On average, a dog may spend 3.3 minutes eating grass, per day. Now, when there are 1,440 minutes in a day, it doesn’t seem that much does it? However, when most dogs head on over to a grassy tuft and start eating, most owners start to worry, it’s certainly a question we are asked often here at My Pet Nutritionist. This is largely due to the common misconception that dogs who eat grass are nutritionally deficient or because vomiting sometimes follows a grass-eating session, they have an upset tummy. Well, we’re here to explore why grass-eating may not be what you think it is, and we’re talking about cats too! Plant Eating Mammals can be roughly divided into three groups: Carnivores, Omnivores, Herbivores, Plants are the primary food source of herbivores and relatively abundant in the environment. The composition of plant tissue is quite different from animals; plant cell walls are rich in carbohydrates especially cellulose, which is difficult for animals to digest. Furthermore, several plants contain toxic compounds as built-in defences (to prevent being eaten). For these reasons, herbivores have developed unique digestive systems to detoxify these compounds and obtain nutrients from these plant cells. Cats, however, are unable to detoxify phenolic compounds found in plants. The Struggle of The Cat in Our Toxic World But there is historical evidence of plant material ingestion in carnivores, both cats and dogs. Some suggest it’s accidental intake, whereas others argue there may be some advantages to plant eating. So why do dogs eat grass? Illness One particular study explored grass eating in dogs. All dogs participating in the study had a full health check carried out by a vet and they were deemed in good health. There were no reported parasites and did not have any diagnosed digestive issues. In 12 dogs, 709 grass eating events occurred. Vomiting only occurred after 5 events. The researchers concluded that there was no evidence grass-eating was linked to sickness. Findings Here Gut Guardian Could it be that we tend to pay more attention to the instances that end in vomiting and therefore consider it sickness related? As humans we do seem to be hard-wired to remember negative experiences as opposed to positive ones. Findings Here Deficient Diet There is also little evidence to support the idea that dogs eat grass to gain vital nutrients they aren’t receiving from their usual diet. When explored, there was no indication that dogs fed a table scrap, commercial or raw food diet were more or less likely to eat grass. You’d think there would be some nutritional differences across the range of diets – but all dogs across that range of diets were still prone to grass-eating. Findings Here So, is grass just a food source to dogs? When considering how much grass dogs eat and when, it is clear that dogs eat more grass before their usual mealtime. Dogs tend to eat more grass in the morning, then as the day wears on, time spent eating grass, reduces. Findings Here This data could suggest that grass-eating is simply a hunger response. As grass is often widely accessed, it’s an easy food source! Parasite Control Grass-eating behaviour is an innate predisposition inherited from wild canid ancestors. It is believed that purging on plants was an effective way to control intestinal parasites. Plant-material is difficult to digest and so it passes right through the digestive tract. As it passes through the tract, it takes the parasites with it. They are then simply pooped out. Findings Here Here it’s easy to panic and think, if your dog is eating grass, he must have worms; but no studies to date have shown this to be the case. Our dogs are simply demonstrating a behaviour that is innate to them. Dogs under the age of one are noted as more frequent grass-eaters than older dogs. We can firstly consider this a behaviour; like babies, puppies also explore their world through their mouth, but researchers have suggested this is more likely related to their ability to fight pathogens. Maintenance metabolism, the energy required to maintain homeostasis, scales fractionally with body size and as such, smaller animals require more metabolic energy per unit of body mass. Therefore, energy loss caused by parasites has higher consequences for smaller carnivores. It is in the younger dog’s interest to ensure they remain free of parasites. The same applies to cats. The energetic cost of parasite load is relatively high for the cat. In evolutionary sense, they would have also had a higher exposure to potentially harmful pathogens through increased food intake. Plant eating in cats has also been considered a way to evacuate hair or undigested materials. Sugar-cane-derived fibres have been seen to reduce the size of hairballs in the scat of domestic cats. An interesting cycle is proposed in the cat. Fleas are the main ectoparasite in the cat, and self-grooming with their rough tongue is one of the main removal strategies. As the flea load increases, the intensity of grooming increase, which is likely to increase ingestion of its own hair. So, plant eating could be a control for both ecto and endo parasites in the cat. Findings Here Liver Guard Is Eating Grass Bad For Dogs? Whilst some dogs do vomit after eating grass, it’s not usually linked to any further complications. The issue arises when dogs eat grass that has been chemically treated. There are many reports of glyphosate toxicity; a common product used to control weeds. Accidental exposure has resulted in vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy. Dogs also develop respiratory distress. Cats appear more sensitive, more often resulting in fatalities. Findings Here Glyphosate and My Dog You also have the risk of toxic plants which are not limited to, but include: Sago Palm Tomato Plant Ivy Amaryllis Gladiola American Holly Daffodil Milkweed Castor Bean Azalea/Rhododendron Tulip Chrysanthemum Begonia Oleander There is little evidence to suggest any nutritional or illness related reasons for a dog to eat grass and there is consistency
Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we take a holistic view of your pet’s health. So, whilst we focus primarily on nutritional adjustments we can make, we look at everything else that is going on for your pet too. Not surprisingly we find that stress is a key player in many of the concerns brought to us. Most of us are familiar with the concept of stress, but do we truly understand the mechanism and the far-reaching impact it has on the body? Stress is huge, so we’ll try to condense it as much as we can. Stay with us. Despite the biological stress response being around for millennia, we first started paying attention to the actual response in the early part of the 1900s. Walter Cannon was the first Professor of Physiology at Harvard, and he was particularly interested in how the body managed to maintain its balance even when faced with things that could threaten it’s being. Building on this, Hans Selye established that no matter the stressor, each body (and brain) experienced the same cascade of responses. He also proposed that during the response to one stressor, our ability to withstand another is diminished. We often reference his theory when we discuss trigger stacking – and we’ve all been there – that day, when you miss your alarm, you spill the milk as you’re putting it in your coffee, then you lose your keys – and your ability to manage challenges that day just seems reduced. But on a biological level, we also see that when we are going through particularly stressful times, our immune system isn’t quite as nifty as dealing with threats and so we start picking up bugs and that old faithful cold sore rears its ugly head. The same concept applies to dogs, and if you sadly share your life with a reactive dog, you’ll see trigger stacking in them too. Equally, if they live with chronic stress, their immune function may go rogue too. This is why we always consider stress levels in those dogs who suffer with inflammatory skin issues. What is Stress? The official response starts in the brain. The amygdala, being the part of the brain that deals with emotions, sends a message to the hypothalamus which is like the command centre of the body. It communicates with the rest of the body through the autonomic nervous system which controls involuntary body functions like breathing, blood pressure and heartbeat. The autonomic nervous system is then split further into two branches, the sympathetic nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system. These are the systems that we are particularly interested in in the stress response. The Sympathetic Nervous System This system is known as the fight or flight system. We can think of it like the gas pedal of the stress response. This system: Dilates pupils – to see oncoming danger, Inhibits saliva production, Dilates bronchia, Increases heart rate, Inhibits the activity of the digestive system, Relaxes urinary bladder, This system is like a redistribution centre. When the body is faced with a stressor that can challenge body homeostasis, it redirects resources to re-balance. Blood is sent to the limbs to mobilise and why waste energy on food digestion? But this is where we see many issues. As we know, to absorb and utilise nutrients the digestive system needs to do its job. If the stress response is inhibiting the action of the digestive system, then it can’t do what it needs to. As part of sympathetic response, corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF) is released. The name isn’t particularly important, but it seemingly plays a considerable role in altering gastrointestinal functions. It has been found that CRF: Inhibits gastric acid secretion Inhibits small intestine transit Increases intestinal permeability Increases visceral sensitivity Gastric Acid Secretion Gastric acid is a digestive fluid formed in the stomach, produced by parietal cells. The highly acidic environment in the stomach causes proteins from foods to lose their folded structure (denature) which exposes the peptide bonds. It is therefore a key player in protein digestion. Gastric acid secretion is regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve and by the hormone gastrin which stimulates the parietal cells. There is also an increased risk of infection with reduced gastric acid secretion. Low or no gastric acid can reduce the disinfectant properties of the gastric lumen. Gastric acid suppression is also associated with the development of food intolerances and allergies. Findings Here Small Intestine Transit The small intestine is chiefly involved in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, it receives pancreatic secretions and bile through the hepatopancreatic duct to aid its functions. In the stress response, it is thought that this mechanism encourages vomiting to expel potential pathogens, as in the large intestine, transit time is increased, again to aid expulsion. Poor motility can lead to small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) which is frequently implicated in nutritional deficiencies, malabsorption, weight loss and bowel changes like diarrhoea. Findings Here Intestinal Permeabilit The intestinal barrier is made up of tight junctions which allows the absorption of nutrients whilst limiting the transport of potential harmful antigens. Early stress and chronic stress have been seen to increase intestinal permeability both through TJ function and mucous degradation. Animal studies have demonstrated that early life stress impairs development of mucosal barrier function, becoming a predisposing factor to intestinal disorders in adult life. However, these stress induced changes do seem to respond to probiotic intervention. Probiotics have been seen to restore colonic tight junction integrity and enhance the mucus barrier. This is largely because stress impacts the bacterial community found in the gut. Studies have shown that early life maternal separation, for example, results in a significant decrease in fecal lactobacillus numbers, three days post separation. Mothers who report feeling stressed have a significantly higher number of proteobacteria and lower lactic acid bacteria. Findings Here Visceral Sensitivity Evidence suggests that long term stress facilitates pain perception and sensitises pain pathways. There is a clear gene-environment interaction which
A question that often pops up here at My Pet Nutritionist so we thought we’d do a whistle stop tour on the gallbladder and some of the more common issues that can arise when it’s not functioning as it should. Let’s get cracking. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits just under the liver. Its function is to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-brown digestive juice produced by the liver. It is part of the biliary tract. When food enters the small intestine, a hormone known as cholecystokinin is released, this tells the gallbladder to contract and secrete bile into the small intestine, through the common bile duct. There are two important functions of bile: Bile contains bile acids, which are critical for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine. Many waste products, including bilirubin, are eliminated from the body by secretion into bile and elimination in faeces. Bile contains water, electrolytes and a battery of organic molecules including bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids and bilirubin. Sadly, the build up of these very compounds can lead to a number of problems in the gallbladder, they are known as canine gallbladder diseases and include: Biliary Sludge Gallbladder mucoceles