Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we understand the importance of keeping your pets healthy. As we often write about, keeping the gut healthy and feeding a fresh balanced diet are two steps toward a full picture of health. The world around us is sadly a very toxic place, with us and our pets being surrounded by environmental hazards at nearly all times! How can we avoid this exposure? What can we do to negate the potential effects of environmental toxins and hazards? This bumper two-part blog post will look at a host of potential dangers in a variety of environments you may frequent regularly with your pets in tow, how you can reduce exposure to these, and what we can do to help the body cope with it’s environment. Part 1 looks at hazards in the home, garden, and local parklands. Click here for Part 2, which will look at hazards in and around lakes, woodlands, and beaches. Domestic Environment The first of our areas of exposure to environmental hazards, is the place you and your pets probably spend most of your time; at home, or even in other people’s homes, cafes, and shops. All the indoors places. Your pet may be exposed to a huge variety of environmental hazards when inside, so let’s take a look at some of these. Cleaning Products Take a look at the cleaning products you use in your home. You may have floor cleaners, bleach, surface cleaners, laundry detergent, laundry softener, laundry scent boosters, carpet cleaners, stain removal products, window cleaning sprays, dishwasher tablets; the list goes on! When you think about every cleaning product used in your home, you can really begin to see how exposed your pet might be to them! Every surface they touch, the air they breathe – it all contributes to exposure. Now, take a look at the ingredients label on each product. Can you easily identify each ingredient? Are there some long, science-y looking words you haven’t heard of before? It’s quite likely! Next have a look at the warning label; what warnings does the product come with? Irritation to skin or eyes, hazard to health, hazardous to the environment, corrosive, acute toxicity; these are all common warnings on household cleaning products! Some of the more worrying ingredients often used in cleaning products are: Ammonia Chlorine Bleach Isopropyl Alcohol Formaldehyde Pine But my bottle says ‘pet friendly’… sadly, the ‘pet friendly’ qualities of a product, merely mean that the product won’t kill your pet if used correctly. Just because a product is pet friendly, doesn’t mean that exposure to it can cause some health issues in pets, including most commonly, skin issues, and sometimes breathing issues too. Conventional cleaning products can cause so many problems in pets through exposure by touching, inhaling or ingesting, including: Burns to the skin, throat or gastrointestinal system Dry skin, rashes and itching Interdigital cysts Lethargy Vomiting and diarrhoea Seizures/neurological abnormalities Stomach ulcers Your dog or cat may breathe in particles of sprays, lick flooring or textiles, lick their fur or paws after contact with cleaning chemicals, have direct contact with chemicals by walking through the house or laying on furnishings etc. What can we do to reduce exposure to these products? Lots! You can make lots of excellent switches in your home, to more natural products, without the risk of nasty side affects if ingested, inhaled, or touched. Some handy ideas are as follows: Provilan Probiotic Cleaning Products from Ingenious Probiotics (in the UK – other suppliers may be available) are a fantastic range of natural cleaning products, with the added bonus of good bacteria in the form of probiotics. The bacteria outcompetes/eats the bad bacteria in the area being cleaned, and is completely unharmful for pets! No only are they safe, but they’re beneficial too! Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) mixed with water can be used to scrub places like toilets, sinks, ovens etc White vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed with water can be great for cleaning hard surfaces, and soft furnishings. Home Fragrance Home fragrance is a big, but important topic when it comes to hazardous exposure to our pets! We all want out homes to smell nice – walking in your front door to be hit with a beautiful fragrance of apple, geranium, freesia, or whatever you most prefer is just the loveliest thing… however; is it doing the health our pets any favours (or us for that matter!)? It may not be! The vast majority of scents in the home, whether it’s through the burning of candles, plug in diffusers, reed diffusers, or room sprays, contain VOCs – Volatile Organic Compounds. These VOCs can be quite a hazard to the health of us and our pets, not to mention the behavioural side of it for our fluffy dependants! Health risks of VOCs include: Eye, nose and throat irritation Headaches Loss of coordination Nausea Potential damage to the liver Potential damage to the kidneys Potential neurological damage Cancer (some, not all, VOCs are known to be carcinogenic) Birth defects Fertility issues How can we have a nice smelling home, without the VOC risks? First, ditch the diffusers, plug ins, candles and room sprays! Here’s some handy hints and tips to help your home smell nice, without the risks: Vacuum daily Invest in a good air purifying unit, appropriate to the size of the area you want it to cover. Pop a pan of water on the stove. Add in your favourite natural scent providing materials, such as cinnamon sticks, orange peel, lemon peel, cloves, star anise, lavender, thyme, or whatever fresh ingredients really take your fancy! Heat it and keep it on a low simmer – it will fill the room with a beautiful, custom made scent! You can even pop some of the boiled, scented water in a spray bottle, and spray it in other rooms! Chat to a qualified naturopath with knowledge on suitable essential oils for your pets – these must be self-selected by
If you’re reading this blog post, it’s quite likely that you have just become, or will soon become a puppy parent, owner, guardian, or whatever you prefer to go by! Getting a puppy can be both exciting and scary – the dog world is such a minefield when it comes to information on general health and wellbeing. To set our pups up for a life of health, we need to be super careful what we feed them! Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we bring you this blog post, where you will find out what is best to feed your new, or future addition! Dietary Requirements for Puppies Puppies require different nutrients for different functions; providing too much, or too little of some nutrients can have a detrimental effect on health, so let’s take a look at nutrients, what theyre for, and the risks of a deficiency, or over consumption of each one. Protein Proteins are macronutrients, and are the building blocks of the body! They’re formed by complex chains of amino acids, of which some are essential (which cannot be made by the body, so must be consumed in the diet), and others are non-essential (which can be made by a healthy body). Proteins make up everything from the fur, claws, immune system, hormones and many more components of the body. While the body doesn’t care where the amino acids come from, we should aim to pick good quality, amino acid rich sources for our dogs – these are found in best quality in beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Sources of inferior, poor quality amino acids include wheat and rice, which we recommend avoiding completely. Proteins build the body and aid repair as they are in a constant state of renewal and degradation. If your puppy consumes too much protein, it may be used as an energy source, but if there is still too much present, it will just be excreted safely through the faeces. If there is a deficiency of protein in your puppy’s diet, your puppy may experience reduced growth rates, anorexia, anaemia, alopecia, infertility, dull coat and brittle fur. Puppies require higher amounts of protein than adult dogs because of their need for growth of new tissues, however this does not mean that owners can safely over-feed their puppies! A small amount of excess protein can be safely excreted, but too much, and excessive weight gain, and rapid growth rates can occur, especially in larger breeds – this is terrible for joints, and can lead to major issues imminently, or further down the line! Fat Fat is another macronutrient, and is super important in a canine diet. They are used as the primary source of energy, of stored in the Adipose tissue for use as an energy source later. Fats are also essential for temperature control, as they insulate the body, as well as acting as a cushion form trauma to major organs. Fats can be saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated. If you’re into the sciencey side of things, a saturated fat has no double bonds between carbon atoms in its chemical make