Whether you are a seasoned raw feeder, rather new to the journey, the Gordon Ramsey of the home-cooked dog food world, or simply want in to add some fresh food to your commercial pet food, here at My Pet Nutritionist, we have a few favourite fresh food additions. Try saying that on a Friday night! Anyway, they all pack a fair punch in terms of nutritional value, so we’ve decided to let you in on our secrets. 1) Green Leafy Vegetables! Top of the list for a reason. Green leafy vegetables include spinach, kale, watercress and broccoli. In green leafy vegetables you will find vitamins A, C, E and K along with many of the B-vitamins. These vegetables also contain carotenoids. Carotenoids act as an antioxidant, deactivating free-radicals and limiting the damage they can cause. There are two broad classifications of carotenoids: carotenes and xanthophylls. The latter containing oxygen, whilst the former do not. Xanthophylls include lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both primarily associated with eye health. They are often indicated in cases of macular degeneration. Beta-carotene one of the carotenes is turned into Vitamin A and is found in those green leafy veg like spinach and kale. Vitamin A is important in maintaining healthy skin, mucous membranes and supporting a functioning immune system. Vitamin A is regularly implicated in abnormal hair cycling, both deficiencies and toxicities can cause issues. For that reason, it is generally deemed that a whole food diet is more than capable of providing healthy levels. Green leafy vegetables also contain a rich source of folate, this is after all, where the name came from. Folate comes from the Latin folium, because it was first found in leaves! Folate functions as a coenzyme in many processes in the body. It is needed to make DNA and other genetic material and is essential in cell division. In short, it helps tissues grow and makes cells work. Folate is also involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, so it is implicated in mood and subsequently behaviour. And, one particular study showed a reduced rate of bladder cancer when leafy veg was added to the dog’s diet! Findings here So, lightly steam your kale or spinach, or blitz it up in a blender, pop it in a freezer mould and add them to your dog’s bowl! 2) Mushrooms! There are literally thousands of species of mushrooms on the planet, so it can be a challenge to know where to start. But they are incredible in terms of the benefits they can provide. Mushrooms can be involved in the prevention of certain disease, the regeneration of damaged cells, the protection of tissues and cells and used during treatment of existing conditions. The bioactive compounds of mushrooms include polysaccharides, proteins, fats, ash, glycosides, alkaloids, volatile oils, tocopherols, phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, folates, ascorbic acid enzymes, and organic acids. Reishi mushrooms are adored for their immunomodulating benefits. In short,they have regularly been used successfully in chronic autoimmunity and allergy cases. Maiitike mushrooms have been used for their antibacterial function and cordyceps have been seen to inhibit inflammatory responses throughout the body. Findings here Certain species have been seen to stimulate natural killer cell function, supporting the innate immune system in the body. Mushrooms are widely accepted a having anti-cancer properties. The bottom line? Mushrooms have been seen to be: Anti-inflammatory Anti-microbial Antioxidant Prebiotic Anti-diabetic If you are looking to add mushrooms to the bowl, cook them fully, lightly sauteed is fine. If you are looking to use them therapeutically, then please feel free to get in touch for advice and guidance. 3) Eggs! There’s a reason eggs are the protein reference. They contain the full essential amino acid profile. Eggs contain essential lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements including vitamin A, iron, vitamin B12, riboflavin, choline, zinc and calcium. Egg proteins are distributed equally between egg white and egg yolk, whilst lipids, vitamins and minerals are essentially concentrated in the egg yolk. The yolk is a rich source of linoleic acid and as we know, LA is abundant in the epidermis of the skin, so eggs are a great source of food to support skin health. The one thing that eggs are rarely associated with is being anti-microbial. But there are a range of proteins found in the egg that exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic activity. Avidin is seen to target bacteria, lysozymeis seen to target bacteria, virus and fungi, and cystatin targets the above with parasites included! Chicken eggs also contain a range of antioxidant compounds that include vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and trace elements. They have demonstrated reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Conclusions suggest the supplementation of egg yolk proteins to reduce intestinal oxidative stress. Findings here Lysozyme, an enzyme found in eggs has been indicated in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; it has been seen to protect in cases of colitis. Largely from its anti-inflammatory properties. Findings here Where you source your eggs from is essential, free-range birds produce more nutrient dense eggs than caged. Free-rearing results in much higher levels of tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol and lutein content. The anti-microbial function of the egg white is also modulated when hens are exposed to environmental microbes. Findings here So, if you want to add egg to the bowl,source free-range and organic. You can feed raw or cooked, and the egg shell is perfectly safe to feed too! 4) Berries! If you’re in the middle of a yeast or gut healing protocol, then berries may not be the first thing to add to your bowl, but for the typical dog, they are a beautiful addition. Berries contain many vitamins but that also have an impressive antioxidant profile. Anthocyanins (Greek anthos =flower and kyáneos = blue) belong to the flavonoid group of polyphenols, which are responsible for the red and blue colour of plant organs such as fruits, flowers, and leaves. Many studies have linked these compounds with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties, protection against both heart disease and cancer, as well as a
As we look at photos or videos of dogs devouring their food, when we are dealing with a fussy eater, the question we always sit with is; why won’t my dog do that? Being a fussy eater can be technically defined as an eating disorder, and there are a number of causes. From behavioural to biochemical, let’s take a look at the complex world of the fussy eater and we’ll share our top 5 tips for dealing with them. Eating Behaviour Appetite and hunger are largely controlled by the brain and a range of hormones. In the brain the hypothalamus receives information from the digestive system like stomach extension, chemical nature of ingested food and the metabolic activity of the liver and uses it to maintain energy balance. It also receives information from the emotion/reward system. Food is a rewarding object that induces pleasant emotions. Studies have demonstrated that when the reward value of food decreases, so too does eating motivation. Sadly, these studies often include the injection of lithium after eating, which causes discomfort, but it does give us food for thought, pun intended, if our dog is eating food which may be causing them discomfort. The most discussed hormones when we are looking at appetite and hunger are leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is produced in adipose cells, or fat cells. So, the more fat cells there are, the more leptin is produced. In short, the more fat that is available in reserves, the less you need to eat. Ghrelin is predominantly secreted in the stomach, and it too modulates cells found in the hypothalamus by increasing excitatory inputs and decreasing inhibitory inputs. Here we are talking about neurotransmitters. Ghrelin is seen to have a large influence on the release of dopamine via increases in cell excitability. As dopamine is involved in reward and motivation, ghrelin is thought to target the motivational functions geared to gaining food and to select those which are more rewarding (high calorie). However, there are also other mechanisms in which the dopaminergic system comes into play for the fussy eater. A central feature of the dopamine neuron response is that it is triggered by unexpectancy. After receiving an unexpected reward like food (or how many likes our recent post has got on social media) a dopamine surge is elicited. For the dog who ends up with the same bowl of food every day, there is no longer unexpectancy. The other neurotransmitter that gets a little attention in terms of eating behaviour is serotonin. Serotonin has a well confirmed role in the regulation of eating behaviour. Serotonin is a key player in feelings of nausea – so higher levels could be produced in response to something not sitting quite right in the digestive system. What’s super interesting is that serotonin is metabolised largely by monoamine oxidase (MAO) so it stands to reason that MAO inhibitors can contribute to high levels in the body. Sadly, certain insecticides found on flea and tick collars contain MAO inhibitors. We must also consider the cascade of hormones that are released during