the individual). Intense processed food is definitely not the best choice for optimum health. We know dry food can lead to more inflammation from independent research. Most dry food contains around 35-50% sugars, due to the starch content that binds it all together. Cancer LOVES sugar, this was documented years ago but has never been much of a focus with regards to cancer care until more recent years. We also know from recent research from Dog Risk at the University of Helsinki, that a controlled study of dry fed and raw fed dogs, raised disease markers when fed dry food. The study demonstrated clear data of increased plasma homocysteine in the variations of the dry fed dogs as opposed to raw. We know that homocysteine is a marker for disease and closely linked to cardiovascular complications and other disease states. Recent advances have shown that increased plasma homocysteine could be correlated to cancer also. We are not necessarily advocating raw, in fact in some cases we actively recommend lightly cooked but the above demonstrates differences in metabolites, in dry verses fresh. Fresh always seems to prevail with the best results. It is important to know that not all foods will suit your pet and looking into this is an imperative part of the process. Immune mediated responses can arise from food sensitivities, food allergens, environmental allergens and toxins on a daily basis and sometimes owners aren’t aware of this. This can lead to a permanent state of inflammation. An allergic response is a TH2 response so consistently being exposed to allergens can put your pet in a permanent state of TH2. See above to know that this isn’t groovy for cancer patients or general well-being. Allergies and cancer can by hyperlinked. In fact, histamine (a compound often released in response to an allergy) is commonly known to induce tumour proliferation and immune suppression in certain cases. Ketogenic Diet The ancient Greek practitioners were well known for using ketogenic diets and although it seems more of a new concept and revelation, it’s been around for donkey’s years, so we can’t lay claim to creation. That said, there is a lot of information and research regarding the benefits of keto diets and cancer amongst other disease. In fact, there’s thousands of research papers, many based on animals. There is even a wonderful centre in America called Keto Pets Sanctuary who specialise in keto research. A ketogenic diet is based on moderate protein, high fat and very low carbohydrate. The ratio usually required to induce ketones is fat to protein 2:1. That is a very high fat diet and should be fed with caution. If a diet provides a high fat content, glycogen
Alison’s mother had chronic kidney disease (CKD) and from having a 2-year prognosis based on a bad heart condition, we wanted to get her off dialysis and extend her life expectancy. Alison was a clinical nutritionist at the time (for humans), with a focus on functional medicine and so made it her mission to get her in a better state of health and mind. This condition was never going away but life could be easier for her. After much research and countless testing, we discontinued dialysis, created an impeccable diet and added in a supplement regime. Her mother continued on to have another 8 years with pretty much problem free health (other than the obvious). Ever since then, Alison has seen a lot of cats and dogs with the same problem. Although their nutritional requirements are different to humans, the general rules and pathophysiology’s apply. It’s all a balancing act at maintaining health that can be finely tuned to help with wellness. We are not ‘kidney-ing around’, so read on! Kidney disease – chronic and acute If your pet is presenting with kidney disease, it’s either acute or chronic. Acute Kidney disease presents suddenly and is more easily reversed. Acute is usually due to an obstruction or ingesting a toxic substance or some such case. Prognosis is always better than chronic. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can take months or even years to identify itself. In fact, most pets don’t even show symptoms until 70-75% of kidney function has been lost! Signs and symptoms of CKD There are number of signs and symptoms in CKD. If any of these arise consistently, you should go to the vets and get it checked out. I would say the first signs would be excessive thirst and weight loss but this is an extensive list: Ascites (swelling of the abdomen) Blood in urine Diarrhea Decreased urination Urinating outside of the litter tray Frothy urine Increased water consumption and increased urination Lack of appetite and weight loss Lethargy Pale gums as a result of anaemia Ulcers on the tongue, inside cheek or gums Joint swelling in conjunction with some of the above Muscle wastage (this tends to appear when advanced) Seizures Blindness Vomiting Weight loss Unfortunately, the majority of these aren’t necessarily specific to CKD as signs and symptoms can vary from case to case. A visit to the vets as soon as any symptoms arise is always the best option. Kidney Function Kidneys have a lot to do and help filter the blood by getting rid of waste products such as glucose, salts, urea, uric acid and unwanted water. The waste products and additional water become urine, which eventually gets eliminated when your pet urinates. The filtering of waste is done by a network of tiny nephrons, as blood passes from the capillaries through the nephrons, essential molecules are kept, but waste products are removed and expelled as urine. The kidneys help regulate the amount of water they retain in our blood and their bodily potassium and sodium levels. The kidneys also produce three major hormones that help regulation of other mechanisms. Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that helps calcium absorption, Erythropoietin encourages bone marrow to produce red blood cells and renin helps to regulate blood pressure. Diet for CKD The checklist for CKD A fresh and unadulterated fresh food diet Low in Phosphorus (0.2% – 1% dry matter) Moderate in protein Omega fats and antioxidants Low in salt (added salt in particular) Super tasty and easily delivered(hunger can decrease in CKD) Regulated treats that are part of the daily calorie intake No leftovers fed off the plate The use of an appropriately formulated diet is the only treatment that has been shown to prolong survival times and improve quality of life in pets with CKD. We have seen the best results with freshly fed pets on a specific formulated diet whether it be home cooked or raw. Cooking tends to reduce phosphorus levels and is often preferred over raw food. Dry food is a big ‘no no’ in CKD. Dry foods are dehydrating to the bowel, this delivery system can increase thirst and tax the kidneys further. Fresher and more bioavailable proteins are more effective as the kidney’s don’t have to work quite so hard. The protein in dry food can be cross-linked and not very easily assimilated. Dry foods are often higher in sodium and contain a large content of starch, both inappropriate for cats and dogs and kidney disease. Restricting dietary protein is controversial as testing and research was mostly based on processed food fed cats and dogs with limited solid findings. There isn’t a clear consensus as to what level protein intake should be reduced to in the diet of pets with CKD. In stage 1 and 2 CKD, we find moderate levels of fresh and more bioavailable proteins, low in phosphorus and reduced sodium and potassium is the best. We always work with blood tests to see the markers of poor function such as urea and other nitrogenous substances and get a professional to formulate for you. The type of protein you feed a dog with CKD should also be considered. Protein with high biological values leaves less waste behind. For this reason, protein derived from sources such eggs, fish and meats are preferable to vegetable-derived protein such as tofu. In pets with CKD, the excretion of phosphorous is impaired, which can result in further damage to the kidneys. Therefore, while an important component of a healthy pet’s diet, phosphorous should be restricted somewhat. In fact, dietary restriction of phosphorous has been shown to slow down the progression of CKD and this has been key to my practice in pet nutrition. Foods highest in phosphorus include raw bones, dairy products, organ meats, and egg yolks. That does not mean not to feed these foods at all, as they are an important component of a healthy diet, but they should be fed in moderation. When it comes to sodium, there are
Here at MPN, we see a number of different cases whether it be itching/allergies, cancer, pancreatitis, IBS, IBD, liver and kidney disease and more. There’s a lot that goes into a consultation at MPN and its bespoke to your pet. No 2 clients are going to get the same plan. However, Bentonite clay is one of the ingredients can that be applied to a lot of these problems as an initial support. So, let’s get the dirt on clay! See what I did there? Does your dog dig for soil or want to eat cardboard? Does your cat try and eat litter? Then Bentonite could be just what they are looking for. Clay has been used with the following issues successfully and supported by research for both humans and animals: · Skin issues and Allergies · Digestive issues · Pancreatitis · Kidney and liver Support · Immune support · Parasites · General detoxification My favourite, which is Bentonite clay, can be interchangeably referred to as Montmorillonite clay and are both regarded as an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate clay from the Smectites family. They are both named after regions they come from but in nature they have the same structure and have a much higher absorption capacity than other clays found in nature and on the market. It has been used and eaten since ancient times as humans believed in its therapeutic benefits. So let’s chat about Bentonite clay and its wondrous abilities. Skin issues and Allergies Due to many skin issues arising from immune reactions and toxicity, Bentonite can be calming and cooling both applied internally and externally. Internally Bentonite clay has proven to remove many different bacteria and fungi, including candida albicans, that can lead to skin issues. It can help support and excrete histamine from the bowel (histamine, we know can create intense itching and can accumulate whether your pet is experiencing allergies or not) and clay can help support liver and kidney function which is essential when detoxification is required due to the above. Applied externally (clay being wet and made into a paste) can help hotspots, wounds, calm itching and help fungal infections. This is our favourite on the market for EXTERNAL application only. Digestive issues Clay can positively affect digestion by boosting gut flora and ridding the digestive tract of any unwanted toxins. One trial states that bentonite may help nutrient absorption through increasing gut flora activity. We know gut flora (microbiota is essential for digestive health and good immunity). Bentonite clay has for a long time been considered as an effective treatment for diarrhoea, IBS and IBD. A trial in 1961, was shown that orally administered bentonite treated 97% of cases with