up, mono-unsaturated fats have one double bond between two carbon atoms in its chemical make up, and poly-unsaturated fats have more than one double bond between carbon atoms in its chemical make up. Dogs have a requirement for two important families of essential fatty acids – omega 3, and omega 6. Omega 3 fatty acids have incredible anti-inflammatory properties, whereas omega 6 can be inflammatory. The modern day canine consumes far more omega 6 than needed in their normal diet and day to day life, so it’s super important to get those omega 3s in the diet, including things like raw egg, raw sprats, raw salmon, tinned sardines, algal oils, fish oils etc. Omega 3 is useful for healthy skin formation, healthy joints during growth, the transportation of fat-soluble vitamins, and modulation of the immune system. As omega 3 is also very important for healthy cognitive function, it’s especially important in puppies! Omega 3 deficiency has also been proven to be linked with aggression in dogs! Findings Here Findings Here Carbohydrates The third of our macronutrients, carbohydrates, come in two types, available, and unavailable. Available carbohydrates are those used for energy. They are digested through the small intestine. The metabolism of these carbohydrates provides glucose for brain function. As there’s only so much storage available for these carbohydrates, over consumption may lead to increased body fat. Unavailable cabrohydrates cannot be digested by dogs, such as soluble and insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibres can aid good bowel health, and keep stools bulky and firm, whereas soluble fibre does the opposite, and helps stools pass easily as it draws water to them. There is no literature available to prove this macronutrients are essential for dogs. Vitamins A, D, E and K These are micronutrients, and are fat-soluble vitamins, meaning they’re transported through the body in fat molecules. Vitamin A is essential for eye and bone health, and can be found in great quantities in eggs, oily fish, carrot, broccoli, and cantaloupe melon. Vitamin D is a hormone that promotes calcium absorption, so play a role in bone health, as well as immune function and cell growth and development. Vitamin D can only be acquired through the diet for dogs, unlike us humans who can get it from the sun. sources include salmon, egg, sardines, liver and mushrooms. Vitamin E is an antioxodiant which protects cells from oxidative stress (damage). Sources include sunflower seeds, wheatgrass, spinach, red bell pepper and pumpkin. Vitamin K contains K1, K2 and K3 – these are all categorised as quinones. These are essential for blood and bone health and development. Vitamin K1 can be found in leafy greens and beef liver, K2 is synthesised by bacteria in the large intestine, and K3 is a common synthetic vitamin. Vitamins B and C Now we move onto the water-soluble vitamins; the vitamins that are transported in water molecules around the body. Vitamin B vitamins have
Those with female dogs will most likely deal with seasons at some point in their dog’s earlier years – the recommended time for spaying is between 2 and 4 years of age, unless medically necessary prior to this age. With seasons, comes the risk of phantom pregnancy! This can be quite a trying time for both us and our perfect pooches, so we bring to you, the My Pet Nutritionist guide to phantom pregnancies in dogs! What is a Phantom Pregnancy, When, and Why Do They Happen? Phantom pregnancy in dogs is fairly common other terms you may see are ‘false pregnancy’ or ‘psuedopregnancy’. Phantom pregnancy is a term used to describe behavioural and physiological tendencies similar to those displayed in a pregnant female dog, even though the dog experiencing these changes is not pregnant. They can occur at any age, following an oestrus cycle (commonly known as a ‘season’ or ‘heat’) in an unspayed female. When your dog has a phantom pregnancy following their season, she may have another after the next season, but this isn’t definite – they can occur after every season, or just intermittently. We’ve covered the what and the when, but now onto the why! At the end of your dog’s season, her ovaries begin to produce the hormones necessary for preparing the uterus for implantation of foetuses and pregnancy maintenance. Now, if your dog has been mated, and is pregnant, these hormones are very important, and well utilised. The problem arises when your dog is not pregnant, so these hormones are not required. It takes around 4 to 6 weeks for these hormones to reduce, and for symptoms to reduce, if the dog displays behaviours as if she were pregnant. When these hormones are present without a pregnancy, changes in the body occur, which show as actions mimicking pregnancy. As the dog gets closer to the 4 to 6 weeks after the end of the season, as the levels of hormones start to reduce, false labour is stimulated, alongside mammary gland swelling. Findings Here Symptoms of a Phantom Pregnancy There are a variety of symptoms of a phantom pregnancy in dogs, such as: Enlarged mammary glands (teats); milk may be present Clingy behaviour Lethargy and fatigue Fluid retention Potential vomiting Loss of appetite Nesting Pacing Carrying and guarding toys Symptoms will vary between individuals, as well as severity of symptoms. Findings Here Findings Here Conventional Treatments In severe or extreme cases of phantom pregnancy, your dog may require veterinary attention, where they may be given a hormone treatment. This treatment stops the production of pregnancy hormones, which heavily reduces symptoms, and stops milk production. Findings Here Supplements to Help Your Dog There are a few supplements that could help your dog through her phantom pregnancy. Let’s take a look at these! There’s also one frequently recommended, which we do not recommend, so we will look deeper into why! Homeopathy is a very popular choice when it comes to those in phantom pregnancy. If you choose to use homeopathy, speak to a homeopath or supplier of remedies. The commonly given options for a phantom pregnancy are Pulsatilla and Urtica. Other remedies may also be advised for mood if the dog is in a low mood. Dogs struggling with behavioural effects of phantom pregnancy, who are just not themselves, may require some calming supplements like Scullcap and Valerian. Another supplement that can help in the event of a phantom pregnancy by aiding in the regulation of hormones, is Borage/Starflower oil. This does come with a caveat though – it must be used with caution, and in small amounts as it can cause liver damage, and may also be carcinogenic. This is due to the content of chemicals known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Findings Here Findings Here Vitamin B is a great supplement for those in phantom pregnancy, specifically B6, as it helps regress phantom pregnancies in dogs. Magnesium is an essential mineral for our dogs, and it is great to increase in those with phantom pregnancy, as it encourages all round health within the body, keeping all systems running smoothly, and normally. Finally, Theanine helps control arousal levels in mammals. Keeping the arousal levels in check is important in a female with phantom pregnancy, so as to reduce symptoms and keep hormone levels steady. Evening Primrose Oil – Why Should You Avoid It? We mentioned that one popular supplement isn’t one we would recommend – this supplement is Evening Primrose Oil. It can certainly help a bitch in phantom, but why don’t we recommend it? Evening primrose oil is lower in the omega GLA than Borage oil, meaning it has less of an anti inflammatory effect. This isn’t the biggest problem with evening primrose oil though! The main issue is concerning Prostaglandins; a group of fats which have hormone-like effects in mammals. Prostaglandins stimulate the uterine muscles to shed the lining of the uterus which in turn causes increased pain and worsened associated symptoms. Evening primrose oil is what’s known as ‘oestrogenic’ – meaning it promotes oestrus, and makes symptoms more harsh. Evening Primrose Oil also poses a risk to potential epilepsy patients, as it can trigger seizures, so as a precaution, we recommend avoiding it’s use. Findings Here Other Tips to Help Your Dog As well as offering appropriate supplements to your dog, there are some other things you can do to help them through a phantom pregnancy. Lets have a look at some of these: Firstly, your dog will likely be feeling a little unusual, and sorry for herself. Her body is going through some big changes at this time, so the need for more attention and TLC is common. It is so important to be there for her – it can be a bit overwhelming with your dog clinging to you more than normal, but try to stay calm, and give her plenty of love and extra attention to comfort her. Another behavioural aid during this time, possibly one of the most important