the stress response. Stress is a redirection of resources, and this includes away from digestive function. If our dogs are exposed to acute or chronic stress, it could remove their desire to eat. That said, as an owner managing a fussy eater, the owner too can become stressed and anxious that the dog isn’t getting the nutrients they need to thrive. Unfortunately for us, dogs have incredible olfactory capabilities, meaning they can smell our stress! They also have this capacity to mirror our emotions. And so, when they don’t eat, we get stressed, so they get stressed and may be even less likely to eat. So what does all of this mean? If you have investigated further and there is no underlying health issue that could be causing your dog to be a fussy eater, they could: Be suffering discomfort from the food they are eating, whether this is a sensitivity, or issues with digestion. They are then less likely to want to eat it next time for fear of feeling poorly. Have an undesirable body score – there is a difference between the occasional fussy eater, and the chronic fussy eater. If your dog is only occasionally refusing food, they may well just not need it at that moment. Be bored with their food – this often applies to many commercial foods – dry food we’re looking at you. Having the same bowl of food every mealtime removes the sense of unexpectancy. Be stressed or sense our stress – have there been any recent changes to your routine? Are you more stressed than usual? Has their walking route changed? Have they had an altercation with another dog on a walk? Are there any new pets in the home? Have you moved any furniture? Have you noticed any other changes to your dog’s behaviour? Have there been any changes to your behaviour? Our 5 Top Tips for Managing a Fussy Eater: 1) Establish mealtimes! There’s no unexpected reward if a bowl of food is always laid out. 2) Ditch the dry! What is more boring than the same bowl of pellets every mealtime? Offer fresh food with a range of tastes, aromas, and textures. In addition, variety is the spice of life – use novel proteins – what’s more unexpected than novelty? This can also be helpful if you are concerned your dog may have a sensitivity to certain foods. Finally, cooking alters the aroma and texture of many foods so this can be a great way to entice if needed. 3) Use mealtimes as opportunities to enrich your dog’s life! Offer food in bowls or plates, or even on wooden boards. There is no categoric link between height of feeding and gastric torsion in dogs, so consider at what level you offer their meals; do they need to be raised if they are struggling with any musculoskeletal issues. If they are in pain whilst eating,
Gone are the days when you could walk into a pet shop and have the choice of three types of food: the cheapest, middle of the road and the most expensive. Thank goodness! But we now have a new problem. What on earth do I feed my pet? Do I feed dry kibble? Quite simply, NO. But what about the rest? Canned? Dehydrated? Commercial Cooked? Home Cooked? Commercial Raw or DIY Raw? At My Pet Nutritionist, we can help guide you. In an age of choice, is there a “best diet”? Obviously human research demonstrates fresh feeding over processed foods is far healthier for us and can prevent disease. this applies to our pets too however our job is to look at the pet, holistically and consider all constraints involved. Whilst we know there are rules of thumb for optimal health, much like for us humans, all pets are different. There may be a perfect diet for your pet, but that same diet may not be perfect for your neighbour’s pet. So let’s explore the different foods available to you, what we like about them and what considerations need to be made, if in fact they are your foods of choice. Raw Feeding Raw feeding is just that, when you feed meat, fat, bones etc in their raw state. Within raw feeding there are a number of approaches. You may come across phrases like BARF which stands for biologically appropriate raw feeding, or RMB which stands for raw meaty bones, you may also come across PMR which is prey model raw and more will no doubt appear over the coming years. The basis of a raw diet comes from considering the evolution of the dog. Dogs came from wolves, and before domesticated by humans, would largely fend for themselves; eating whole prey; eyes, brains, guts galore (although there is some data that suggests the guts were often left, which leads to the suggestion that dogs avoid greens when given the opportunity, but this isn’t always the case and some leafy greens pack some punch in terms of nutritional value). The biggest concern around raw feeding is contamination and so, we must practice appropriate handling techniques when handling any raw meat, just read the packaging on your raw chicken fillets. The more recent development is around antimicrobial resistance. Whilst raw food poses a risk, so does the inappropriate use of antibiotics, excessive use of disinfectants and sanitisers, livestock rearing techniques and pesticide use along with many more. Within raw feeding you may come across the 80-10-10 method. This is where you feed 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% offal (organs). This is what most commercial raw food manufacturers offer, in a ground state, as a basis for their meals. But you can also formulate a raw diet to FEDIAF guidelines, again some raw food manufacturers provide products that meet these requirements and offer complete foods. Raw food is in its original state, apart from being processed through a meat grinder in pre-made minces, what you see is what you get. Feeding a raw diet has been associated with a range of improvements and health benefits in pets: Digestibility of crude protein and fat is improved in raw foods compared to dry practical pet foods. Dogs fed a RMB diet have a significantly more diverse microbiome than commercially dry fed dogs. Dogs being fed a RMB diet demonstrated a high digestibility of nutrients. Generally, the size of stool is deemed as a measure of digestibility in pet food manufacturing and in raw fed dogs, stool size significantly diminishes (suggesting improved digestibility). Dogs fed dry kibble compared with a raw food diet have demonstrated altered immune cell gene expression. Keto diets have been seen to improve outcomes in pets with cancer; a raw diet is largely based on keto principles. In a randomised clinical trial in 2012, the positive effect of a raw diet was reported in relation to the formation of calcium oxalate uroliths. Lower calcium excretion was found in the urine of dogs eating a commercial RMBD, compared with excretion in dogs eating a commercial dry extruded diet. An initial analysis of the Dog Risk data (Helsinki University), has revealed a decrease in the incidence of atopy and allergy in dogs that eat RMBDs. It appears that an RMBD fed at a young age has a positive influence on reducing the incidence of atopy in the population. Eating raw meat, raw bone and cartilage gave the strongest association of any the food items consumed in the study. Results have indicated that raw food, fed at a young age, could protect German shepherd dogs from CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia). All findings here Dogs fed raw food often have less plaque build up and white teeth on raw food. Pets have a dietary requirement for protein and fat. Protein to build and repair cells, fat to provide energy, insulation and to act as signalling molecules. They also have a requirement for a range of micronutrients, those vitamins, and minerals. Meat, bones and offal are full of available nutrients, in their original state. Raw is perfectly able to provide nutrients for your dog to thrive, but the dietary plan may take some tweaking to get it right. Some dogs take to bone straightaway, some need a little longer. Some can tolerate 10% offal, some start to get black, tarry poops without an offal free meal or day. The Poop Gives you the Scoop As much as we’d like to tell you the eyes are the window into the soul; when you’re feeding a pet, if you want to know what’s going on inside, keep a watchful eye on their poop. Too much bone in a raw food diet starts to give white, crumbly poop. Too much offal is usually a black and tarry poop. There are other indicators too, but here at My Pet Nutritionist, we’re not averse to a poop pic, so if you are worried about your dog then please feel free