different causative factors of diarrhoea. These being virus infection, food allergy, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and food poisoning. This is pretty incredible don’t you think? Pancreatitis Clay can be a wonderful addition to a diet in EPI(Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) especially when stools are upset and voluminous. In pancreatitis the pancreas becomes inflamed and enzyme production is less than desired. A trial with montmorillonite clay improved diarrhoea, enhanced intestinal mucosal integrity and the production of digestive enzymes in animals found here. Kidney and liver Support Bentonite can really help kidney and liver function. Two examples of how this may help. Bentonite is a natural phosphate binder which is a essential support in kidney disease. The excess phosphates and urea that the kidneys can’t clear can be greatly helped by Bentonite clay and will allow your pet to feel much better, improving appetite and energy level. SerumUrea is a by-product of kidney disease and poor function. Bentonite is shown to promote the diffusion of urea from blood vessel to intestine, and inhibits the absorption of urea in intestine here. Also Bentonite clay was able to restore liver function during exposure to toxins. And it didn’t affect their digestion of good nutrients here. Immune support We know Bentonite clay supports digestion and over 70% of the immune system resides in the digestive system. We know effective detoxification supports general immune function but we also know cancer and Bentonite have a direct correlation. Bentonite has been shown to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines U251 (central nervous system, glioblastoma). It seems that bentonite clay surfaces, controls the levels of metabolic growth components here. It has also been shown to demonstrate an anti-bacterial affect and the ability to pull pathogens out of the bowel here. Parasites Bentonite helps to clear intestinal parasites by dehydrating them, binding to them and then pulling them out of the body. Clay may also be used externally to suffocate and kill parasites on your pet. Dry powder can be put over your pet’s coat or pasting wet clay for a period of time. Just to warn you folks, this could get messy. General detoxification Clay has first and foremost always been considered as a detoxifier. It ultimately helps many of the above issues due to its detoxifying nature. Bentonite clay is negatively charged and so manages to attract and pull out toxins that by nature are positively charged. Clever isn’t it? If your pet has been on a processed diet, been exposed to allergens, pathogens, parasites, vaccinations or just plain fatigued and trying to eat soil, then Bentonite clay is a wonderful supplement to consider. Clay is basically ideal for most of the pet population if taken with caution. How to use Bentonite Clay Bentonite clay needs to be given on an empty stomach and not to be fed food, herbs or medications until at least 2 hours after consumption. Please make sure dose is considered for your pet’s size and health and check with a healthcare professional first if unsure. Also select a reputable and established supplemental clay as it can naturally contain heavy metals and quality can differ between brands. Caution must be taken when given and reassessed after a period of administration. Make sure clean and filtered water is available at all time. The very essence of
This might be as dry as a rice cake and to be honest, we thought we might be able to put you to sleep but all joking aside, although this blog doesn’t give you exact solutions, you can see how we look at allergies and how we approach itchy pets with great knowledge and success. Now put on the kettle and don’t read this horizontally in bed; falling asleep is guaranteed. Although this is from a scientific and pathophysiological perspective, I’m yet to meet a conventional veterinarian who looks at itchy pets in the same way. Allergy/itching is one of the most prevalent problems seen by vets and My Pet Nutritionist to date. It’s almost become our life’s work to understand how and why this happens as we get clients everyday with the same issues. Natural means is really the only way to go to solve this issue but to do this successfully, we need to understand the complex immunity and physiological pathways and address is with nutrition and supplements. In short, itching and allergies are due to an overactive and underachieving immune system as well as possible genetic and nutritional snips and deficiencies. The immune system is so finely tuned you wouldn’t get your breath. There’s so much we don’t know and some of the following has thin scientific research. In more than basic terms the immune system is split into 2 parts, Th1 and Th2 (actually there is a more newly discovered TH3 and TH17 but let’s not complicate things). Both parts should work in harmony and balance. Th1 and Th2 cells are maintained in a carefully regulated balance. If a bacterium enters the body, it activates Th2 cells that dominate the network to begin a cascade of immune events leading to an antibody response that clears the infection. If a virus enters cells in the body, it activates Th1 cells which dominate and instruct the killer cell response to clear infected cells. Once the infection is cleared up, suppressor cells are activated to shut down the dominate response and bring the network back into what we call a resting state. If the suppressor cells do not act to bring the network back to a resting state, a pathological Th1-or Th2 dominated immune system results. A Th1 dominated immune system