Gallstones Gut Guardian Biliary Sludge Gallbladder sludge is a collection of cholesterol, calcium, bilirubin, and other compounds that build up in the gallbladder. It is more technically known as biliary sludge. It is not technically a condition on its own, but it’s presence can lead to further issues. Gallbladder sludge has been associated with: Obesity Rapid weight loss Cholecystitis – the swelling and inflammation of the gallbladder. It can result in bile trapped in the gallbladder, causing pain, vomiting, and bloating Blocked biliary ducts – these allow the gallbladder to drain – if sludge can’t escape, it accumulates Of interest, biliary sludge has been associated with acute cases of pancreatitis. In human cases, where no cause of pancreatitis could be found, upwards of 30% of patients showed evidence of biliary sludge. Findings Here If the initial cause of gallbladder sludge is rectified, then it often resolves on its own. However, if the factors remain, gallbladder sludge can lead to gallstones. Gallstones Gallstones are not surprisingly, small stones that form in the gallbladder. It’s when there is an imbalance in the usual liquid composition of bile inside. Because inadequate emptying or infrequent gallbladder movement are usual factors that increase the likelihood of gallstones forming, it’s easy to see how biliary sludge can lead to gallstones. Risk Factors for gallstones; Obesity, Older age, Disorders of the digestive system, Rapid weight loss, Signs and Symptoms of gallstones: Vomiting Jaundice Loss of appetite Abdominal pain Fever Discomfort after eating Gallstones are more commonly seen in older dogs, and often in smaller breeds like miniature schnauzers and miniature poodles. They may be identified in the gallbladder, common bile ducts, hepatic, or interlobular ducts. They are generally composed of cholesterol, bile pigments and calcium carbonate. Gallbladder mucoceles (GBM) A gallbladder mucocele is an abnormal accumulation of bile laden mucoid material within the gallbladder, resulting in bile duct obstruction. Mucins, which play a major role in the development of gallbladder mucoceles, are a family of polysaccharides secreted by mucosal epithelial cells of the gallbladder, stomach, intestines and other organs. Mucins act as surfactants and play a mucoprotective role by preventing self-digestion of mucosal epithelium by digestive juices. A gallbladder mucocele is characterized by the excessive secretion of mucin from gallbladder epithelium. Dogs who have suffered with GBM have ranged in age from 3-14 years old, but middle to older aged dogs are thought to be at a higher risk. A genetic mutation has also been found on the ABCB4 (MDR3) phospholipase flippase transported in Shetland Sheepdogs and others. There is an increased incidence in these dogs along with Miniature Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels. Findings Here Signs and Symptoms of GBM: Loss of appetite Lethargy Vomiting Diarrhoea Jaundice Abdominal pain or discomfort The underlying cause of GBM is essentially unknown, but there are considered associations. For example, gallbladder mucoceles has been associated metabolic disruption. Dogs with GBM: are characterized by significantly diminished antioxidant capacity demonstrate altered energy metabolism have abnormal lipid metabolism demonstrate presence of xenobiotics compared to controls In addition, those dogs with GBM formation show increases in certain compounds that suggest they are in a state of excess metabolic energy. This is why these dogs show lower levels of pantothenate, riboflavin and nicotinamide riboside because there is an increased demand for these compounds in energy transportation. Findings Here There is also consideration given to hydration state; studies have indicated an underlying defect in electrolyte, acid-base or fluid transport. Findings Here Finally, the formation of gallbladder mucoceles has been associated with certain medication use: Dogs with GBM were 2.2 times as likely to have had reported use of thyroxine 3.6 times as likely to have had reported treatment for Cushing’s disease 2.3 times as likely to have had reported use of products containing imidacloprid (insecticide) Findings Here Supporting Healthy Gallbladder Function Maintain an ideal body score Obesity in Pets – Part One Obesity in Pets – Part Two Support digestive function Low Fat Kangaroo The Dog’s Digestive System Optimal Gut Health Pancreatitis: Natural Guide for Pets Stay hydrated! Offer filtered water and ditch the dry! Offer antioxidant rich foods! Berries and leafy greens are a great place to start! Dietary Patterns Studies have indicated that the consumption of sugar, refined grains, processed meats and low-fat food products are associated with increased risk of gallstone disease. Likewise, the intake of nuts, fruits, vegetables and omega-3 PUFAs is associated with reduced gallstone disease. Supportive nutrients in terms of gallbladder health include fibre, magnesium, and vitamin C. Findings Here Why Is Magnesium So Important to Your Pet Why Fibre is Good For Your Dog Why Chia Is So Good For Your Dog Issues with the gallbladder are sadly not that simple, there are several factors to consider. If you are concerned about your dog’s gallbladder or liver
Histamine intolerance (HIT), more technically known as enteral histaminosis, is characterised by the development of problematic symptoms after the ingestion of histamine containing foods. However, current schools of thought are that HIT is not solely due to dietary histamine exposure, but exposure along with insufficient or impaired histamine detoxification. We can see the raised eyebrows from here, so here at My Pet Nutritionist, we thought we’d take a closer look at this issue. What is histamine Histamine is a transmitter in the nervous system and a signalling molecule in the gut, skin, and immune system. It is synthesised from the amino acid histidine which is in fact an essential amino acid for humans and dogs. It is primarily associated with the functioning of the immune system. During an immune reaction, histamine is released from mast cells throughout the body and contributes to the physical changes necessary for the immune system to fight the pathogen, like the increase in blood pressure, temperature, swelling, and constriction in the lungs. Histamine is released to carry out a function and then it is removed, or it should be, efficiently. Detoxification of dietary histamine normally occurs in intestinal epithelial cells via the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) as well as histamine-N-methyl-transferase (HNMT) in the liver. The term histamine intolerance is used similarly to lactose intolerance in humans (LIT). LIT, with a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, shows parallels to the definition of