If you’ve just rinsed your dog off after a meander through the woods, then their licking is likely grooming behaviour. But, here at My Pet Nutritionist, we often see dogs who excessively lick causing abrasions and hair loss. Whilst it’s often indicative of an irritation, there are in fact some other reasons why your dog may start licking in the absence of a jaunt through a muddy puddle. Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes. 1) Stress Yes – stress can take the blame for this one too! Stress is like the wonder woman of life – is there anything she can’t do? For anyone who has spent time investigating dog behaviour, you’ll know that lip licking in particular is a sign of stress. An interesting theory here suggests that because stress depletes essential nutrient resources, lip licking is in fact a sign of malnutrition. Deficiencies in a range of nutrients like vitamin B2, B3, B12, iron, and Vitamins A, C and K and Zinc have all been known to cause irritation and inflammation in and around the mouth and lips. The licking is thought to be an attempt to soothe it. Findings here However, other suggestions explore the idea that the lip licking mechanism is thought to soothe the stress response by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Yet, this mechanism can apply to licking of all body parts, not just the lips. The stress response is dominated by the sympathetic nervous system; it increases heart rate, widens eyes in order to assess the threat better and redirects resources in order to deal with it. Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in and re-balances. The chief of the parasympathetic nervous system is the vagus nerve, and chewing, along with licking is considered to activate it. Through the action, attention is redirected and focussed on that particular task, not what is making them stressed. Findings here Licking is also deemed a self-soothing behaviour through its association with oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hypothalamic nonapeptide linked to increased levels of social interaction, well-being and anti-stress effects. Oxytocin is released by sensory stimulation (touch) and promotes the release of dopamine whilst decreasing the cascade of stress response mechanisms throughout the brain and body. Oxytocin also modulates the activity of serotonin which as we know is a key hormone in mood stability, feelings of well-being and reward. An element of this could have also been learned behaviour from their mother. Licking and grooming behaviour is a key feature in determining neural changes and fear responses in offspring. Those from low licking mothers tend to show a greater stress-response and proceeded to be low-lickers themselves (if they were female and had their own litter). The same also occurred for high lickers. Findings here The bottom line? Excessive licking could be a response to stress faced by your dog. Watch out for other signs of stress like: Panting in the absence of exercise Salivating in the absence of food Pacing Inappropriate toiletting Unusual vocalising Out of character behaviour Wide eyes Flat ears Abnormal tail placement Work to remove the trigger and support them with other stress reduction strategies. Also, be mindful that chronic stress can deplete essential nutrient resources. our Calm Complex can help support the above signs of stress. 2) Pain Pain is an uncomfortable feeling that gives us and our dogs an indication that something isn’t as it should. Not only are many breeds incredible at hiding pain (it wouldn’t have helped them in evolutionary terms), but they also lack the ability to converse. Whilst we would all love to think we have this form of communication with our dogs, we can miss things, especially if they are pretty crafty at hiding them! The sensation of pain is a necessary function that warns the body of potential or actual injury. Whilst we may think that dull ache in our lower backs is merely an inconvenience, it’s a rather reliable indication that our office chair possibly doesn’t suit us. Pain occurs when a nociceptor fibre detects a painful stimulus on the skin or in an internal organ. This detection is picked up by other receptors in the spinal cord and brainstem and then transmitted to the various areas of the brain. This is done through the incredible work of neurotransmitters. There exists both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. Those that make things happen, and those that apply the brakes. Inhibitory neurotransmitters are involved in the modulation of pain; including enkephalins and endorphins, serotonin, noradrenalin, GABA, acetylcholine and oxytocin. Excitatory neurotransmitters acting without an inhibiting system results in pain. Which is why pain killers primarily prevent the release of some excitatory neurotransmitters (and can in fact make you or your dog drowsy). When we look at the neurotransmitters involved, it’s possible to see why our dogs may start licking an area that is painful to them. Through touch they can stimulate the release of oxytocin (a modulator of pain). Not only that but self-trauma (excessive licking) is thought to promote the release of endorphins, which are also pain modulators. Findings here This demonstrates how dogs can get into a vicious cycle, they want to lick to soothe, but the more they lick, the more trauma they cause, resulting in more licking. There is also the possibility, that what could have started as a pain response, could turn into irritation, or what started as irritation, could turn into pain and continue the cycle. 3) Itch Itch is a sensation felt on the skin, which causes the desire to scratch. Although initially it could be as simply as scratching something to remove it, itching can become stressful when excessive. When tissues are stimulated by allergens, histamine is released from mast cells. Histamine makes the blood vessels expand, driving blood to the area creating that common swelling among other responses. Specialised nerve fibres are stimulated; when these are processed, the scratching or rubbing reflex is stimulated. The main mediators for the itch
Help! My dog has a loose stool! Well, you wouldn’t be a true dog owner if you didn’t spend time assessing, talking or even sharing photos about your dog’s bowel movements. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we’re not averse to a poop pic (we get quite a few in a day), but there are some common reasons why your dog may develop high scores on the Bristol Stool Chart. Technically that’s a chart for humans, but we can learn similar lessons. Here is our Ultimate Dog Stool Guide on colour and consistency. So, let us take a look at some of causes of runny poops in dogs. 1) Infection It goes without saying that a nasty gastro bug can result in runny stools. It can be all sorts of different colours, but more often that not it can be described as like turning a tap on! Infections can be a result of bacteria, parasites or virus and you may notice other symptoms like lethargy, vomiting or abdominal pain. In some cases, due to the irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, you may find specks of blood in the stool too. If nothing sinister, a fast followed by a bland diet will start to show improvements, but if there are other clinical signs or no improvements then its always best to get your dog checked out by your Vet. A vet call is always warranted for young puppies or elderly dogs. 2) Gut Dysbiosis Stool consistency strongly correlates with all known major microbiome markers. What this means is good poops are a sign of a healthy gut. But you knew that! Gut dysbiosis is when there is an imbalance between the good and bad bugs found in the gut. This can be for a number of reasons: Antibiotic use Steroid use Diet diversity Environment – exposure to toxins Birth method Use of flea and wormer treatments Vaccination When we are looking to heal the gut, we follow the 4 R’s. Remove (food antigens that could cause reactivity) Repair (the gut lining/endothelial, possibly known as leaky gut) Restore (the good bacteria in the gut) Replenish (with enzymes if necessary to reduce immediate inflammation) Signs of gut dysbiosis will usually manifest as regular sub-optimal bowel movements, if you think they may be an issue faced by your pet, we are more than happy to help! 3) Food Sensitivities/Allergies Allergies are in fact incredibly rare (at around 10%), but sensitivities are one of the most common issues discussed here at My Pet Nutritionist. An allergy is the result of an over-zealous immune system. It’s like going for the theory part of your driver’s test when you are told you are limited with how many clicks you can make on your hazard perception. Well, in cases of an allergy, the immune system didn’t get the limited clicks memo and gets a little trigger happy! The basic function of the immune system is to get rid of potential threats; it can do this by engulfing parasites, and you guessed it, causing a swift exit in the form of diarrhoea. But diarrhoea is also a sign of a food intolerance. Rather than an immune response per se, an intolerance involves the digestive system; in short, it struggles to process a particular food. This can be due to a lack of enzymes to digest a particular food, a sensitivity to chemicals found in certain foods or health issues like irritable bowel syndrome (which is often linked to bacterial overgrowth, stress, post-infection and genetics). In cases of food sensitivities, an elimination diet is the first port of call, to establish the key offender and we again follow the 4R’s in gut healing. 