is characteristic of food intolerances and autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes where the immune system is attacking normal tissues. A Th2-dominated immune system is characteristic of allergies and cancer and so forth. The incessant itching arises from an excessive and dominant reaction in the immune system. In Th2 allergic reactions (IGE), histamine is the compound released. There are several things we need to consider to piece it all together. Breeding has a lot to do with it and can dominate how well they will be in life, unless you have people like us on board. Factors to be considered are: Genetics; it’s like a lottery and no matter what kennel club certifications you have there are no guarantees. Certain breeds are always more at risk. Foetal development and birth; how healthy is the mother, what is she fed and how many litters she has sired previously, all come into play. Certain breeds don’t experience the healthy birthing through the canal such as some French Bull dogs. C-section is proven to under develop the much needed microbiota in your pet’s gut and can pre determine how balanced immunity will be. During pregnancy the mother is TH2 dominant which means so is your pup or kitten when born, this is cleverly put back into balance during weaning. Breast feeding and weaning; feeding from mother and getting the first colostrum and being fed like this for a good 10-12 weeks is so important for immunity and reactions. Many people arrive home with their new pet at 8 weeks’ old which is way too young. This might not allow for puppy or kitten to modulate immunity and come out of TH2 dominance and balance nicely. Environmental challenges in the early months; Initial vaccinations are important but timing is essential in allowing the immune system to respond accordingly. Also being exposed to different proteins and a healthy diet helps build a positive immunity and reaction to foods in future months.The first few months determine a lot and you don’t always have control over this. How our pet interfaces with the world, very much dictates whether immune dysfunction comes into play from the above points. The below considerations need to be looked at in its entirety not individually. Causative factors of itching to be considered: Physiological and emotional stress; we know stress triggers inflammation and a TH2 dominance, those with allergies are naturally be more TH2 dominant. Intestinal permeability; allowing for the escape of undigested proteins and pathogens through the gut wall and directly into the bloodstream, evoking prolonged inflammatory immune responses. Stress, diet, poor microbiota and environmental toxins can all destroy epithelial mucosa that cause intestinal permeability. Altered gut microflora; c-section, early weening, stress, diet, hormones and so on can effect gut bacteria and immunity. Hormonal imbalances; cortisol, oestrogen, thyroid hormones are actively associated with histamine behaviour and imbalance of immunity TH2 dominance. We de sex most of our dogs and wonder why they have so many issues. I’m glad no one gave me a hysterectomy in my first few years of life. Diet & nutritional deficiency; poor or an inappropriate diet can trigger TH1 or TH2 dominance and so will make reactions worse. Some foods such as wheat, grains, soy, gluten and corn are known foods to elicit reactions but it can get really complicated. Vitamin D and zinc are the most prevalently deficient in animals with allergies. Genetics; certain genetic polymorphisms affect immune TH1/TH2 dominance, DAO/MAO polymorphisms mean genetically your pet is less able to metabolise/breakdown histamines in the body. We know histamine to be the most related immune response to intolerances and allergies (a.k.a Histamine intolerance). Blog on Histamine Intolerance here. Heavy metal toxicity; we don’t need
Yeah That’s right baby…. The ultimate guide to dog sh!***%t! It’s all we ever seem to talk about morning, noon and night. My Pet Nutritionist get random pictures of dog pooh on our phones at all hours of the day from some people who have never contacted us before. Does this look right, it’s sloppy, a weird colour, there’s undigested stuff in it? It goes on and on and to be honest we love it, yeah you heard us, we love it. So the topic is a little different when you consider my last blog on genetic methylation and DAO production but it’s needed and perhaps handy to know. It’s going to be short and sweet…smelling we hope! Healthy pooh in colour and consistency can vary dependent on the kind of food you feed and any other issues or circumstances your dog can find itself in. Stress and anxiety can cause an intense effect on the bowels, as can overeating, under eating, eating poor foods, reactive foods or other environmentals, dog’s with IBS (often linked to the point before), EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency), bowel disorders and what I deem liver insufficiency. Around 70% of the immune system lies within the gut and our immune system is called upon all day every day so there’s a lot that comes into play when we talk about faeces. We release, as do our dogs, a huge amount of hormones, some very inflammatory to digest food. However, in general terms there are certain things to look out for and particular looking poohs, especially if consistent, that can tell us a lot about possible health and may need to be checked out by the vet. Normal Dog Pooh As I say, it varies dependent on what you feed and although I advocate general fresh feeding, I always see the best poohs on a raw food diet. It can vary from dog to dog and breed to breed. In