In the modern dog world, there are so many controversies over various food items, from salmon oil to raw eggs to coconut oil to garlic. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we like to put owners minds at ease, and help you to evaluate whether it is suitable for your pets, using both scientific and anecdotal evidence based on our professional experience. Salmon oil, raw eggs and coconut oil have all been covered within our blog to date, so now it’s time to have garlic in the spotlight! Let’s discover some myths, and truths about this powerful, often useful ingredient! What Is Garlic? This may seem a bit of an obvious section to many, but you may learn something new too! Garlic (Latin name: Allium sativum), is the bulb of a flowering plant, and is a potent addition to foods in the human world, for flavour as well as medicine. It’s closest relatives are onions, leeks, shallots and chives. Humans have consumed garlic since the times of Ancient Egypt. Originating from south and central Asia, and Iran, the vast majority of the world’s garlic production occurs in China. The chemical make up of garlic gives it it’s many beneficial uses in both the human and dog world, however there are caveats when it comes to garlic and dogs! Allicin, ajoene and polysulfides are among the most powerful sulfur containing compounds, alongside lots of useful enzymes, flavonoids (often useful as antioxidants), and saponins (which have great cancer risk reducing properties, as well as being great for lowering blood fat and blood glucose levels. Findings Here Findings Here The Controversy Around Garlic As dog owners, we only want the best for our precious pooches! And that’s where the confusion sets in – safe? Unsafe? My vet said it’s toxic! Someone on an online dog forum said it’s toxic, but another said its ok? The stigma around garlic really is huge! Some professionals will advise against it through no fault of their own – it’s often simply what is taught to them during their education. The controversy all stems from one specific study on garlic, and it’s affects on dogs. Afterall, it’s relatives onion and leek are very much toxic to our pets, so why should garlic be ok when it contains the same active ingredient, allicin? As well as allicin, members of the allium family also contain Thiosulfate. Thiosulfate, in large quantities, can cause a severe type of anaemia in cats and dogs, called Heinz Body Anaemia. If we look at onions vs garlic, we can compare the amount of thiosulfate, and therefore calculate the risk of Heinz Body Anaemia. Onions contain large quantities of Thiosulfate, whereas garlic only contains miniscule amounts, which plays very little to no risk in healthy individuals, and studies were began to work out just how much garlic is safe for our pet dogs. Findings Here So, moving on to the study. The nutrition world was taken by a storm in 2000 when Dr Osamu Yamamoto released a study called ‘Haemolytic Changes Associated with the Appearance of Eccentrocytes After Intragastric Administration of Garlic Extract to Dogs’. You can find the study here. Now, the first point to make, just from looking at the title; garlic ‘extract’ was used. Have you ever baked a cake, using Vanilla Extract? You may notice the extract is extremely concentrated, making it extremely pungent, requiring just a few drips to flavour the entire cake batter! This concept goes for any extract, including that of garlic. The garlic was administered to the dogs in the study in extract form – 1.2mls of this liquid was given to each dog per day for 7 days – likely the equivalent to much more than one would consider giving their dog of anything! More on equivalent amounts shortly. When looking at the health of the dogs in the study, it’s important to note that there was a death rate of 0% – that’s right, a big fat ZERO! No dogs died in the study, nor were there any physical changes to the dogs. When blood tests were analysed under a microscope, despite the lack of symptoms, there was a case of Heinz Body Anaemia. This was the evidence which caused the scientists to make the rather bold statement, that garlic is unsafe for dogs, sending the pet world into panic! Some of the large pet information databases and websites are still under the assumption that garlic is very much toxic to dogs, warning owners to avoid it. Pet food manufacturers were forced to remove garlic from their recipes once this information was released, but further studies were needed to ascertain whether fresh garlic would be safe, since the aforementioned study used the ultra concentrated garlic extract. Let’s take a deeper look at exactly how fresh garlic tolerance levels differ to that of concentrated garlic extract! What Science Has to Say About It As with many preliminary scientific studies, mass panic had set in, opening up opportunities to research the tolerance level of fresh garlic in dogs, after all in unsuitable quantities, anything can be classed as toxic – even water, and we all know water is incredibly important for all living things! When converting the amount of garlic extract that would need to be administered to a medium sized dog for adverse reactions to occur, to the equivalent amount of fresh garlic, the dog would need to consume 35 cloves of garlic every day (or 245 cloves per week!) – not something any owner would dream of doing, we are very sure! Now for the next study by Dr Osamu Yamamoto, titled ‘Acceleration of Superoxide Generation in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes and Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation by Alk(en)yl Thiosulfates Derived from Onion and Garlic in Dogs and Humans’, published in 2004. This study can be found here. In this study, they used a fresher form of garlic to carry out their investigation, which ultimately found that garlic was in fact good for cardiovascular health, and useful for a
In this blog post, we will look in depth at a popular supplement; salmon oil. Salmon oil does come with it’s controversies among the dog community, so here at My Pet Nutritionist, we bring to you this blog, to help you understand more about salmon oil – what it is, it’s pros and cons, and how to pick a product – not all salmon oil products are equal! What Is Salmon Oil, and How is it Extracted? Salmon is a known as an ‘oily fish’. Oily fish are very high in fatty acids, more specifically Omega 3 Fatty Acids. There are various types of omega 3, but salmon oil is high in two types: Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): reduces inflammation Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): aids cognitive health and development The body is unable to produce Omega 3 Fatty Acids, as they are polyunsaturated, so adding omega 3 to our pets’ diets is extremely important. Salmon oil is literally, the oil extracted from fresh salmon, as it’s name suggests. How is it harvested though? One may envision a salmon fillet being squeezed, however this isn’t quite how salmon oil is extracted! There are a few methods for salmon oil extraction. Most traditionally, oily fish is subject to temperatures of between 90oC and 100oC, which releases the molecules of oil to be collected. Another traditional method is through the use of organic solvents and hydrolysis. Organic solvents can be very damaging to the environment, and potentially pose as a health risk too. More recently, enzymatic hydrolysis was found to result in high yields of fish oil and can be carried out at much lower temperatures of 40oC to 65oC. A study published in 2022 found that a new technology using an immobilised enzyme called Alcalase, crosslinked with a polymer known as Chitosan which coats magnetic nanoparticles, is effective at rapidly splitting amino groups from proteins. This method is bioavailable, biodegradable, safe for consumption, and economically beneficial, with the added bonus that the Alcalase enzyme can be reused. The study proved that the oil harvested using this method was of a higher quality than oil extracted through other methods, and the oil was less prone to oxidation. Findings Here Findings Here Then we can move onto our cold pressed salmon oil – something some brands state on their packaging. Cold pressed salmon oil is extracted from fresh fish through means of mechanical force and low heat. The longevity of oil extracted this way is thought to be shorter than using Alcalase, as it can be much more prone to oxidation – we will talk more about oxidation later in this blog post. Cold pressing produces a very low yield, but a high quality oil. Findings Here Benefits of Salmon Oil There are both benefits, and disadvantages to using salmon oil for your pet. Let’s discuss the benefits first, before we move on to the disadvantages. Omega 3 is an incredibly important nutrient to add to your pet’s diet, as we mentioned earlier in this blog post! The anti-inflammatory effect is essential for everything from heart health to cognitive ability