4) Stress Our pet’s stress response is much like ours as a human. Eustress or good stress can improve alertness and motivation and provide a helping hand in performance. But distress is the one we need to worry about, especially if it becomes chronic. Stress is generally known as the fight or flight response. The cascade of changes occurring in the body redistribute resources; blood is directed to the brain and limbs to figure out what to do, and whether to run away or stand and fight. Despite us making evolutionary progress, neither us or our dogs have yet evolved past this response and so even potentially minute stressors result in this redistribution of resources; taking ours and our dog’s ability to effectively digest food with it. Digestive function returns when the parasympathetic system kicks back in; once the stressor has passed (but incases of chronic stress, this doesn’t occur). In times of chronic stress, food is ingested, but not digested properly. This also explains why you may notice your dog has “adrenaline” poops on walks, or when they get particularly excited. As they are doing their zoomies, the body interprets it as stress and so directs resources where they are needed (not to the effective digestion of food). This is short lived and the dog’s next poop that evening has usually returned to its normal presentation but, under long term stress, this lack of digestion demonstrated by recurring loose stools, can result in a range of health issues thanks to the malabsorption of nutrients. If you consider your dog’s loose stools are generally associated with certain stressful events, the key is to remove the trigger where possible. Counter conditioning is often successful in supporting their future stress-responses. Stress does deplete essential nutrients, so opting for a fresh-food diet with excellent bioavailability is vital in supporting your dog during these times. 5) Underlying Malfunction Loose stools are the result of food being passed through the colon too quickly; with less fluid being absorbed by the body, the result being that puddle in your garden. As we mentioned earlier, a lack of digestive enzymes can be a reason for this. The digestive system comprises the GI tract, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. If there is an underlying malfunction in any of these, you may find abnormal stools. The pancreas
When we talk about toxins at My Pet Nutritionist, we are talking about flea and tick treatments, worming and even households chemicals. The extra sprays of air-freshener, the over-powering smell of disinfectants and most things in the home being wiped with fabric softener. In a pet-free home, as a grown adult, it’s entirely your choice what you expose yourself to and if you want your home smelling like that, then go for it! But when you make the decision to care for a pet, who can’t tell you when they are feeling nauseous or have a headache, you have to think a little more carefully. How many of you go to a friend’s home and notice the sweet smell of their air freshener or carpet cleaner? But when you get home, you can’t smell your own? This is because we develop a tolerance – our homes may not smell strongly to us, but they may to our pets. Especially our dogs. Dogs possess an extremely strong sense of smell. Which is why they have found themselves with some of the most impressive jobs in the world; some become medical detection dogs as they can detect minute changes in a person’s odour, signalling disease. It is believed that a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000-100,000 times that of an average human. They could detect the equivalent of one drop of liquid in 20 Olympic sized swimming pools! Findings here So, even if we can’t detect a compound in our environment, it’s safe to say, our dog probably could. Your dog is detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Now, they detect these in cancer sweeps (different cancers will produce different VOCs), but most of us know of VOCs for the bad rap they have. VOCs are chemicals that evaporate under normal atmospheric conditions (room temperature, low boiling point), compromising air quality. It’s fairly obvious when you spill some fuel at the garage, or you’ve recently painted your kitchen. The odour is compounds in the air, that you breathe in and subsequently stimulate/inhibit your olfactory receptors. Findings here VOCs are found everywhere. They are released by many everyday items including: Cleaning Products – detergents, bleaches etc Air Fresheners Paints Deodorants/Perfumes Fabrics Rugs Vinyl flooring Wood Burners Cigarette Smoking Printers and photocopiers This list is not exhaustive but covers the main culprits in most homes. But why are they a problem? Many VOCs have been proved as carcinogenic. That is, they are known to cause cancer. This largely depends on length of exposure, but it is still a risk. Findings here Many studies are showing the moderate to strong increase in respiratory distress or allergic effects of exposure to VOCs. As you would expect, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat is regularly reported. It stands to reason there would be an increase in allergies reported when exposed to certain VOCs. How bad is it? The health effects of a certain VOC will depend on its chemical nature and also the degree of exposure. Exposure can include ingestion, respiration and absorption through the skin. Here, we wondered whether a long-coated dog, or cat is any worse off? If the compounds stick to their coat? They are carrying the compound around with them. But we have not yet found any data to explore this query. Consider that your pet will spend a good 20-23 hours a day in your home, accounting for a 1-2-hour walk or a prowl at night time. Obviously less if they attend day care or come to work with you. But that is a high level of exposure – you are likely out of the home for a much larger part of the day. Whether you work 8-10 hours, or you are part time and then nip to run errands. In humans, it is clear that VOCs disrupt hormones and reproduction which subsequently affects the development of babies and children – it’s not a push to suggest this could happen with our pets, so it’s advised to be even more mindful with pregnant bitches, litters of puppies and when you bring your new puppy home! Findings here In an age where we want our homes grey and white and smelling of spring flowers all year round, we are inadvertently exposing our pets to some pretty harmful compounds. So, what can we do about it It’s not as hard as you’d think. Firstly, if you are re-decorating, try to do so at times of the year where you can have windows and doors open to bring fresh air through the home. Also, opt for water-based paints as these contain much lower level of VOCs. If you are unsure, speak to your local DIY or paint supplier and ask for a low content specifically. Store partly used paints and solvents in the garage or shed, where people and pets are unlikely to spend much time. If you know you won’t ever use it again, offer it to friends or family to use or simply dispose of. When cleaning, check the labels of the products you use for common harmful VOCs including: Acetone Butanal Carbon Disulfide Dichlorobenzene Ethanol Formaldehyde Terpenes Toluene Alternatively, opt for environmentally friendly products. There are so many new companies popping up who use natural ingredients to help keep your home in tiptop condition. Most are also conscious of plastic usage. We recommend products from Iron, Method, Ecover and Velvet, you dissolve a sachet of product in water in a bottle that you are reusing. The ingredients are plant-derived and essential oils are used for fragrance where possible. They smell great. White vinegar is a great product to have in the home, it’s a powerful odour neutraliser. Perfect if you are toilet training or are worried that your home smells of wet dog! Activated charcoal is also a great odour neutraliser and air purifier. Pop bags around your home, in your car etc and you’ll soon notice odours disappear. Some gift companies have even started making bouquet style bags, specifically for this purpose! Citrus
Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we often see rest and recovery as a forgotten need of dogs. With the advent of daycare centres and dog walkers, most of us relish the idea that our dog can be kept occupied whilst we are in work. When owners research potential breeds to bring home, their exercise quota is usually discussed along with the need for mental stimulation. Exercise is important for canine health – we’ll come back to that later. So is mental stimulation, especially for those smart, working breeds. But there needs to be a balance so lets discuss, why we let sleeping dogs lie. Pop into any social media group discussing dogs being left alone and destruction inevitably comes up. Well-meaning owners often suggest that the dog is bored and by providing things for the dog to do, they will cease the destructive behaviour. It’s clear that destruction when left alone is a symptom of anxiety; not boredom. Toys and food are only ever used in a separation anxiety protocol to help the dog make positive associations with a confinement area. Part of this protocol is to assess how the dog behaves immediately after finishing the puzzle to establish whether in fact it was a distraction or actually taught the dog to relax. Boredom in dogs often isn’t the big deal that social media groups make it out to be. Those behaviours associated with boredom are often symptomatic of frustration or anxiety. So, how much interaction does your dog need on a daily basis? This is a difficult question to answer. As with humans, dogs have different personalities and purposes. However, we can’t argue with the science. Dogs are diurnal. Like us, they are active during daylight hours. Rest occurs during the dark. But activity increases in the last two dark hours. A rest period is common at noon and then reduced activity continues during the afternoon. Findings here Sleep is widely studied, for its evolutionary benefits. It is crucial for most daily functions. It is clear in humans, that when suffering sleep restriction, they have attention lapses, slowed working memory, reduced cognition and depressed thought. Studies have shown a significant