general, colour should be medium brown, dry and almost chalky looking. Dog’s should extract a lot of moisture through the bowel rendering the pooh rather dry but not too hard. Boom a perfect pooh! Red/Bloody Dog Pooh This can indicate bleeding in the GI tract but usually from the intestines and anus. Streaks of blood may indicate rectal bleeding from straining, it could indicate inflammation such as colitis. In this instance there is usually mucus that streaks through the pooh also although this can be intermittent. It could also mean an anal gland infection or something more serious such as a tumour (please don’t worry this is far more rare). It’s always good for your vet to check for parasites also. Blood means inflammation which could have a number of causes. Always check with your vet if this is consistent. Black/Dark Dog Pooh Black stool in dogs may have a “tarry” type consistency and could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding from an abrasion, stomach ulcer or intestinal ulcer. It is usually from the stomach bleed as the fresher and brighter the blood the lower down the small intestinal tract it tends to be. Always check with your vet if this is consistent. Pinky Purplish Dog Pooh Please do remember that if you feed beetroot or poorly digested strawberry,raspberries etc, this can affect the colour of your dog’s pooh making it look pink/purplish. Anything that looks pink and jelly like could be something serious that could indicate hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE). The latter isn’t meant to be ignored as dogs can die from this if left unattended. Green Dog Pooh Dog green pooh can be common if your dog eats large amounts of grass or a lot of undigested plant matter from their food. Grass is often eaten to cleanse, add additional chlorophyll, vits and mins in the diet and of course is just yummy to chew. However green pooh can also be a parasite or certain poisoning. If your dog has consistent green poop for a few days, you must see your vet. Grey Dog Pooh These soft,voluminous, often grey and sometimes greasy looking stools can indicate Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI,) also referred to as maldigestion. This is far more common than you can imagine and owners seem to get used to it as if it’s the norm. EPI is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce the necessary enzymes to digest fat/closely correlated with liver function. If your dog has consistent grey poop, you must see your vet. Orange Dog Pooh Orange pooh can indicate a liver issue, gallbladder or biliary disease. Bile is what changes pooh to the usual brown colour. If transit of pooh is too fast, it can be rather undigested and fat metabolism is not completed. In this case psyllium can be wonderful. If your dog has consistent orange pooh, you must see your vet. MPN Team x
Many clients come to My Pet Nutritionist with their itchy pet, usually dogs, in complete dismay after trying several things to alleviate the itch. Some of these wonderful people have gone all out, trying a fresh diet, raw food, supplements, testing for food and environmental allergies, food sensitivities and so on. Whilst being armed with lots of information and avoiding the ‘supposed culprits’ the itching has not got any better. If anything, at times, it seems worse. We have specialised in functional medicine for a very long time and in the exciting world of human nutrition, we are closely studying genomes, genetic polymorphisms and how nutrition can influence health, based on our genetic make-up. Welcome to the world of epigenetics and nutrigenomics! Although we are studying the dog genome (not cats of yet), we are far behind in comparison to the world of human nutrition. Dogs in particular share a lot of the same pathophysiology in function and disease. We have therefore applied a lot of what we have learnt and researched in the human arena to pet’s health and gaining some great results. In particular, with itchy dogs and what we know in human nutritional terms as ‘histamine intolerance’. Histamine is a necessary part of physiological functions in animals such as protecting against infection and inflammation. It regulates gut function, especially the release of gastric acid as part of the breakdown of proteins in the digestion of food, it acts as a neurotransmitter affecting cognitive function and in dogs helps to deal with anxiety. Histamine is either stored or inactivated by degradative enzymes, Histamine-N-methyltransferase or Diamine Oxidase (DAO). DAO will reside in the GI tract where nearly all histamine from food is metabolised (destroyed/eliminated) by DAO. Due to genetics or nutritional deficiency DAO and Histamine-N-methyltransferase production can be lacking and therefore histamine can build up and here in lies the problem. Histamine can also be naturally occurring in foods or can release additional histamine known as a ‘histamine liberators’. Those naturally containing high histamine foods are often fermented such as kefir and sauerkraut and other foods such as tomato and spinach. Foods known as liberators are those such as strawberries, citrus fruits and nuts. Histamine levels only continue to rise the longer the food sits within the gut and ferments. You’ll find many nutritionists are recommending fermented foods for digestive health and itchy dogs. This can make the problem 10 times worse until the issue at hand is resolved. Even certain drugs such as antihistamines can cripple DAO function and make symptoms worse. So you see, even if you remove foods that you know your dog to be intolerant or allergic to, if they eat foods containing or releasing high amounts of histamine or don’t naturally produce enough enzymes to break them down, symptoms won’t be relieved. In our practice we go on a naturally low occurring histamine diet, considering the reactivity of the immune system, improve DAO and methylation function by adding in certain nutritional ingredients such as magnesium, vitamin C, B6, methyl folate etc, all whilst considering every system within the body. To find out more or to book a consultation with MPN, please check us out. We hope this helps folks! MPN Team x