and health, to eye health, recovery and prevention from injury, skin health and more. The natural meat based diet of our dogs and cats can be naturally high in omega 6, especially when using meat from farmed sources. Two types of omega 6 (Linolenic Acid (LA) and Arachidonic Acid (ARA)) are inflammatory. Inflammation in the body is bad news – we want to balance this inflammation out or eradicate it completely by adding healthy sources of the anti-inflammatory Omega 3 into the diet. Salmon oil can massively benefit your pet’s brain health, and reduce general inflammation in the body which could be causing anything from itching to heart disease to pancreatitis. Sources of DHA are particularly important for puppies, kittens, and seniors too, as cognitive health and development is most important at these ages. The anti inflammatory properties of salmon oil are also greatly beneficial to pets requiring additional joint support. Findings Here Skin and eye health are also greatly benefited through the use of high quality fish oils and other omega sources. This is once again, linked back to the anti-inflammatory properties of such supplements. Findings Here Human based studies show that salmon oil supplementation can lower the amount of triglycerides in the blood, and increase the level of HDL Cholesterol. As with most things, these studies can be a great backbone for care of our pets too! Triglycerides are ‘bad’ fats which can be linked to heart disease, so reducing these in the blood is essential, and can help to protect the heart. HDL Cholesterol is the ‘good’ stuff, helping also to protect the heart. Findings Here While we are on the topic of blood and how the consumption of EPA and DHA rich supplements like salmon oil can improve it, we can look at blood flow rates. Findings Here As we just mentioned, blood flow can be improved through supplementing the diet with salmon oil, or other sources of DHA and EPA. This can help fertility in those wishing to breed too! The testicular blood flow of a dog has been shown to dramatically improve when given these supplements, which in turn improves semen quality and testosterone levels. Furthermore, for the owners of female pets among us who are pregnant, feeding high quality sources of DHA and EPA can improve fetal development and ultimately lead to healthier litters. Findings Here Findings Here Some animal based studies suggest that supplementation with salmon oil can help in weight maintenance, as the body is ‘satisfied’ with the fat consumption, leaving it unable to accumulate excess body fat. Findings Here Finally, salmon oil is high in Vitamin D. Around 75% of dogs are deficient in Vitamin D, which is essential for regulation of phosphorus and calcium in the body, and in turn keeping bones, muscles and teeth healthy. While offal is a great source of Vitamin D, it doesn’t contain quite enough to meet the required
Internal parasitic burdens can be quite worrisome for pet parents – they can affect both our pets, and us humans too, so they’re certainly something to be one step ahead of! Here at My pet Nutritionist, we aim to put your mind at ease, and to help you fully understand the ins and outs of parasites, giving you lots of options to help prevent and control infestations. You can read part 1 here! Welcome to part 2 – Internal Parasites When looking at internal parasites, there are various parts of the body targeted, which we need to look at, including the intestines, (where you can find nematodes, cestodes and protozoa), the lungs, and the heart. Some of these parasites can be life threatening, so it’s important to understand symptoms, prevention, and treatment options. Intestinal Parasites Intestinal parasites are usually referred to by pet owners, as ‘worms’. While some are worms, not all intestinal parasites are worms, nor are all worms equal! Nematodes differ from Cestodes, which differ from Protozoa, so we will delve deeper into each type here in this blog post. Nematodes Nematodes are from the phyla Nematoda, and are your typical worm – they usually look similar to your garden earth worms (though are not actually related!); long and thin, with a squashable texture, and tapered ends. This, of course, is a generalisation, and there are various physical and mechanical differences between the different parasitic nematodes. Here’s the strange thing about nematodes – they can be harmless, and actually beneficial, or they can be parasitic – it’s a very broad phyla! Beneficial nematodes are often used as a means of environmental flea, tick and ant control. These are sold online or from some environmental/gardening shops, and are mixed with water before being sprayed onto the affected area. The microscopic nematodes, now sprayed all over the area, target, and eat the larvae of their target species, which controls pest population! Anyway, getting back to the parasitic kind! Let’s take a look at the intestinal nematodes pet owners may face during their time with pets. Roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxicaris leonina) Roundworms, also known as Ascarid worms, are very easy to identify in their matured form. If a pet has a burden of these worms, which have matured from their larval stage, they will be very obviously present in the animal’s faeces, or vomit. They are white in colour, usually long (between 4 and 6 inches), thin, and curly – they are often expelled from the body in spirals. The main method of transmission of roundworm to our pets, is through coming into contact with contaminated faeces. Those carrying roundworm, shed microscopic eggs into their faeces, leaving others to come into contact with it. Some insects and other animals, including cockroaches, earthworms, and birds can also carry roundworm eggs, which if eaten by your pet, can pass onto, and mature inside your pet. Puppies can also be born with roundworms, and shed live eggs in their faeces. A question owners often ask, is if they can catch roundworms from their pets – and the answer is yes! Accidental oral contact with your pets faeces can pass roundworms on to you, if your pet is carrying roundworm eggs. Symptoms you may see if your dog has a mature roundworm burden include: Diarrhoea Vomiting Changes to skin and coat Weight loss Bloated appearance to the stomach Visible worms in faeces and/or vomit If your dog has recently contracted roundworm, and it is still in it’s larval stage, it’s unlikely there will be many symptoms, apart from perhaps some loose stools. Findings Here Hookworms (Uncinaria stenocephala and Ancylostoma caninum) The next intestinal nematodes we will look at are Hookworms. As per their name, matured hookworms look like very small, but not microscopic, hooks. They are very thin, no longer than 2cm long, and are white in colour. They can be seen in faeces when they’re matured, but can be confused with undigested food particles, or even small pieces of string. In order to stay inside the intestine, where they are fed and housed in those infected, they have small mouthparts which latch onto the intestine walls where they feed directly from blood vessels surrounding the intestine. There are a few methods of transmission for hookworms in pets – pets can contract them through their mother’s milk as puppies or via the placenta before birth, and they can be orally ingested, or even be contracted through the skin. Hookworm larvae can lay dormant, and reactivate during pregnancy too, so it’s important to run regular faecal samples during pregnancy. Can hookworms transmit to humans? Yes, and no. Larvae can be transmitted in unsanitary conditions, but are rarely transmitted as adults. There is one exception to this however! This may make you shudder, but matured Hookworms can work their way into the human body through the skin, most commonly through bare feet in unsanitary conditions where pets have shed larvae in their faeces. While Hookworm infestations aren’t generally life threatening, they can cause anaemia if left untreated – this is more common in young animals than in adults though. Some symptoms you may notice if your pet has Hookworms include: ‘downward dog’ position in dogs (showing gastrointestinal discomfort) Diarrhoea Vomiting Bloodied stools (due to blood loss when Hookworms detach from the gut lining, as they inject anticoagulants into the localised feeding area) Changes to skin and coat Anaemia, especially in young animals Physical development impairments in young pets Small string like worms visible in faeces Coughing in severe cases If your dog has Hookworms in their larval stage, you may see diarrhoea, but may not see other symptoms, as eggs are microscopic. Findings Here Findings Here Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) Whipworms, the third nematode sometimes found in our pets, get their name from their shape, much like the other nematodes discussed in this article. If you think of a whip, carried by movie heroes like Indiana Jones, and reduce it’s size to 0.5-5cm – you’ll have