reduction inactivity in dogs experiencing sleep restriction. Findings here One of the main purposes of sleep is to consolidate memories or learning. This has also been found true in dogs. Learning affects sleep structure which ultimately decides whether you retain the information or not. Interestingly, in studies, those dogs allowed to sleep after learning anew command were more likely to retain the command at a later date than dogs allowed to walk or play. Findings here So, if you want to train your dog, they need their sleep. Under laboratory conditions, dogs will sleep around 13 hours per day. But this is very generic. Older dogs will sleep more as they tend to experience periods of broken sleep. Puppies too will sleep a lot more – generally 18-20 hours. The rule of thumb is to let sleeping puppies sleep! For the puppy, consider how much socialisation and training you are undertaking. When you think you’ve only got around 4-6 hours per day of awake time; take some mealtimes out of that, and your safe play in the garden… it’s easy to see how you can quickly overwhelm a puppy. What’s really interesting is, like in humans, negative or positive interactions, affect sleep length and quality. Following a negative interaction with a human, dogs tend to fall asleep quicker. This goes against what we’ve found in humans; the idea that stress impedes sleep. It is termed stress-induced quiescence (protective sleep in response to stress). Findings here This throws a bit of a curve ball when we are considering the overall health of our dog. We usually understand that they are content when they fall asleep – but now we must consider that it could be a potential stress-response. It’s worth looking out for these patterns and seeing how your dog sleeps. This has never been more relevant when considering daycare. More and more are popping up and I often hear owners say that their dog does nothing but sleep when they get home. It is generally understood that the dog has had such a busy day, they are just exhausted. But, what if, in these daycares with upwards of 50 dogs on site, the dog is just over-aroused? How realistic is it for your dog to get his rest in such a busy site? When his normal rhythm tells him to rest around noon and then have a quiet afternoon, and he’s actually running, chasing and playing for 8-10 hours of the day? This is sadly where non-aggressive dogs get labelled as aggressive, simply because they have reached their peak of “activity” for that day and some annoying puppy continues to hang off their ear! Also a consideration to be made when a new puppy is introduced into an adult dog home. Any daycare worth their salt should value rest and recovery as much as play and interaction. Sleep is not the only way that your dog can rest and recover. Simply having quiet, settled time can be of benefit. All too often, owners consider that their dog always needs to be doing something. Here it must be questioned, does your dog need to be kept occupied simply to keep them out of trouble? Some dogs just don’t learn how they need to behave because they aren’t given the opportunity. This is a whole new issue which is too big to tackle in this article. Maybe at a later date. If your dog has their own space, whether it’s their bed, a crate, a den or a corner in the home, they soon learn that it is their safe place. They can learn to settle and rest there. But they need to know that no one will hassle them, so children need to keep their distance. You can use lickimats or stuffed kongs to help them associate the space with calm and quiet,
Halitosis, as it’s more technically known, in dogs, can be a symptom of a range of health concerns. Ranging from dental disease to some cheeky gut bugs overworking, bad breath is often the first sign things may not be as they should, so lets take a look at the more common reasons and what options are available to you. 1) Periodontal Disease 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. Not only are 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, kidney and liver issues. Findings here The mouth is full of bacteria, primarily to form a first line of defence to protect us and our pets from the bad bugs, but the bad bugs can use carbohydrates, known as starches, as fuel, and subsequently thrive. These bacteria destroy enamel which further develop into cavities, or holes. This is why, in most human literature we are told to avoid sugars for the benefit of our oral health. It stands to reason that we would want to avoid starchy food for our pets too. A fresh food diet is as standard, low in starch, but the inclusion of raw meaty bones, if appropriate, can also create friction when eaten and contribute to the prevention of build-up on the teeth. Please note common dry foods on the market, although not marketed contain between 18-60% carbohydrates. So, if your dog’s breath could keep a vampire away, you may want to check his oral hygiene. Look for build-up, grey/brown deposits, and any breakdown of teeth. 2) SIBO Whilst it sounds like a mission to outer space, SIBO is actually a little more common than that. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth is getting increasingly common in the pet world. Whilst we usually define the microbiome as the microbial community found in the whole of the digestive tract, abundance generally increases from the stomach to the colon So, we would generally find more microbes the further down we go. SIBO occurs when we get more than we bargained for in the small intestine. It is more commonly associated with surgery, or rather a complication of surgery, but it can also occur as a result of any disease which slows the passage of food and waste products down. This means they stay in the wrong place for too long, and we all know what happens when you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. SIBO is often associated with cases of IBD or IBS, but there must also be consideration given in times of chronic stress as we know motility is affected here. Symptoms of SIBO include loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, diarrhoea, and weight loss. Due to the overgrowth of bacteria, bad breath is often a symptom. Unfortunately, there are a number of complications associated with SIBO. It can result in poor digestion and absorption of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Bile salts that are usually required to digest fats are often broken down by the bacteria, leaving few left to digest the fat in the diet. This then leads to reduced absorption, transport and utilisation of any of the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K. The overgrown bacteria also utilise the B12 marked for host use, subsequently leading to B12 deficiency. SIBO is also indicated in cases of immune deficiency, cirrhosis, and pancreatitis. Findings here Nutritional management plays a huge role in SIBO, so if you are concerned your dog may be showing symptoms, then please book a consultation here. Gut Guardian 3) Liver Disease When the liver isn’t performing to its fully capacity, it can result in potential toxins still circulating in the body. This includes the lungs. On exhale, this can present as a strong faecal smell (be mindful we are dealing with dogs, and some of them do perform coprophagy: eating poop). However, in cases of liver disease you would notice other symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, increased thirst, increased urination, jaundice (yellowing of the gums and eyes), weakness and loss of stability and in some cases seizures. Liver disease can occur as part of ageing, or there are genetic predispositions. However, oxidative stress is a significant contributor to liver complications. Risk factors associated with oxidative stress include: Obesity Diets high in processed foods Exposure to radiation Pollution Exposure to pesticides Not only that, but the body’s natural immune system can also trigger oxidative stress. This is a normal process that is swiftly managed in a healthy system. The concern is when your dog’s immune system is regularly being called to duty, over not-so-threatening threats. This state of chronic inflammation can result in higher levels of oxidative stress, putting pressure on many body systems. A diet high in antioxidants can help modulate oxidative stress, but if you are concerned about your dog’s liver function, then it’s best to speak to a qualified practitioner. If you would like to read more about liver disease, then check out our blog here. Liver Guard 4) Kidney Disease Another part of the detoxification system, when the kidneys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to, excessive urea can end up in the bloodstream resulting in a halitosis. This odour is described as ammonia smelling and having a metallic taste – but as our dogs can’t talk, we’ll just have