Looking from a holistic perspective, there are many factors as to why a dog may be predisposed to being itchy. This could be genetics, the environment and how effective a dog’s immune and detoxification system is. We live in a highly toxic environment where our pets are often over vaccinated, fed highly processed diets and have those genetic predispositions we just mentioned. Puppies are also all too often weaned off of mother’s milk too early, to allow for a fully acquired immune system. There are a few reasons why your pet could be itchy but either way, it’s a physiological, immunological response that needs to be put back into balance. Whilst detecting the reasons why, addressing the inflammation caused, can sometimes be tricky. Hundreds of cats and dogs have come to us with the complication of knowing what elicits the reaction but even still, can’t get a handle on the scratching. This is where we use a layered approach to looking at all elements of the physical body. The cause of itching in dogs is largely due to allergies. Approximately 1 in 5 dogs have allergies that are often diagnosed as Atopic or Contact Dermatitis. This could be from a number of allergens such as grass, moulds, foods, household items and parasites. Allergies in dogs often manifests in constant scratching, rashes, ear infections, weeping eyes and hotspots and can become a real problem for dogs and their owners. It’s actually one of the most common complaints we see in clinic today. So your cat or dog is probably scratching, licking their paws, backs of legs and belly. They may also be sneezing, have weeping eyes and ear problems. To start to fix a problem, we need to know what is causing it. There are generally 3 main reasons why your dog may be itchy. Understanding the causes can help us in our steps to an itch free dog. 1. Environmental allergies. This is caused by inhaled allergens and this could be to certain pollens, dust, mould, household products and may be all year around or just seasonal. An environmental allergy accounts for the majority of dermatitis in dogs. 2. Food allergies are less common but intolerances and sensitivities are very common. The most common food suspects are corn, maize, chicken, beef, soy and gluten but the list can be endless. 3. Contact allergies.This is often a reaction to parasites such as fleas, or mange, grass or household products such as detergent you’ve used to wash bedding for example.Flea contact dermatitis is probably the most common of all of these. It’s important you get a diagnosis by your vet or a clinic like My Pet Nutritionist, as we need to know what your dog is reacting to. In rare cases itching can be due to more serious disease such as kidney disease or thyroid disease, so make sure you get this checked out by a professional. Many tests for sensitivities and allergens are not very accurate but for foods we currently use Nutriscan. http://www.nutriscan.org Environmental allergy testing is some of the most accurate and we suggest going to your vet for this. Allergies are caused by an overactive immune system that perceives harmless substances as threats and intolerances caused by poor functioning gut health. Once we identify those substances, removing them are important but we still need to consider other steps to get results. Imagine your immune system is a scale. It’s tipped far one way and we need to get it back into balance. Quite often, if the offending allergens, foods etc are removed, your pet can still experience itching. Each positive step you take is one step closer to that scale being completely in balance. Supporting digestive health can be a first step in aiding allergies and intolerances. Nutrition Poor quality food in itself generally depletes the body and immune system. You see, it’s all about the immune system working effectively for an itchy dog. Many commercial diets are lacking in antioxidants and enzymes that are abundant in fresh, raw foods and lightly cooked foods. These elements are essential to well-being but are killed by high heat processing in all of the cooked, packaged dry and tinned foods on the shelves today. Dry food for example contains very high starch content even if your dog food does not contain grain. The starch is required to stick the kibble together and starch equals a high sugar content. Sugar is bad for your cat and dog as the sugar can feed different bacteria, virus, yeast and cancer. Not to mention itching dogs. If you suspect your pet has a food allergy or sensitivities and you haven’t done a test yet or the test is inconclusive, then an elimination diet also known as a ‘feeding trial’ can be a thorough way to detect the offending foods. An elimination diet involves feeding an extremely simplified diet for 12 weeks observing any signs of intolerance such as itching, diarrhoea, weeping eyes and a yeasty smell. After 12 weeks of a simplified and uniform recipe, we start introducing different protein sources and sticking to one per week and observing reactions. It’s always good to start with single proteins your cat or dog has not previously been introduced to such as kangaroo or horse. Don’t feed treats other than the pure meat you are feeding for main meals that week. Treats if possible should be avoided. Clean filtered bottled or even better still, distilled water should be given, not regular tap water. Sometimes we check for allergies and intolerances and there aren’t any. This could be simply because the coat and skin is dry and there’s a lack of omega oils in the diet (this should always be considered first), but sometimes and more often there’s an issue called Histamine Intolerance. Detoxify General lifestyle choices and toxic overload, challenges the immune system and puts it under more pressure every day. To help the itch, we must remove toxicity in your cat and dog’s life. Your