Parasites are always a worry with our pets – let’s face it, our pets touch all sorts on the ground during their walks, sniffing sessions, and play time! It’s inevitable that they come into contact with faeces, urine, slugs, snails and so much more, giving many opportunities for parasites to be picked up, both internally and externally. Here at My Pet Nutritionist we want to help you understand more about parasites, how we can test for them, and how we can help the body rid of them. This is a bumper two part blog, providing you with all the need-to-know information regarding parasites! You can read Part 2 here! Welcome to part 1 – External Parasites Fleas Fleas can be identified as tiny black insects, moving in a hopping form. They jump and crawl around your dog, using a long feeding tube to suck blood from under your dog’s skin. they are very much visible to the naked eye, and another sign of fleas being present, is the dirt they leave behind – this can be identified as black matter in patches across the skin of the dog, at the base of hair follicles. Fleas can be picked up out on walks, or from communal dog establishments when in contact with another dog with fleas, or wildlife with fleas. There are different types of fleas, which target different animal species, some live happily on dogs and cats too, but others can only survive on their intended species, for example hedgehog fleas can only survive on hedgehogs. Cat fleas and dog fleas are the ones most commonly seen in pet households. They can also bite their humans too! If flea infestations are left for too long, the pet can become anaemic (particularly common in puppies), and also suffer with hair loss. Later in this blog post, we will discuss the dangers of using isoxazolines (chewable pest treatments) and spot-on treatments for our pets. Sometimes severe infestations do require one of these products to get them under control, as well as professional house exterminators, but we recommend avoiding these products unless it is as a last resort. Naturally, you can help prevent fleas through the use of selected essential oils (take extra caution with cats when using EOs) and neem oil on the pet, and feeding fresh garlic to dogs (though avoid feeding garlic to puppies under 6 months, and any Japanese breed as these are susceptible to allicin poisoning), as well as another herbal flea prevention supplement. There are many natural topical and internal products on the market, specifically for their target species, whether that’s cat or dog, so using these in a layered approach may give you the best chance of staying flea free! If your pet was to get some fleas, rubbing a thick layer of shampoo onto their dry coat, and leaving for 10 minutes before rinsing out using a comb can really help control the infestation. You can also purchase electric flea-zapping combs which can have great results! In severe cases, food grade diatomaceous earth could be sprinkled onto the coat, however this is extremely drying on the skin, and can be lethal if inhaled. You will also need to focus on steam cleaning your soft furnishings, carpets etc, and clean the house regularly, making extra sure to clean any small, potentially moist nooks and crannies, and wicker items as fleas seem to love these areas! Findings Here Findings Here Ticks Ticks get a really bad reputation – and for good reason, especially in some countries outside of the UK. Ticks can be identified as having a bulbous body, with very small head, and 8 legs, protruding from the head area. When they’re attached to your pet’s skin, you will be able to see the large rounded body (the larger the body, the more the tick has fed), with some legs seen very close to the skin. Ticks need to be removed as soon as possible, as they can carry a range of diseases – anything from Lyme disease (which is the most common tick bourne disease in the UK, though isn’t very common I itself) to disease leading to Alfa Gal Syndrome in humans, and paralysis in the host in other countries. They really can be nasty little creatures! To remove a tick, simply grab a tick removal tool and follow the basic instructions. They’re usually fail safe, and easy to use. If by chance, you do get the head stuck in the pet, these usually work their way out in time. To transmit Lymes Disease, ticks have to be attached for 36-48 hours, however some species of ticks carrying more sinister diseases in countries outside the UK can transmit disease quicker, so it’s super important to check your pets twice a day, and after every walk. You can read more about types of ticks, tick removal, and tick prevention in our blog dedicated to ticks here! Mites Mites come in various forms. The most common ones we see, are Mange (of which there are two types), harvest mites, and ear mites. Let’s take a look at some of these. Mange Mange presents as large areas of hair loss and scabbing. In severe cases, dogs can become completely bald. To test for mange, your veterinarian will take a skin scrape – a sample of the skin’s microbiome, which is analysed under a microscope for mite activity. Each type of mite is a different shape, so the type of mite can easily be diagnosed. Sarcoptic mange is often referred to as Scabies. Sarcoptic mange mites tend to live on the skin’s surface, and tend to be contagious. Ivermectin is the treatment often prescribed by veterinarians to battle sarcoptic mange, however there are some potential complication to using this, which we will discuss later in this blog. Some medicated, anti-seborrheic shampoos, are often used too. There are some natural options that may work in helping fight sarcoptic mange mites, including neem oil, turmeric, and some select essential
The humble blueberry; small, sweet, juicy … and incredibly beneficial! Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we are big fans of feeding fresh, and adding beneficial, fresh ingredients to the dinner bowl. Blueberries are one of those tiny powerhouses we often recommend adding to your pet’s bowl. Find out all about the brilliant blueberry, and all it has to offer in this blog post. The Blueberry – Nutrition Let’s take a look at the nutrition, appearance, and texture of the blueberry. Blueberries are small, dark blue-purple coloured, round berries. They are very juicy, as they’re 85% water! The skin is soft, smooth and digestible, with a little crown on the top, where a stalk would have once attached them to the plant. They are quite sweet to taste, however some can be a little tart – generally speaking, the smaller the blueberry, the more tart it is, so if your dog prefers the sweeter fruits, aim for the larger berries! As well as being super high in moisture, blueberries are a great source of dietary fibre compared to other berries, high in Vitamin C, high in Vitamin K, and high in both Potassium and Manganese. Blueberries are 9% carbohydrates in the form of naturally occurring sugars, so it’s important to feed in moderation. All in all, the blueberry is a relatively low calorie fruit choice, with added benefits, which we will discuss next! What Benefits Does the Blueberry Bring? There are many health benefits to feeding blueberries – these go for us humans too, so why not share them with your dog?! Fantastic Antioxidants The biggest benefit to feeding blueberries, is their incredibly powerful antioxidant complex! Blueberries are one of the best antioxidant foods. To understand a little more about antioxidants, and why they’re important, we need to learn about Free Radicals. Free Radicals are unstable molecules found in the body – if you want the nitty gritty science stuff, a free radical is an atom, molecule or ion which has an unpaired electron in it’s orbital. Due to the lack of a paired electron, the molecule becomes extremely unstable and volatile, which in turn has major negative effects on the body. Free radicals cause damage to healthy cells through oxidisation, which leads to cancer, premature ageing and can be linked to many other diseases within the body. Now you know a bit about free radicals, you can probably see why it’s important to rid the body of them. This is the job of antioxidants! Findings Here Findings Here The term ‘antioxidants’ is actually quite broad. There are various types of antioxidants, but the one most prominent in blueberries, giving them their awesome properties, is the ‘flavonoid’ family. When looking at flavonoids in blueberries, we can be even more specific! The group of flavonoids in blueberries is the ‘anthocyanins’. Studies show that consumption of wild blueberries directly increases antioxidant levels in the body! Findings Here Findings Here Findings Here Anti-Aging and Anti-Cancer Properties Now we understand the general benefits of antioxidants, we can look at other parts of the body which need antioxidant action to stay healthy! Free radicals cause oxidative stress, which affects