We first started becoming interested in bugs when germ-free mice, those born and raised in sterile environments showed exaggerated responses to stress compared to normal controls. What is particularly interesting is that the use of pro and prebiotics were able to reverse the abnormal reactions found in germ-free mice. Not only that but the faeces of depressed mice could be transplanted to “happy” controls and subsequently make them depressed and vice versa. So, we started wondering, can bugs really affect our behaviour? The short answer is yes. The long answer needs a sit down with a coffee. The gut microbiome comprises of all microorganisms and their genomes inhabiting the intestinal tract. These microorganisms perform important functions in the immune system and basic metabolism by providing essential inflammatory mediators, nutrients, and vitamins. But, as we established, they also affect behaviour, and they do this through this thing called the gut-brain axis. This occurs through multiple pathways such as endocrine, immune, metabolic, and neural, specifically the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body and has countless branches from the brainstem all the way down to the lowest part of the intestines, touching most organs along the way. This is why it is also called the wandering nerve. The vagus nerve modulates the parasympathetic nervous system which counterbalances the sympathetic nervous system. In short, stress inhibits the vagus nerve. This effect is seen when gut motility is altered during stress. What surprised most was that brain-gut communication is bidirectional. This is why the jury is still out on whether cases of IBD or IBS are a cause or a consequence of abnormal gut-brain processing. The vagus nerve contains fibres. 80% of them carry information from the body to the brain and 20% from the brain to the body. These fibres are distributed in all the layers of the digestive wall and they sense the diffusion of bacterial compounds and metabolites. The bacterial sequences identified in the canine gastrointestinal tract fall into five phyla: Firmicutes Fusobacteria Bacteroidetes Proteobacteria Actinobacteria In an ideal world, we want balance, but there are several factors which can affect the composition of the intestinal microbiota which is subsequently known as gut dysbiosis. This composition, as we have established then influences behaviour, for better or worse. The Effect of Diet Several studies have demonstrated that diet composition, especially those with large differences in macronutrient composition (carbohydrate, protein, and fat) largely affects gut microbiome profiles. Dogs fed a raw diet have demonstrated a richer and more balanced microbiome when compared to kibble-fed controls. Raw fed dogs show an overall decrease in the abundance of firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. This isn’t surprising as these genera are associated with the digestion of dietary fibre, indicating a decrease in the fermentation of carbohydrate (raw diets are general lower in carbohydrate). Adding fresh meat to a bowl of kibble has also demonstrated a decrease in faecali bacterium and an increase in clostridiaceae. One of these clostridiaceae strains was later identified as being associated with normal bile acid metabolism which is an important pathway for lipid digestion and regulation of intestinal inflammation. Clostridiaceae is also associated with improved fecal health score (firmer). And yes, the bit you have been waiting for, clostridiaceae is associated with normal cognitive function. Findings here Biologically appropriate diets have also demonstrated increased levels of faecal GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter implicated in anxiety and mood disorders. Findings here In short, what is abundantly clear, the more diverse the diet, the more diverse the microbiome. This gives us a better shot at having beneficial bacteria to influence our health and behaviour. Birth Regardless of the species, GI colonisation starts before the new-born exits the birth canal. In humans the delivery method of the baby isa clear influence on microbiome development. But in the canine world, it is considered that the new-born puppy is exposed to vaginal and faecal microbiota through the dam’s tongue and therefore the delivery method, whilst still applicable, is likely less pronounced. It does however highlight that the Mother’s microbiota is a clear influence on the developing new-born, so her diversity will subsequently affect her offspring. Disease Dogs with gastro-intestinal disease regularly present with significantly decreased faecal bacterial diversity. The microbial communities differ massively between sick and healthy dogs. Findings here Manipulations of the microbiome are often included as part of the treatment of GI disease, most commonly antibiotics, probiotics, and faecal transplants. The aim of antibiotics is to remove pathogenic bacteria, however many antibiotics are broad spectrum, so they take the good guys with them too. They rapidly cause significant drops in taxonomic richness and diversity and there turn to the initial composition is rarely fully achieved. The link between bacteria and behaviour is again highlighted in human data reporting anxiety, panic attacks and in some cases depression as side effects to antibiotic use. Manic episodes have also correlated with antibiotic use. Findings here Turning this on its head, there is increasing attention being paid to using antibiotics as a possible treatment for psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia. Findings here Pathogenic bacteria have been seen to affect behaviour in other species than humans too. Rabies for example is largely associated with aggressive behaviour because biting is an effective form of transmission. Low serotonin levels are associated with aggressive behaviour, so it is considered that the rabies infection impairs serotonin neurotransmission. Findings here Not only that, but rat infection of toxoplasma gondii removes a rat’s natural aversion to cats and produces a pheromone to attract the rat to the cat. This gives the parasite a better chance at survival but is very unfortunate for the rat. Findings here Other mice studies have demonstrated that sub-clinical infection of campylobacter jejuni produced anxiety-like behaviour despite the fact there was no overt immune system activation. Findings here It would be easy here to say that the solution is to eradicate all bacteria, but the issue isn’t that the bacteria exist, the issue is the balance. For example,
In humans, the definition of anxiety is a feeling of unease, a worry or fear. It can be mild or severe. It’s quite easy to label these feelings ourselves, but as our four-legged friends haven’t yet figured out how to talk, what makes them anxious can be difficult to pin down. What we do know is they demonstrate stress behaviours alongside triggers, so we can intimate they feel anxious. What is clear, is that these behaviours aren’t great for our four-legged friends, so whilst we can also tackle the triggers, there are certain nutrients that can help modulate anxiety too. We have collated 5 of our top Fido-friendly-foods that can be safely added to their diets. Fatty Fish In dogs, the body has a requirement for two distinct Essential Fatty Acid families. The Omega-6 and Omega-3 series. Omega-6 Linoleic Acid (LA) Arachidonic Acid (AA) Omega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Fatty fish contain Omega-3 fatty acids which have a number of biological effects in the body. To start us off, studies have shown that aggressive dogs are characterised by low Omega-3 fatty acid status. This does not indicate causation, but there is certainly a correlation. Findings here Omega-3’s, in particular DHA, play critical neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory roles in the brain. Supplementation of omega-3 has been seen to: – Improve cognitive function Findings here – Reduce anxious symptoms Findings here – Reduce aggressive behaviours Findings here – Reduced stress-related hormone production Findings here Omega-3s are classed as polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids can be saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated. The difference is in their structure. Saturated fatty acids contain no double bonds between the carbon atoms and are therefore saturated with hydrogen. Monounsaturated fatty acids have one double bond (mono=one). Polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more double bonds (poly=many). The more double bonds a fatty acid has, the less stable the molecule, which means it is more susceptible to oxidation, resulting in rancidity. This is why fish oils should be stored in a dark, glass bottle and why PUFA rich oils aren’t the best to fry your eggs with. Fats also act as carriers for fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K which means that low-fat diets can affect the metabolism of these crucial vitamins. Much data has highlighted that low vitamin D status is associated with anxiety and depression, so fatty fish helps modulate the metabolism of vitamin D too (if it is present in the diet of course). Findings here Sources to include: – Mackerel – Salmon – Sardines Oysters Whilst you may struggle to get your hands on oysters, what we’re really interested in is their zinc content. In the human literature, zinc is a trait marker of a mood disorder. Zinc deficiency is regularly associated with depression and anxiety, and supplementation often improves mood and cognitive function. Zinc plays a role in many metabolic processes, including enzyme catalysis, cell signalling and DNA replication and transcription. What this essentially means, this mineral is involved in neural development, learning, memory and mood. We know zinc plays a role in mood because we find zinc enriched neurons in parts of the brain associated with emotions. Before we knew better, in rat studies, we found that increasing zinc levels reduced rat-fighting behaviour and when