Not only is diet important to your pet’s health but also their dental hygiene is essential. Poor dental care and disease is also linked to a higher rate of heart disease. Many owners leave it until it’s a problem. Let’s look at prevention instead shall we? Dry food isn’t something that pet’s naturally graze on with grating action. They nominally chew or crunch the dry food and down the hatch it goes. Once chewed and wet, it’s like any other food, it collects around the teeth and contributes to plaque build-up that leads to hardened tartar. Dental problems and issues are within the top 10 complaints seen by vets in 2019 but here at MPN we have some great tips to help prevent this from happening. Raw feeding (although for some is controversial) boasts great dental hygiene and whiter, cleaner teeth. Feeding bones is also a socially and mental stimulation that namely dogs require. The bare bones of it! My Pet Nutritionist have a strong working relationship with veterinarians but have to tread carefully on how we approach dental care as many vets are ardently against feeding raw bones unless they lean towards raw feeding and holistic care. Bones are perfectly fine but there are hard and fast rules and we would always recommend monitoring at all times (as a duty of care). Vets see mostly dogs coming in with fractured teeth and raw bone due to a lack of knowledge. Both are serious and expensive so please read on. Do not feed cooked or smoked bones. They are dry, hard and would most likely splinter due to indigestible materials. Raw chicken bones are nutritious but can be awkward to consume and they are too soft to warrant cleaning. It’s the grating and consistent gnawing action that tends to clean the gums and teeth, alongside the natural enzyme action, helping to destroy bacteria in the mouth. Medium sized animals such as lamb and goat are probably the most effective and safest bones to serve your dog and ones I generally recommend. If the prey is hard for the dog (or cat) to tackle naturally, then the bones will be too large and hard for your pet to gnaw in reality. Larger animals and bones such as beef are too hard and will more than likely cause dental fractures (think beef knuckle) if left to chew for too long and without supervision. We recommend avoiding beef, bull and bison. Raw dental bones are best fed as a treat approximately twice a week to keep teeth clean. It’s important to note that recreational bones are not to be completely consumed and that any bone should always be fed under supervision. Other options Oral chews have been shown to be beneficial, of course the type is important. plain meat chews, braids and non hides can he very useful. Avoiding dental chews such as dental sticks are highly advised due to poor ingredients. Findings here There are certain supplements on the market and one of which is based on a seaweed that does have a couple of randomised clinical studies to show it helps with the build-up of plaque. The seaweed is called ‘Ascophyllum Nodosum’ and the well-known and registered food supplement product for dogs is called Plaque Off. As part of a regime I have found this useful but great care must be taken with cats as hyperthyroidism can be expressed when taking anything with a high iodine content. This can be added to food or simply added to a homemade treat. Keep sugar containing foods (this includes dry food) to a minimum and even fresh foods naturally containing sugars should be given with care. We are not keen on companies who dehydrate fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots and papaya and sell them as dental chews. These are highly concentrated sugar chews and for gnawing action aren’t recommended for good oral hygiene, rather an odd treat. Brushing teeth doesn’t have to happen if you feed the correct raw food and bones but generally we need to consider keeping up with a good regime. Brushing teeth with a natural toothpaste and bamboo toothbrush is preferable. Alternatively, you can use a tooth cleaner and the polish from Lintbells. Make sure you don’t use human grade toothpaste with sweeteners added such as xylitol. This is dangerous to dogs. Please remember disease is complicated and our services offer an 8 elements approach to health, looking at nutrition, genetics and the environment. A complex jigsaw to piece together but one we are fully acquainted with and have great success! We look forward to helping you in the future. MPN Team x