DNA health! Damaged DNA is bad news – this occurs naturally to nearly every cell in the body, all day, every day … it’s a part of ageing! Not only does DNA damage lead to general ageing, it also leaves the body more vulnerable to cancer. Here’s where our important antioxidants come in – we want to reduce the free radicals in the body, to reduce DNA damage, slow ageing, and reduce the risk of cancer. Findings Here Findings Here Heart Happy Berries – Cholesterol Protection Cholesterol in the body plays an important role, but high cholesterol, or oxidised low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can lead to heart disease. So how does protecting cholesterol help, when most of the body’s cholesterol is the ‘bad’ LDL type? Well, protecting it from damage makes it less of a risk! As oxidised LDL cholesterol is what leads to heart disease, and free radicals are what causes the oxidisation, providing a good quality antioxidant reduces the risk of damaged LDL cholesterol, and in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. Findings Here Findings Here While there is not many studies into the heart failure rate in dogs, with data on the reduction of heart attacks in those being fed anthocyanins, there is a human based study with quite staggering results! Study participants with a higher intake of anthocyanins had a 32% reduced risk of heart attacks! Cognitive Function You may have seen other My Pet Nutritionist articles regarding cognitive function, and the importance of omega 3 in the diet to aid this by reducing inflammation on the brain. This is incredibly important, however the destruction of free radicals is also incredibly important for brain health and cognitive function. As all cells in the body are affected by free radicals, and subsequent oxidation, brain cells are no exception! Different parts of the brain have different uses. Antioxidants tend to have the greatest affect in the health of areas associated with intelligence, and also act on ageing neurons, which causes greater general brain function as individuals age. Some studies show an improved memory too! Findings Here Findings Here Findings Here Findings Here Muscle Recovery and Function The final part of the body commonly affected by oxidative stress through damage by free radicals, is the musculoskeletal system, specifically the muscles. During, and after strenuous exercise (for example after a long walk, or dog sport like agility or flyball), oxidative stress occurs in the muscles due to inflammation. This is how muscular soreness happens. Reducing oxidation of the muscular cells may help to reduce muscle fatigue, and stiffness post exercise. This is an area which still needs further research, and more studies, but one studies so far show positive data, supporting antioxidants being useful for muscle recovery post exercise! Findings Here Findings Here Findings Here Reduced Risk of Diabetes Those who own a dog
If you use social media, or dog health forums, you may have heard fellow pet parents mentioning ‘cool’, ‘warm’, ‘hot’ and ‘neutral’ foods. The recommendation for itchy dogs, tends to be to use ‘cool’ foods if we look at nutrigenomics and the principle of food energetics. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we wanted to dedicate a blog to ‘cool foods’, and feeding them to itchy dogs, so we hope this blog post answers any questions you may have! Yin-Yang Nutrition Yin-Yang Nutrition is a Traditional Chinese Medicine concept which categorises foods into four pillars – Cool, Neutral, Warm and Hot. Which category each protein is linked to, depends on that food’s characteristics. Balance is the basis of Yin-Yang Nutrition, and is what determines whether an individual should eat cool, neutral, warm or hot food sources. Lets take a look at the clinical symptoms of and abundance and deficiency of yin and yang. If your dog has an abundance of Yang…they have excessive heat as they’re unable to counteract warming properties. Heat needs to be removed, so cool foods are required. Clinical signs of dogs with an abundance of yang include: Acute onset, usually at a younger age Short course No general weakness High fever Hyperactivity Elevated heart rate Strong heartbeat Tongue discolouration – usually red or purple If your dog has a deficiency of Yang… the body lacks warming properties enough to combat the normal level of Yin in the body, so warming foods are required. Clinical signs of dogs with a deficiency of Yang include: Chronic onset, usually at an older age Long course Low body temperature at the extremities Loose stools Urinary incontinence Swelling of the limbs due to trapped body fluids (Oedema) Chronic weakness and pain Generalised weakness Discolouration to the tongue – usually pale Weak heart rate Deep heart beat Infertility If your dog has an abundance of Yin… they have excessive coldness, and are unable to counteract cooling properties. Warmth needs to be gained, and cold removed, so hot foods should be given. Clinical signs of dogs with an abundance of Yin include: Acute onset, usually at a younger age Short course High pain levels No general weakness Swelling of the limbs due to fluid retention (Oedema) Loose stools Slow heart rate Strong heart beat Tongue discolouration – usually red or purple If your dog has a Yin deficiency… the body lacks cooling properties, enough to combat the normal levels of Yang, so cooling foods are required. Clinical signs of dogs with a deficiency of Yin include: Chronic onset, often at a younger age Long course Generalised weakness Fever, but not high fever Anxiety Increased thirst Seeks cool areas Tongue discolouration – usually red and dry Increased heart rate Findings Here Findings Here If your dog is in perfect balance, then the above clinical signs will not be apparent, and the dog will be healthy, with pink, moist tongue, normal activity levels, a formed stool, no pain, and normal heart rate and beat. When looking at the Yin-Yang theory, these dogs should eat a balance of ‘Cool’ and ‘Hot’ foods, and unlimited ‘Neutral’ foods. Findings Here You can learn more about general Traditional Chinese Medicine here. Which Foods are Cool? So, when we speak of ‘cool proteins/foods’, what do we actually mean? Which foods are cool? Protiens Duck Frog (perhaps not the easiest to source in most countries, but frog meat can be used as part of a balanced DIY raw diet) Rabbit Cod Scallops White fish Eggs Pork turkey Plants Broccoli Cauliflower Turnip Lettuce Cucumber Seaweed/kelp Dandelion Spirulina Swiss chard Wheat grass Button mushrooms Apple Banana Melon Supplements Flaxseed Sesame seeds Itchy Dogs and Cool Proteins Itchy dogs may benefit from being fed cool proteins, in some situations. It can very much depend on the reason the dog is itchy – food intolerances/allergies, or environmental allergies. The problem with food related itching, is that the immunological response to a protein can vary between sources, and isn’t necessarily down to heat in the body. In these situations, working on gut health is important, as is working out which proteins need to be eliminated from the diet. If the dog is suffering with environmental allergies however, the body’s response to an environmental allergen is inflammation, which can often be linked to imbalances in the Yin and Yang. Dogs with itching and allergies tend to have excess Yang. The main element of this, and what we will focus on in this blog, is seasonal allergies. When a dog presents with seasonal allergies, a number of conditions can occur, which can be down to heat invasions with damp elements. Conditions often coming hand in hand with seasonal allergies, as well as occurring independently include generalised itching, eczema, hot spots, interdigital furunculosis, dermatitis, and seasonal alopecia. Dryness during old age can also cause coat and skin changes which present as itching. For itchy dogs suffering with these conditions, feeding a cool diet may be hugely beneficial to getting on top of the itch. While alternative therapies are often frowned upon by the medical community, there are studies to prove the efficacy and safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other natural therapies. Findings Here Findings Here By looking at the dog’s clinical signs closely, you may see some of the less obvious signs of a Yin-Yang imbalance. Once an imbalance is detected, you can tailor the dog’s diet to include more cool proteins, and eliminate any warm or hot ones. As the cooling proteins have an anti-inflammatory effect for those with inflammation in and on the body, the reduction in inflammation will help reduce itching. Ultimately, the Yin-Yang balance will align, and the body will have equal amount of both Yin, And Yang. Theoretically, this will present as perfect health, and eliminated itching. It’s important to bear in mind, that itching could be caused by food sensitivities, which can require a more western approach, and a full elimination diet to be completed. Some evidence does suggest that pruritic dermatitis,