supplemented alongside anti-depressant medication, rats developed improved resilience. The issue we have is that zinc also plays a role in the inflammatory response and likewise the down regulating of the same response. So, when we are in a state of chronic inflammation, when zinc should be in the nervous system, modulating, its instead crusading with the inflammatory (or anti-inflammatory) team and the brain is left with neurotransmitters where they shouldn’t be, or not even where they should be! Whilst it stands to reason that low dietary intake results in low levels of zinc, phytates found in cereals, corn and rice also inhibit zinc absorption. There are also some breeds who are predisposed to zinc deficiency, for example, certain sled dogs. Foods high in zinc: Oysters, beef, chicken, pork, hemp seeds, shiitake mushrooms and red meat. Whilst brazil nuts, tuna and oysters are also high in selenium, red meat is an easy addition in your dog’s diet. Another mineral, low levels of selenium are regularly reported in cases of anxiety, depression and fatigue. Findings here Selenium’s prime function is as an antioxidant. It works as a component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme which protects cell membranes and red blood cells from damage by free radicals. However, it is thought to modulate mood through its involvement in the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones. Selenium deficiency is thought to dysregulate thyroid function and therefore play a role in mood disorders. Not only that but selenium has been found to exhibit modulatory effects on the dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems which are all involved in the regulation of mood and behaviour. One of the mechanisms is to inhibit the degradation of serotonin, resulting in an overall increase in levels. Selenoproteins also demonstrate antioxidant properties on dopaminergic neurons vulnerable to oxidative stress. Findings here Food Sources of Selenium: Pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish, oysters, eggs, shiitake mushrooms and white meat. The word protein comes from the Greek word proteios which means of prime importance. Amino acids are the basic units of proteins and are held together by peptide linkages to form long protein chains. For the dog there are certain amino acids that are essential; they cannot be synthesised by the body, so they must be supplied by the diet. These include: Arginine Histidine Isoleucine Leucine Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Threonine Tryptophan Valine For the cat, this also includes taurine. These amino acids found in certain foods,are precursors to certain neurotransmitters. Tryptophan, which is found in chicken and turkey, is the precursor to serotonin. Manipulation of serotonin through supplementation or depletion of tryptophan has established a role in higher order brain functions, memory, and mood. Low dietary tryptophan is associated with anxiety-like behaviour and increased defensive aggression. Tryptophan
Autoimmune disease, irritable bowel disorders, lupus, thyroid issues, eisonophilic skin disorders, chronic skin disease and allergic dermatitis, not a list any owner wants to pair with their pet, but sadly all of these diseases can be vaccine-related conditions. We can identify them as vaccine related conditions because symptoms are concomitant with vaccination date. We deem this reaction as vaccinosis. And sadly, it is far more prevalent than we could even imagine. At MPN, we see the correlation of vaccination and disease in many of our clients. So let’s take a look at where we started, and how we ended up in such dire straights. The smallpox vaccine was introduced in 1796 after Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who had previously caught cow pox didn’t catch smallpox. The idea was that exposure to killed or weakened virus/bacteria that cause disease can prime the immune response, but it doesn’t actually make the host sick. So, vaccinations allow the host to develop immunity without having to suffer the disease. To this end, smallpox is now declared eradicated. There is no doubt that vaccination has been progressive in public health concerns, for both humans and pets, but they were never meant to make the host sick. For a number of reasons, the current vaccinations schedule for our pets, is. There is increasing evidence that over-vaccination is associated with the development or aggravation of immune-mediated disorders and chronic diseases in individual pets that are genetically predisposed. This raises a particularly interesting element that has perhaps been missed when developing the blanket vaccination schedules for our pets. Twin studies, in humans have demonstrated there is a clear genetic role in vaccine response. A growing list of genes have been associated with immune related functions critical to immunological response and much data is concluding it is the status of these genes that is key to immune response. Human data is highlighting that this is one of the reasons vaccines can either elicit partial, complete or failure to protect individuals treated under the same conditions. This would also suggest that the opposite is therefore true; gene status could elicit partial or complete adverse reaction, or hopefully failure to demonstrate adverse reaction. Genes are a set of instructions and there are a number of factors that can affect how they are expressed. This is likely understood in the canine world to some extent because most vaccines are advised as safe for healthy dogs but not those with a compromised immune system. So, what constitutes a compromised immune system? The primary role of the immune system in dogs is to protect against foreign invaders, or abnormal cells that invade or attack. The immune system must distinguish between self and non-self. Substances that stimulate a response are antigens. These can be contained within bacteria, viruses or microorganisms or cancer cells. They may also exist on their own, like pollen or food particles. There are three lines of defence, physical barriers, non specific immunity and specific immunity. Physical barriers are the first line of defence, they include the skin, the cornea of the eye and the membranes lining the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts. The key is to keep these barriers unbroken. These barriers are also defended by bacteria and secretions that contain enzymes that can destroy harmful bacteria. Examples include eye tears, secretions in the digestive tract and the microbiome in the gut. Nonspecific immunity should be present at birth; it treats all foreign substances in the same way. Inflammation results in white blood cells travelling into tissues to kill invading organisms and remove injured cells. Specific immunity is acquired and developed as the immune system encounters different antigens, it learns the best way to attack and develops a memory for that specific antigen. It takes time to develop a response, but in future encounters, the response is more rapid. Specific immunity involves the action of lymphocytes (B and T cells), antibodies, antigen presenting cells and cytokines. Most vaccines work by stimulating the development of specific immunity. But the immune system does not always function properly, it can be underactive and overactive. An underactive system puts the animal at risk of infection, but an overactive immune system can attack parts of its body that it misidentifies as being foreign. This is what happens in autoimmune conditions. The immune system can also overreact and produce too many antibodies or other chemicals; these are what we see as hypersensitivity or allergic reactions. Not only do we have to ensure the physical barriers remain healthy, but we also must ensure that responses are just right. We know that genes play a role in this, but so does the environment your dog (exposure to toxins, chemicals and pesticides etc) alongside nutrition. Each cell in every body uses chemical reactions to build some of the materials that it needs, converting substances provided by the diet into other chemicals necessary for normal functioning. This is why the immune system has its own micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) requirements. For example, Vitamin A helps to maintain structural and functional integrity of mucosal cells in innate barriers like the skin and respiratory tract, Vitamin D stimulates immune cell proliferation and cytokine production, helping to protect against infection, B12 has roles in natural killer cell functions just as folate maintains natural killer cells. Many micronutrients play a role in protecting against reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species which are produced when pathogens are killed by immune cells. Findings here So, there are many things that can compromise an immune system, which also informs whether the dog is a candidate for vaccination and indeed subsequent and frequent booster vaccinations. Signs your Dog may have a compromised immune system: Tiredness/lethargy Increased stress levels Digestive issues Slow healing wounds Frequent infections (eyes, ears etc) Delayed growth/development Skin sensitivities/allergies Joint stiffness and disease Other diagnosed disease If your dog is suffering with any pre-existing health conditions, it pays to consider titre testing. No animal should be vaccinated with a compromised immune system.