Alison has majored her career in new product development for both the health and pet food industry. Although she develops pet foods, she adores NPD of supplements, as it really tickles her fancy for science and creativity. She loves bio chemistry but there’s also innovation and an artistry to formulating good and effective supplements. Here My Pet Nutritionist shares pointers as to how to choose the right supplements for your pets. You’ll sometimes get professionals and non-professionals saying supplements are a waste of money and not worthwhile. This is true if you 1. you don’t know what the issue is and blindly choose something to help the problem or 2. buy something that hasn’t been formulated well or contains inferior ingredients. For a supplement to work there has to be fine tuning to a product. We follow a principle called the 8 element system which is a naturopathic approach at looking at several body systems to consider what happens in its entirety and not looking at masking a problem. Like pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals can just mask an issue, if all aspects of health are not looked at. When formulating a product, we consider energy, immunity, digestion, detoxification, structure, neurological, hormonal and stress levels (including inflammation). We always develop synergistic blends that work in perfect harmony to establish nourishment, balance and restoration no matter what the situation. As you can imagine diet alone cannot often achieve this, especially if symptoms or disease are showing. Supplements help to modulate systems and food alone often cannot do this (although food is also incredibly important). The main criteria for choosing a good supplement · Know what your pet requires; problem specific or nutritional deficiencies for example · Check the source of ingredients; provenance of herbs, extraction or types of minerals · Clinically tested for absorbability; no point in taking it if your pet can’t absorb it · Clinically tested for pureness and safety · Manufactured by a legit R&D company · Well-priced for what you are getting 1. Know what your pet requires (problem specific or nutritional deficiencies for example) It’s important to know what is going on for your pet before purchasing a/several supplements for them. There are some wonderful tests to check mineral status for pets that can be used to establish any nutritional deficiencies in your pet. Don’t allow for blood tests they are inconclusive due to the blood leaching minerals from other parts of the body to try and obtain equilibrium, thus creating an unclear picture of health. If you have been to the vet and received a diagnosis such as arthritis or a nutritional deficiency, then you can get looking for your ideal supplement. If you are at a loss and there are lots of things going on for your pet, this is when coming to see someone like myself can help. 2. Check the source of ingredients; provenance of herbs, extraction or types of minerals used and so forth The source of any ingredient is important. If it’s a herb, it’s good to know it’s provenance, purity, extraction method and also how it is delivered. We love herbs and they have a beautiful nutritive and supportive role for so many systems in the body. Herbs can be adaptogenic so can up or down regulate a process in the body. This is clever and intuitive and unlike any pharmaceuticals we know of, however the purity, extraction and delivery method is important to how effective it may be. For example, we would choose organic for those herbs that are commonly used and extensively farmed. Echinacea is one of the most abundant and commonly used herbs in the industry but a mass farmed batch from China is probably less nutritive and clean than an organic echinacea grown in the Swiss Alps at high altitudes. Every herb and every ingredient has a story. Look to see what companies write about their ingredients used and why they have selected them. Give the brand a call and put them to the test. The type of substrates (binders) in minerals are also important. Different forms of mineral perform different mechanisms but may not be as bioavailable as another. Calcium and magnesium are great examples of this. Calcium carbonate is the cheapest calcium option on the market and the most wildly researched calcium in the pet industry. However, we know from research that calcium carbonate harder to absorb even though it’s around 40% pure calcium. Calcium citrate is probably second in line for expense but much better absorbed and around 20% pure calcium. Therefore we tend to choose better absorbed options such as citrate. 3. Clinically tested for absorbability; no point in taking it if your pet can’t absorb it I sometimes use registered ingredients that can claim and supply clinical data to support the product and gives sound piece of mind as to how effective it is. An example of this is with curcumin. Curcumin is an active extract and effective curcuminoid compound found in turmeric. Turmeric is something everyone seems to be talking about at the moment, whether buying a supplement or just reaching into the kitchen cupboard. And rightly so, this is an awesome and effective ingredient for many health related issues. However, we don’t use regular turmeric or curcumin as it’s hard to assimilate in the body. We therefore use and look out for certain patented curcumins such as Ultrasol® or Curcuwin® that have proven increased bioavailability by making them water soluble or liposomal without having to use added ingredients such as Bioperine®. Bioperine® a pepper extract is well researched for increasing other ingredients bioavailability by interfering with a process called glucuronidation in the liver. It slows down the metabolism and excretion of curcumin thus extending it’s life. MPN prefer to work with ingredients that solely enhance processes within the body and not dampen them down and so avoid ingredients like Bioperine®. Research does show that curcumin is also better absorbed with the whole turmeric that contains a number of curcuminoids. Therefore we like to see a plain