What should you feed your pet? It’s a very broad question, with many answers. No one individual is the same! That said, at My Pet Nutritionist, we aim to help pet owners make an informed decision. We recommend feeding fresh food to both cats and dogs. In this blog post, we will look at why we recommend fresh feeding, and touch on the different diets available on the market, and look at how each one is manufactured to give you an insight into why we do, or don’t recommend it. Why Feed Fresh? Fresh feeding, whether it’s raw, or cooked, uses whole food ingredients to form a complete, and balanced meal. Raw feeding is the closest diet to that of a wild carnivore, and cooked food is the next best option. Fresh foods are high in moisture which is essential for healthy kidney function, as well as general hydration. Fresh foods are highly digestible! As the ingredients are all biologically appropriate (which means all suitable for the species being fed), they are easy to digest. Unfortunately the bulk of the ingredients in dry foods are difficult for dogs or cats to digest, which can lead to long term health implications. The fact that fresh foods are minimally processed is also a huge benefit. The more processed a food is, the riskier it is to general health, both short, and long term. When a food is highly processed, carcinogenic compounds known as Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) form. AGEs cause oxidative stress, generalised inflammation and premature ageing too. Glyphosate is commonly found in processed foods – you may have heard of Glyphosate before. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many gardening herbicides! It is linked to cancer and major damage to the gut microbiome. This is not an issue with fresh feeding, especially if you purchase your dog or cat’s raw ingredients from organic sources. Fresh foods tend to be very low in carbohydrates; some vegetables contain carbohydrates, such as sweet potato, which may be fed in small quantities, but dry foods, and other processed foods are usually very high in carbohydrates; usually between 30% and 60% carbs! High carb foods cause blood sugar spikes, and can feed yeast, cancer, and lead to generalised inflammation. You can read more about carbohydrate consumption for dogs here. Cats are obligate carnivores so should not consume any. Finally, contamination of raw food is much lower than that of dry foods. Storage mites are a risk of dry food, but not of fresh foods as these are stored in the freezer. Mycotoxins and Aflatoxins are also commonly found in dry foods, due to their long dry-stored shelf life – again this is eliminated through freeze-stored fresh foods. A frequently asked question regarding safety of raw food vs dry foods, is salmonella contamination. Between 2012 and 2021, 80% of recalls due to salmonella were in fact, of dry food! A group of scientists surveyed 16,412 pet owners from 81 countries; a grand total of 39 had reported human illnesses due to raw pet food – just 0.2% – 9 cases were in the UK. Practice proper food hygiene, just as you would when preparing your own meals, and raw feeding is incredibly safe! Findings Here Manufacturing Raw Food Raw food manufacturing is extremely stringently controlled, and foods are DEFRA tested… more stringently so than raw meat sold for human consumption! Commercially prepared raw food is, in most cases, produced on a cold chain production line. Sound fancy doesn’t it? But what is ‘cold chain processing’? The meat comes into the factories in temperature controlled lorries. The meat is kept below a certain temperature throughout the manufacturing process – it is always kept either frozen or extremely cold at all times, leaving little room for bacterial growth. Once the products are minced, and packaged, they are stored in a deep freeze at below -18oC, before being transported for sale in temperature controlled packaging/vehicles. As you can see, this method is perfect for keeping nutrients intact and to their full potential. Premade raw foods are available for both cats and dogs! Preparing Raw Food at Home If you choose to make your own raw meals, commonly known as DIY, you may wish to freeze your meat first. Freezing is believed to eliminate the potential risk of parasitic burdens in meat, though little scientific scripture is available to prove, or disprove this theory – it may be best to err on the side of caution. As a basic guide, freezing lengths should be as follows: Game, pork and fish: 3 weeks OR deep freeze Other meat: 1 week OR deep freeze Findings Here Findings Here The ratio tends to be 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver and 5% other secreting offal such as kidney, pancreas, testicle, spleen, brain etc. Heart and tripe are classed as muscle meat, not offal. To make this 80-10-10 mix into a complete meal, you will need to add plant matter, and omega sources. You can learn more about balancing an 80-10-10 here. If you are considering a DIY raw diet, and you want to learn all there is to know about the ins and outs of raw feeding, you can purchase our fantastic Ultimate Raw Feeding Guide for Dogs. Manufacturing Cooked Food Cooked foods are relatively new to the pet food market, with varieties available for both cats and dogs. Ingredients arrive fresh at the factories in temperature controlled vehicles, before being chopped to size, usually by hand, and cooked in large batches, at low temperatures. Temperatures of all ingredients are regularly checked to avoid bacterial growth, and ensure the food is properly cooked. Due to the nature of manufacturing, and minimal processing, these meals are rich in moisture! The cooked meals are then packaged, and in most cases, frozen in a deep freeze before being transported to retailers or directly to customers in temperatures controlled vehicles/cool box style packaging. Preparing Cooked Food at Home If you are planning to cook for your
Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we help pet owners with a host of different health conditions. One we see from time to time, is Spondylosis in dogs. Us humans can get Spondylosis too, but it tends to be more common in our canine companions than it does in their owners. This blog post aims to help you get a better understanding of Spondylosis in dogs, including what it is, how to spot the signs and symptoms, and how you can support the body naturally. What is Spondylosis? Spondylosis, called Spondylosis deformans in the veterinary world, affects the spine; more specifically, the vertebrae – the bones that make up the spine. It’s a degenerative condition, which means it gradually gets worse as the patient ages. Those with spondylosis have bony spurs growing on their vertebrae, known as osteophytes. But why are these growths bad news? The vertebrae protect the spinal chord – probably one of the most important parts of the body as it sends signals between the brain and the rest of the body, and vice versa, and ais also involved in reflexes and coordination. The body spurs growing on the underside of the vertebrae can rub on the spinal cord, causing damage, which then has a knock-on effect to the dog’s sensory capabilities, and ability to move freely. Spondylosis can be widespread, with bony spurs forming along the entire spine, or localised, where they only form in one or two spots. It is most commonly seen in the lower spine, AKA the Lumbar Region, as well as hips and tail. In particularly bad cases, bony spurs can fuse vertebrae together, making mobility tricky. Spondylosis is quite common in aging dogs, especially those who are heavier set, such as giant breeds, or breeds with cobby bodies, and short legs, but it can happen at any age and breed, depending on the cause, which we will look at shortly. The most commonly affected breed is the Boxer, where estimates suggest around 70% of elderly individuals over the age of 9, have been diagnosed with the disease. Findings Here Symptoms of Spondylosis The somewhat strange thing about symptoms when looking at a potential diagnosis of Spondylosis, is that there are very few clinical signs presented, especially not those specific to the condition. Some symptoms you may notice include: Spinal pain: hunching of spine, lameness, unwillingness to walk, difficulty laying down and standing up, general reduction of mobility Behavioural changes: your dog may become more reactive due to pain, and the fear of being hurt by another dog bumping them. Yelping when specific areas are manipulated Lethargy General weakness and stiffness Reduced appetite If your dog is displaying these signs, there could be a number of potential spinal issues, so it’s important to consult your veterinarian to grasp a better understanding of the exact issue your dog is having. Causes of Spondylosis So why does Spondylosis occur? It can be a natural