A global infection of both humans and animals, leptospirosis is on the tip of most owners and dog professional’s tongue. Caused by the pathogen icleptospira spp. it is a major zoonosis, with infection acquired from wild and domestic animals. Canine leptospirosis presents very similarly to the syndromes presented in other species with hepatic, renal and pulmonary ramifications. In short, it’s pretty rough, but vaccine induced immunity is restricted to serologically related serovars and is generally very short-lived; therefore, needing annual revaccination. If there are more than 230 serovars belonging to at least ten pathogenic species, does the vaccine even pose benefits? Or do the risks outweigh them? We are going to look at the science and explore both sides to this story. Fancy coming along for the journey? Leptospirosis is characterised by fever, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhoea, renal failure, haemorrhages and ultimately death. However, for those who recover, they may become asymptomatic renal carriers for extended periods and shed infectious leptospires into the environment. This is a large source of infection, as rats can be carriers but do not show signs of infection. Whilst treated dogs can shed leptospires, so can vaccinated dogs. This raises the first red flag; is this potentially increasing exposure? Most signs of leptospirosis become apparent in the first week after infection; younger dogs, less than 1 year of age tend to get the most severe forms of leptospirosis and 87-100% of infected dogs will have some degree of renal implication. There do appear to be different clinical parameters of the infection: Peracute Disease: super-sudden onset which usually affects younger dogs with an overwhelming exposure. The large amount of toxin causes rapid death before the kidney or liver disease even occurs. Acute Disease and Subacute Disease: this is the classic form which manifests as fever with bruising and bleeding, general muscle pain and painful abdomen from kidney and/or liver disease. There may be jaundice and inflammation in the eyes. Chronic Disease: recurring fevers, chronic hepatitis, chronic kidney disease, uveitis, poor appetite and weight loss. However, leptospira interrogans sensu lato is sensitive to doxycycline which is a readily available antibiotic. Leptospires are cleared from the blood within 24 hours of starting antibiotics. But it does take around 7 days to clear from the urine. Prognosis, depending on organ damage is 80-90% with appropriate treatment. There are, however, other serovars, like the pomona which is associated with more severe disease and in severe kidney cases, dialysis can be required which is often limited. So, whilst treatment is largely effective, if started soon enough, there was clearly enough concern to develop a vaccine. Vaccination against leptospira interrogans sensu lato is available for the seravars canicola, grippotyphosa, pomona and icterohaemorragiae. Some vaccines coverall four serovars, whereas some cover two of the four. This is where you will recognise the common lepto two or four vaccine. Vaccination against canicola and icterohaemorragiae has been traditional for dogs and vaccination overall, has been seen to reduce the severity of the disease, but will not prevent infected dogs from being carriers. Note, it supposedly reduces severity, it doesn’t necessarily prevent occurrence. The leptospirosis vaccine was soon associated with a higher chance of vaccine reactions. This is a result of human research into leptospirosis. In the U.K. in 2014 , over 2000 reports of Novibac L4 adverse reactions have been reported to the VMD (Veterinary Medicine Directive) and around 120 suspected deaths related to vaccinosis. In addition to this, data suggested that the severity of the disease was associated with the intensity of the immune response. In short, the more intense and early the response, the more severe the disease. Findings here If our immune system, and our dog’s, is primed to take out antigens and protect, why does a more intense response seem to make things worse? An intense immune response induces a high level of inflammatory cytokines which can result in severe tissue lesions. Immunity is like the porridge in Goldilocks. It can sometimes be too cold (lacking) and sometimes too hot (overzealous). Ideally, we want it, just right. There are many things that affect immune responses, in the case of lepto, a more intense response was associated with previous infection. Fever was induced by virulent injection in previously immunised rabbits whereas non-immunised rabbits exhibited no fever after injection. So, in this case, the immunised rabbits fared poorer than non-immunised rabbits. See where we might be going with this? So we are vaccinating to potentially reduce, not prevent the severity of infection but here it appears those rabbits immunised, had a more severe reaction to exposure. But, stress, nutrition and the environment can all affect immune responses too. So too, can genes. This can help explain why some animals are more, or less susceptible to pathogens (or vaccines) than others. And explain the age-old statement, but my dog was fine! It therefore raises no eyebrows when reports appear of clinical leptospirosis in numerous dogs when they had previously been vaccinated. You’ll remember this from earlier, when it was deemed to reduce severity, not necessary prevent occurrence. This was however, associated with vaccine type. In short, the dogs were vaccinated against only two of the many pathogenic serovars. So, in walked Lepto 4. But these new vaccines were associated with further increases in vaccine reactions, not limited to local swelling or hypersensitivity, but including cardiac abnormalities. Specifically, heart murmurs appearing between first and second vaccination. Findings here What is particularly interesting in studies exploring the use of lepto 4 vaccines, is that dogs demonstrated antibodies to serovars not vaccinated against. Researchers have therefore concluded that natural exposure (not vaccine exposure) to serovars provide positive titre results. Not only that, but in cases of vaccinations up to 1745 days previously, some dogs still demonstrated antibodies. This raises a question around the need for such frequent booster vaccinations. The take home from this particular study was “seroconversion following vaccination differed considerably among individual dogs.” Yet they still concluded that, “in the light of the high incidence and