HIT, with a deficiency of the GI enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). DAO is a secretory protein stored in structures of the plasma membrane and is responsible for the degradation of extracellular histamine. The expression of DAO is restricted to certain tissues, mainly the small intestine, colon, placenta and kidneys. In the intestine, DAO activity increases progressively from the duodenum to the ileum and is located mainly in the intestinal villi. On the other hand, the enzyme HNMT is expressed in a wide range tissues including the kidneys and liver, the spleen, colon, prostate, ovaries, spinal cord cells, trachea, and respiratory tract. The gateway for dietary histamine is the intestinal epithelium. So, although HNMT is also present in the gastrointestinal tract, the more highly expressed DAO plays the major role in protecting the body against exogenous histamine, whether originating from ingested food or generated by the intestinal microbiota. What Can Cause Deficiencies in DAO? There are polymorphisms in the genes that encode for the DAO enzyme, but certain medications, including over the counter products are seen to inhibit the activity of DAO enzyme too. They include: Analgesics – morphine, NSAIDs Antiarrhythmics Antibiotics Antifungals Antimalarial Diuretics Motility agents Muscle relaxants Vitamins – ascorbic acid, thiamine Findings Here Furthermore, several inflammatory bowel pathologies affecting mucosal integrity are known to result in impaired DAO activity. DAO activity has been proposed as a marker of the integrity of intestinal mucosa. In inflammatory bowel diseases, reduced DAO activity was related to the degree of mucosal damage. In one human study, DAO activity was significantly reduced in cases of ulcerative colitis compared to the control population. gut guardian can help support histamine intolerance and allergies. Findings Here Gut Guardian Prevalence of DAO deficiency in HIT In human studies, 80% of patients showing symptoms of HIT also demonstrated DAO deficiency. Symptoms of HIT include: urticaria pruritus diarrhoea abdominal pain vomiting constipation cough rhinitis If DAO production is low, histamine blood serum will inevitably be high. This is where the liver needs to be functioning effeciently, to assist with excess histamine metabolism. Liver Guard Diagnosing HIT Currently the general rule of thumb is that two or more symptoms of HIT are being presented. Other gastrointestinal pathologies should also be dismissed. Low histamine diets are recommended in the short term, to establish remission or improvement in symptoms. Low Histamine Diets Foods that potentially contain high levels of histamine are: a) those microbiologically altered, such as fish and meat, or derived products that may have been preserved or processed in unsuitably hygienic conditions. b) fermented products, in which the bacteria responsible for the fermentation process may also have aminogenic capacity. If you would like more information on low histamine diets check out our blog here. Low Histamine Diets for Dogs More are now acknowledging the role of DAO inhibitor medications and the result on histamine load. In addition, we must consider how the health of the gut may be influencing enzyme capacity and so we really need to take a look at the bigger picture. Does My Pet Need to Detox 7 Steps to Optimal Gut Health for Pets If any of this is ringing a little true for your dog, then please check out our services to see if we may be able to help. Thanks for reading, Team MPN x
The microbiome was first defined in 1958. It was identified as the collective genome of the microorganisms that share body space. These microorganisms include bacteria, archaea, virus, and fungi. It is believed that 90% of human cells are not of human origin; hence the saying we are only 10% human. Microorganisms of the microbiome therefore provide an important genetic variation. Bacterial genes provide diversity and functions that human cells do not have. This similarly applies to our pets. The microbiome is an important modifier of disease and an essential component of immunity. Dysbiosis of the many microbiomes have been associated with a range of disorders and each day we are learning more about more about the community inside and on top of us, and our pets. Whilst our research is still getting a handle on things, and there are many things we still don’t know much about, we know that certain things can skew the microbiome to result in dysbiosis, and there are somethings than can help it sort itself out. Let’s take a look. The intestinal microbiota is the collection of all microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. The microbiome is the collective genome of these microorganisms. Bacteria make up most microbial cells, showing an increase in abundance from the stomach to the colon. The predominant phyla in the GIT of healthy dogs are: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria But each individual animal will have their own personal profile. A note on testing… it would stand to reason, that if we know the bugs that contribute to healthy microbiomes and those that can start to run amok, if we could test for them, then we could tailor a microbiome for health? This is a great concept and one that is gaining traction in the human world, but we still haven’t established a perfect microbiome or microbiota. As it stands, we need to learn more – and acknowledge that our microbiomes are unique – what may be perfect for your dog, may not be perfect for mine. We know that certain bacterial groups have consequences – both beneficial and potentially deleterious. For example, certain dietary carbohydrates can be fermented by the microbes in the gut – in this process, they produce short-chain-fatty-acids. These are known as butyrate, acetate and propionate. On the plus side, these compounds are anti-inflammatory, they maintain intestinal barrier function, regulate motility (the movement of the digestive system) and also provide energy for epithelial cells. On the downside, they can activate virulence factors of enteropathogens. In addition, bile acids also seem to be a major regulator of the gut microbiota. Liver health is therefore implicated in microbiome composition as reduced bile levels are associated with bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. Secondary bile acids have been seen to inhibit the growth of clostridum difficile, Escherichia coli and more. They are also seen to modulate glucose/insulin secretion from the pancreas. Bacteria in the gut produce these secondary bile acids and so if they aren’t present, their antimicrobial function is missed! Dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency have significantly reduced bacterial diversity, with lactic acid bacteria Bifidobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae increased, likely because of overgrowth associated with maldigestion. As we know, the pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion, so if this isn’t occurring upstream in the digestive process, it can cause problems further down. If you would like to know more about the digestive process that occurs in the dog, check out our blog: The Digestive System of the Dog Many studies have highlighted the alterations in bacterial diversity in a range of conditions in the dog. So, what can result in these alterations in bacterial diversity? Generally, the major types of dysbiosis fall under 4 categories. Abnormal substrates in digestive tract Loss of beneficial commensal bacteria Increase in total bacterial load Increased pathogenic bacteria Abnormal Substrates in Digestive Tract The most common here are undigested nutrients – if there is low stomach acid, digestion is impaired resulting in undigested nutrients moving through the digestive tract. If the pancreas isn’t fully functioning and releasing those helpful digestive enzymes, the same applies. The other abnormal substrate includes medications – which may result in changes in the microbiome. Loss of Beneficial Commensal Bacteria The most common cause of loss of commensal bacteria is the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics (BSA) – BSAs aren’t fussy – they’ll do their job perfectly, taking all bugs with them – this includes those beneficial commensal bacteria that keep the bad guys in check, and which help produce metabolites for optimal functioning. Of interest here is the mechanism by which antibiotics can affect the chemical transformation of pesticides. Antibiotics, through their bug killing capacity, have been seen to suppress enzymes required in hepatic metabolism and also increase intestinal absorption leading to improved bioavailability of pesticides and therefore skyrocketing their risk factor. Findings Here Increase in Total Bacterial Load This is more relevant in cases of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. When we reference the microbiome, we are considering the microbial community found in the whole of the digestive tract. Generally, the further down we go, the more bugs we find. For this reason, we would expect the majority of the bugs to be found in the colon. SIBO is when there are higher numbers found in the small intestine. Low stomach acid can contribute to the development of SIBO – and the administration of proton pump inhibitors and antihistamines can both suppress gastric acid secretion. Poor motility can also contribute to the development of SIBO, and stress can be a huge factor that contributes to motility issues. In short, if the digestive system isn’t moving, food particles sit where they shouldn’t. Increased bacterial load is what occurs in yeast issues for example. Candida is harmless when kept in check, but for a number of reasons it can overgrow. If you would like to learn more about yeast, check out our blog: Is your Dog a Yeasty Beast? Increased Pathogenic Bacteria No-one will knowingly ingest pathogenic bacteria – we can’t speak for
In our last My Pet Nutritionist article we explored the range of factors that can contribute to a less than happy gut including: Antibiotics, Overuse of certain medications like proton pump inhibitors and antihistamines, Poor liver function, Poor motility, Digestive disorders, Poor pancreatic function, Inflammation in the gut, Stress Environmental toxins, Dietary choices. And more! Why is this important? The microbiome plays an immense role in both health and disease. It has been seen to affect how food it utilised and absorbed – and in actual fact, you aren’t what you eat, you are what you absorb and utilise! This goes for pets too. The microbiome has also been implicated in obesity. Findings Here The microbiome can produce metabolites which can support immune function, modulate inflammation, and influence behaviour. A happy microbiome also forms a defence barrier so is an important part of gut healing if dealing with pets who suffer with sensitivities. So, if we know what can result in gut dysbiosis, is it something we can prevent? And is it something we can reverse? Let’s take a look. First of all, we are looking at puppyhood to prevent dysbiosis. Until recently, it was believed that foetus development occurred within a sterile uterus, however increasing evidence indicates that the foetus develops in an environment that is not entirely germ-free. Many microbial species have been detected in the umbilical cord, the amniotic fluid and the foetal membranes in apparently normal pregnancies without any indication of inflammation or disease. After birth, the new-born acquires microbes from the environment, food, and nearby animals and humans. In the first month of life, gut microbiota is less stable, and its biodiversity will increase over time. Gut Guardian Alongside this microbial colonisation, the immune system must learn to tolerate antigens present in the environment. Colonisation in the early life stages occurs in conjunction with the development, expansion, and education of the immune system. This suggests that during the first colonisation steps, factors with a negative impact on microbiota composition could pave the way for disease in subsequent years. At this point, delivery mode, along with maternal nutrition and environmental exposure are key factors to consider in promoting a healthy gut in your puppy. As your puppy is growing it is essential to: Avoid the overuse of antibiotics – we are not denying that antibiotics are lifesavers, but they can often be prescribed inappropriately. Avoid the overuse of medications – again, some medications are beneficial in acute disease episodes, but the long-term use of many medications often serves as a band-aid – if you are using chronic proton pump inhibitors or antihistamines for your pet, please check out our services to see if we can help. Support normal motility – avoid stressful triggers and work in conjunction with a behaviourist if your dog struggles with stress resilience. Limit exposure to environmental toxins – cleaning and grooming products, pesticides, plastics, contaminated water etc. Is Your Toxic Home Affecting Your Pet The Importance of (Clean) Water Does My Pet Need to Detox The other factors on our list need a little further discussion. Poor Liver Function The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs hundreds of vital functions. We often call it the powerhouse of the body here at My Pet Nutritionist. Some of its main roles include removing waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels, and creating essential nutrients. In addition, it is involved in: Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body. Filters Blood: All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which removes toxins, by-products, and other harmful substances. Regulates Amino Acids: The production of proteins depends on amino acids. The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy and it also plays a role in rearranging amino acids into new proteins. Regulates Blood Clotting: Blood clotting coagulants are created using vitamin K, which can only be absorbed with the help of bile, a fluid the liver produces. Resists Infections: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream. Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper. Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose. Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. Bile acids also affect the balance of flora and gut motility, which ultimately affects microbiota composition. But of further interest, there seems to be a bi-directional relationship here as gut dysbiosis is also then implicated in poor liver function and subsequent liver disease. We’re not kidding when we say we need to consider a whole-body approach to health (and disease). And so, if you are looking to support the microbiome, we also need to be supporting the liver (and more – but one step at a time!). Liver Guard Poor Diet – as the liver plays a role in metabolism and detoxification, the less burden we place on it, the better. Bioavailable, nutrient dense foods are best – which is why we advocate a whole-food, fresh diet. Stress – again, the liver plays a role in detoxification, so if the body has plenty of stress hormones to break-down and excrete, the burden on the liver will be increased. Avoid stressful triggers as much as possible. Endocrine disease/disorder – vet checks can establish if this is a consideration that needs to be made but underlying endocrine issues can contribute to impaired liver function. Infectious agents – many infections may affect the liver, and so testing for this is beneficial. Immune support can then be useful in a liver healing plan. Vaccinosis – here we are looking at the burden
Vomiting is one of the most common reasons owners take their dog to the vet. Here at My Pet Nutritionist it is a common symptom too, but it is often misperceived for regurgitation. There are a number of reasons for both, and they are very different mechanisms. So, let’s first establish the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, and focus specifically on reasons why your dog may be regurgitating. What’s the difference between vomiting and regurgitating? Vomiting is an active process, where the dog is forcefully ejecting the contents of their stomach or intestines. It is often preceded by sound. Food is usually at least partially digested, or it may be bile that comes up. In vomiting you will notice signs of nausea, like drooling or lip licking. Regurgitation is more passive and usually happens while a dog is eating or shortly afterward. There is usually no sound beforehand. Regurgitation is often just water or undigested food. Regurgitation can be common if a dog eats something that is too large – think large bones or chews. Some dogs will attempt to re-ingest it as soon as they’ve regurgitated it. But there are also some other reasons for regurgitation. 1) Stress Stress is a response in the body –and it is similar across humans and dogs. When exposed to a stressful trigger, the sympathetic nervous system fires up. During this process, resources are directed away from the digestive system and so digestive function is compromised. This can lead to the development of acid reflux which is one of the more common reasons for regurgitation. Stress has also been seen to affect oesophageal sensitivity. During stress, corticotropin releasing hormone plays a key role. This hormone is regularly implicated in hypersensitivity (which is why conditions like IBS are more common in those who are anxious or stressed). But what it means is that the oesophagus is more sensitive to mechanical distension, chemical stimuli and more, which may lead to regurgitation. 2) Reduced Mucosal Integrity In the same strand, mucosal integrity also influences oesophageal hypersensitivity. Just like we have a barrier in the skin and gut, we also have an oesophageal one. It too is made up of tight junctions and has its own plethora of defence mechanisms, including a mucosal barrier. But the presence of acid, in cases of acid reflux can injure the oesophageal epithelium and so, in turn, it damages the mucosal barrier, along with the tight junction formation. During attempts to repair, the inflammatory response is called to action, and animal studies into oesophageal damage have suggested it is a double-edged sword. This inflammatory response has been seen to lower oesophageal pressure through its action on smooth muscle which, not only allows for further reflux of acid,but also then delays acid clearance. Findings Here. The take home here is to restore mucosal integrity as soon as possible and modulate inflammation with ingredients such as l-glutamine, slipper elm, deglycerised and marshmallow root. Gut Guardian 3) Good Stress You may notice that your dog is more likely to regurgitate if they eat too soon after exercise. There is such a thing as good stress, but the response in the body will be the same. When your dog is running, chasing and playing, they are asking their body to move away from homeostasis. Their body will need compounds at a higher rate than what they are needed at rest. It therefore places their body under stress and so, resources are redirected. Digestion is no longer a required function and energy conversion is more important. The sympathetic nervous system is the functional stress response, the parasympathetic nervous system is the commande rthat walks into a room and states, “as you were!” But this command can take time to be heard, and so, if your dog eats too soon after exercise, the entirety of the parasympathetic nervous system hasn’t yet got the message. Without a fully functioning digestive system,it propels the food back out again. Always be mindful of when you choose to offer meals to your dog. 4) The Food Being Fed Regurgitation immediately after eating is in fact relatively common in dogs – but this doesn’t mean its normal. From experience, we often link it to the type of food being fed, as often in many cases, when the food is changed,the regurgitation stops. This can be for a number of reasons,but in short, the body isn’t liking what is going in. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a subset of the autonomous nervous system and can function independently of the central nervous system. The enteric nervous system innervates the entirety of the digestive system and ENS neurons become hyperexcitable in the presence of toxins, bacteria, inflammatory and immune mediators. Animal studies have demonstrated hyperexcitability of ENS neurons after sensitization withmilk ingestion, leading to mast cell degranulation and histamine release. What caused the sensitisation in this study isn’t relevant, the note to make is that hyperexcitability can occur after sensitization, leading to aberrant enteric function. And so, it pays to consider an inflammatory/immune component in cases of chronic regurgitation. An elimination diet may be useful in this case. Check out our blog for more information. Here Equally, an easily digestible recipe such as white fish, can help, if fish is well tolerated. Low Fat Fish Of interest here is the crosstalk between the microbiome and the enteric nervous system. ENS nerves are thought to detect microbial products because germ-free animals exhibit significantly altered enteric function. A healthy microbiome is therefore crucial for the correct digestive messages to get where they need to go. To support your dog’s microbiome, check out our blog: Here 5) Structure There are cases where the structure of the oesophagus can result in frequent regurgitation. This can be a developmental abnormality or blockage. A thorough exam would be necessary to establish the severity of any structural issue. Summary In many acute cases of regurgitation, acid reflux often comes intoplay. If you would like to learn more then check out
Coprophagy,the technical way of saying a dog’s (or other animal’s) tendency to eat their own or other animal’s poop, is possibly more common than you may think, and certainly an issue we are told about here at My Pet Nutritionist. Throwback to the 1940’s and 1960’s and studies on rabbits and rats respectively suggested that it occurred due to vitamin synthesis and the frequency depended largely on nutritional requirements during growth or aging. So, much like Chinese whispers, we have come to the understanding that our dog is eating their poop because they are deficient in something. Findings here. You could stop reading there and have an answer to your question, but you would be wrong. Firstly, your dog isn’t a rat or a rabbit. There’s a little more to this less than desirable habit, so let’s delve a little deeper. What is coprophagy? Coprophagy is common in rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. Rabbits even excrete two types of faeces; hard and soft. Soft faeces are re-ingested but hard faeces are not. If rats are prevented from the act, then they require dietary supplementation of thiamin, biotin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin K. Findings here. Based on this information, if you were to notice a dog commonly eating their own poop you would consider that they too did it for nutritional reasons. But it all comes down to the digestive system. In rodents and rabbits, bacterial synthesis of nutrients occurs in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Here, little absorption occurs. By eating their own faeces, it gives them another shot at absorbing the nutrients, for want of a better description. So why do dogs eat their own poop? Well, it has its own name, so it’s nothing new. Canine conspecific coprophagy is regularly mentioned to vets and use alike, and is a regular search term on the world wide web. Some argue that it is a sign of an underlying medical issue,for example: 1) Enzyme deficiency As we know, a key part of the digestive process is enzymatic breakdown. Without key enzymes, food will pass through undigested. There is a school of thought which suggests the dog will eat their own faeces, to give themselves another chance at digesting the food and utilising the nutrients; exactly like the rodents did. 2) Increased appetite There are certain conditions which increase appetite, like diabetes and thyroid issues and so in an attempt to meet their ravenous needs, a dog will eat anything in sight! On the same side of this coin – there are others that argue a dog will eat his own faeces if he is being underfed. That said, the number of obese dogs is increasing year on year, so, before you alter his feeding amounts, check out our blogs: Here and Here. Others argue that it’s not necessarily a health issue, but more a psychological issue. Some have noted that it can occur in bored dogs; whether the dogs are simply amusing themselves, or in fact it’s attention seeking behaviour. For example, many owners don’t like dogs eating poop, so when they spot it, they give the dog attention;despite it being a negative interaction. Think of it like the child who misbehaves as soon as the parent takes that important phone call. However, in order to get a handle on the true reason, a study was conducted that looked at the diet of coprophagic dogs, it looked at house-training, their eating habits and what behaviour modifications had successfully been used in managing it. Findings here. This study found that the diet of the dog had no significant impact,therefore suggesting no nutritional basis for the behaviour and coprophagic dogs were just as easily house-trained as non-coprophagic dogs; so, they still maintained a typical aversion to faeces like most dogs. Interestingly, those dogs who ate their own poop, were more readily described as greedy eaters. Sadly, the success rate of behaviour modification to stop the dog eating their own poop was close to zero. Let’s see if their like of other animal’s poop sheds anymore light on the reasoning behind this particular behaviour. Why do dogs eat cat poop? The most likely explanation is that whatever hasn’t been absorbed by the cat during their digestion, attracts the dog to eat the poop. In some commercial cat foods, compounds are added to make the food palatable; these aren’t always absorbed by the cat, so they just come out the other end. Why do dogs eat another dog’s poop? There’s little evidence to suggest a nutritional basis for eating another dog’s poop. The factors relating to a dog eating faeces include: Greedy eating Breed group (hounds and terriers are more likely to do so) Multiple dogs in the house Eating dirt Eating cat stools It doesn’t appear to make a difference whether they are eating their own, or another dog’s poop – if they are going to eat poop, they’re going to eat poop. Why do dogs eat wild animal poop? When you’re out on your walks with your poop eater, he’s probably found rabbit or horse poop. Why are they drawn to it? The explanation could lie in their plant-eating habits! With horses and rabbits being herbivores, are dogs seeking the plant content of their poop? Again, grass-eating is not linked to nutritional deficiency or illness. Some owners perceive it as a way for dogs to make themselves sick. But dogs fed commercial, table scrap or raw diets were no more prone to grass or plant eating than the others. The answer to this question takes us back to their ancient beginnings. Plant-eating seemed to play a role in controlling internal parasites. Plant material passes through the intestinal tract, wrapping around worms and thereby clearing them out. Findings here. The parasites would then be found in the faeces, which leads us to another reason why a dog would eat poop – to keep their den clear of parasites. Some domestic dogs take themselves off to the furthest point