part of the ageing process – just through general wear and tear of an older dog. Another cause of the development of Spondylosis, is trauma to the spine from injury, whether it’s minor trauma, like a bump to the spine, a wobbly landing from a higher surface, or repeated over-use of the spine (often seen in sports dogs who do the same movement repetitively), to major trauma such as having been hit by a car, or having had surgery to correct IVDD. A third potential cause of Spondylosis, is genetic predisposition. There are not many predisposed breeds, but the most commonly seen tend to be Boxers, German Shepherds, and Flat Coat Retrievers. Spondylosis can also form as a secondary disease! Between the vertebrae of a healthy dog, lays soft tissue. This enables the discs to act as shock absorbers, and softens impact, keeping the vertebrae separate. There is a degenerative disc disease, previously mentioned in its abbreviated form, IVDD (Inter-Vertebral Disc Disease), in which the tissue between the vertebrae wears away, leaving bone to rub on bone, prompting the formation of bony spurs to re-stabilise the joint. Findings Here Diagnosing Spondylosis As there is usually a lack of obvious symptoms in cases of Spondylosis, it can be tricky to pinpoint a test for it. If your dog is experiences clear signs of back pain, or even just at the vet for their annual health check where the dog displays possible signs of pain, the vet will use your dog’s medical history records to look for potential missed signs. They will perform any neurological and orthopaedic examinations they feel are necessary, and go from there. Your vet will typically want to rule out any other potential health issues before testing further for Spondylosis. A canine physiotherapist may be able to give a better look into mobility and how your dog’s gait is affected through a video analysis. This may be done through referral; however many allow the owner to book directly in with them to discuss the video, and their findings. Once your veterinarian has ruled out the potential for other, perhaps more common health issues, he or she will book your dog in for an x-ray of the spine, which includes the chest and abdominal cavities, naturally. X-rays tend to give a definitive answer as to whether the dog has Spondylosis or not, due to the visibility of bony spurs on the vertebrae. Less commonly, a vet may recommend an MRI scan – these tend to show potential spinal cord damage as opposed to the bony spurs themselves, which can be an important part of recommending the correct treatment. This procedure is usually carried out on referral with a neurologist. Findings Here Conventional Treatments There is actually very little a veterinarian can do in the event of a dog having Spondylosis, as every individual is different. The treatment plan is heavily based on symptoms the individual’s dog is showing, now a generalised treatment plan, which would be the same for all sufferers. Pain medication is regularly prescribed for those suffering
A question commonly asked by owners, here at My Pet Nutritionist, is ‘how can I boost my dog’s immunity?’, or ‘how do I strengthen my dog’s immune system?’. Well, we’re here to give you some helpful tips on how to strengthen your dog’s immune system – you may be surprised with some of the topics covered, but hopefully you will understand the concepts in this detailed blog post. A healthy immune system is the difference between overall health, and disease, and in many cases, the difference between life or death! We strive to keep our own immune systems strong, and our pets deserve just as much strength in their immune system – they are outside, low to the ground, sniffing public areas barefoot much of the time, after all! The Immune System There are various parts to the immune system as a whole. Generally speaking, when an owner wants to ‘boost the immune system’, it’s the Adaptive (or Acquired) Immune System in question – the immunity gained following seroconversion of vaccinations. Here’s a bit about the Adaptive Immune System, which can be split into two mechanisms: Humoral (antibody mediated) immunity primarily involves B-Lymphocytes. During a humoral immune response, when an antigen is detected, with the help of T Helper Lymphocytes, the B Cells go through a differentiation process, which produces Memory B Cells and Effector B Cells, which are both specific to the B Cell they were differentiated from, and therefore are specifically shaped to combat a specific antigen/pathogen. This is the most common immune response, especially following successful vaccination. Titre Tests pick up these antibodies. Cellular, or cell-mediated immunity involves another type of cell – T-Cells. When T-Cells differentiate, they become T-Killer Cells which attach to and engulf antigens. Allergic responses and autoimmune conditions are part of the cell-mediated adaptive immune system. There are other parts to the overall immune system of a dog, or any other mammal, too. Let’s take a brief look at what these are, and how they differ from the Adaptive Immune System. Active Immunity: this is what is happening when the dog is exposed to a pathogen. The active immune system is the fastest acting system and is the body’s first response to the presence of a pathogen. In the presence of a pathogen, the B-Lymphocytes create and release antibodies. Passive Immunity: this is the immunity passed on to an individual instead of being created by their body. In dogs we call this Maternally Derived Antibodies (MDA). MDA is passed onto the puppies from the mother and is vital to health in the early weeks. It usually wanes between 10 and 16 weeks of age, unless interrupted by vaccination. MDA is passed onto the puppies through the placenta, and through the mothers milk. If a puppy is hand reared, he/she may require extra caution than those who drink mothers milk. Innate (also called non-specific) Immunity: this includes the immunity and defence systems your dog is born with. Barriers like skin, the gastro-intestinal tract, eyelashes etc all help keep pathogens out of the body which is why gut health is so very important – at least 70% of your immune system is in the gut! Defence systems like mucosal layers, saliva, stomach acid etc are also part of the innate immune system. Another immune response included as part of the innate immune system is inflammation – this often acts as a marker to pathogens so they can be destroyed. There are various day-to-day aspects of life, including diet and lifestyle which can affect your dog’s immune capabilities, so let’s dig deeper into these. How Gut Health Affects the Immune System It is becoming more widely known, that 70-80% of the immune system lays in the gut – quite a staggering figure! The all important gut microbiome is naturally perfectly balanced – there are ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ that all make up a healthy gut microbiome, but there’s enough of the ‘good guys’ to keep the ‘bad guys’ under control. When the gut is not healthy, the microbiome is knocked out of balance, and the ‘bad guys’ are able to take over, causing disease within the body. There are various substances, and other triggers such as stress, which cause damage to the gut wall, too. When the gut wall is damaged, the gut microbiome is again, knocked out of balance as it is leaked from the gut (known as Leaky Gut). When the gut is leaking, the immune system is left very vulnerable, so it’s imperative to keep the gut healthy at all times – and if it’s not healthy, focus on getting it healthy! The vast majority of systems in the body are connected to the gut very much like a roundabout. These connections are called axis and there are many, for example, the gut-brain axis, the gut-musculoskeletal axis, the gut-liver axis, and the gut-skin axis. The microbiome communicates with this organ systems by creating messengers and metabolites such as probiotics in order to help support function. This is an emerging area of immunity that science is newly delving into. We will delve into some gut health supplements later on in this blog post. Findings Here Findings Here Gut Guardian How Diet Affects the Immune System The diet plays a large role in gut and immune health. Commercial dry food diets being overly processed do not have the live capacity to nourish the gut microbiome like fresh foods do. Moisture in food is incredibly important for all mammalian species, and dogs are no different. Dry food generally has 6-10% moisture; making it dehydrating to the intestinal tract. We know there are some wondrous foods to feed our dogs to support immunity. Fresh in raw or cooked form is always advisable but there are certain ingredients that we favour as they hold great healing and supportive capabilities. We have a fantastic blog explaining the ingredients we tend to favour, which can be found here. When we look at ingredients, both in kibble and in