Whilst we often reference lip licking in anticipation food, there are a number of reasons why dogs especially, may demonstrate this behaviour. Some may even surprise you. So, let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons for lip smacking, or licking, that we see here at My Pet Nutritionist. 1) Anticipation of Food! We can head back to Pavlov and his dogs to put this behaviour into context. Most of us are familiar with the concept of conditioning that Pavlov introduced – he paired a bell with food, and eventually, the dogs would salivate in anticipation of the food, just by hearing the bell. This increase in salivation will encourage lip licking to help manage the extra fluid in the mouth! But what is also interesting is that food also stimulates the reward system in the brain – and the physical response to this type of reward is often saliva – again, the lip licking is a mechanism to manage the extra fluid in the mouth. 2) Lip Licking in response to stress! Not surprisingly, stress can result in hypo (too little) and hyper (too much) salivation! Either way, lip licking is often the result. On the one side, activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), redirects resources and in doing so, digestive functions are sacrificed. As saliva is an important part of the digestive process, production is therefore reduced. The resulting dry mouth can encourage lip licking behaviour. Licking is also a maternal behaviour – they would clean and groom their offspring, soothing them during the action. Many dogs demonstrate licking behaviour because it elicits positive responses. It is well demonstrated that those born to Mothers who engaged in grooming/licking behaviour, are more resilient to stress, and develop more appropriate coping mechanisms. Findings here That said, increased salivation can be implicated in certain health issues that are exacerbated by stress – here salivation may be a side effect of an underlying issue, like acid reflux. 3) Acid Reflux Acid reflux is where stomach acid ends up somewhere it shouldn’t. As we know, the body is pretty nifty and has a few tricks up it’s sleeve to deal with rogue compounds. In response to the irritant in the oesophagus (stomach acid), salivary glands can over produce in an attempt to neutralise it. Ironically, acid reflux can be a result of reduced salivary production in the first place. There are a number of causes of acid reflux, poor lower sphincter functioning, abnormal oesophageal clearance, altered mucosal resistance and delayed gastric emptying (which is why it can be implicated alongside stress). If you would like more information about tackling acid reflux, then check out our blog here. 4) To smell better! Dogs use their tongues to enhance their sense of smell. When they lick a surface their transfer molecules via their tongue to olfactory receptors and then to the vomero nasal organ. When a dog keeps their nose wet, they are lowering the surface tension of the scent molecules so they can be translated better! Dogs are incredible at detecting minute traces in their environment – this also applies to information from us humans. We must consider whether our dog is attempting to gain more information about those around him when he is licking his lips. 5) Gastrointestinal Disorder Lip licking is often paired with nausea,along with excess salivation, lack of appetite, increased swallowing and lethargy. For this reason, it is often considered that lip licking is more likely associated with some gastrointestinal disorder or discomfort. One particular study sought to investigate this. Dogs demonstrating excessive licking behaviour were studied. In 14 of 19 licking dogs, gastrointestinal abnormalities were noted. They included: Delayed gastric emptying Irritable bowel syndrome/disease Food intolerances or allergies Pancreatitis Gastric foreign body Giardia Researchers concluded that full gastric health should be considered in any dog presenting with excessive licking behaviour. Findings here If you would like a head start on supporting your dog’s digestive health, then check out our blogs here: The Dog’s Digestive System 7 Steps to Optimal Gut Health for Your Pet Natural Guide for Pets IBD Pancreatitis and a Natural Nutrition Regime 6) Disorders of the Mout Gum disease is an inflammatory condition,symptoms include bad breath, drooling along with mouth and tongue inflammation. Sadly, bacteria can be translocated from the mouth into the rest of the body, often causing secondary infections and issues. For more information on dental care for your dog check out our blog here. But disorders of the mouth aren’t limited to periodontal disease. They can also include lip disorders found in those breeds with dropping upper lips and lower lip folds (like spaniels,bulldogs and St. Bernards). The lips accumulate moisture, becoming the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The lip folds can become fowl-smelling,inflamed, uncomfortable and swollen, resulting in your dog licking them to try to soothe them. Keeping these folds is therefore essential to your dog’s health! As is supporting their skin and oral microbiome. Please check out blog on puppy microbiome here. Your dog can also develop lip wounds – from a rogue branch or grass seed that has gotten wedged. If you are concerned about your dog’s lip licking behaviour – checking in their mouth is a good place to start. These are the more common reasons why your dog may be licking their lips, but they are not the only ones. Your dog may lip his lips for any one of the following reasons: Medication side effect Infectious disease Car sickness Reluctance to swallow (irritation/blockage) Inflamed tonsils Structural defects in the mouth Metabolic disorder (liver or kidney issues), Natural Guide To Liver Disease and Natural Nutrition Guide to Kidney Disease. Abscess. Disorder/blockage of the salivary glands Pain Whilst we can’t change the structure of your dog’s mouth, we have a wealth of experience tackling gastrointestinal disorders in the canine. If you are concerned about excessive lip licking in your dog and are wondering where to start, check out our services to see
We know that physical exercise is one of the pillars of health for our canine friends but getting outside, benefits both them and us in more ways than one. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we advocate a holistic approach to health and well-being, so let’s go a little off the beaten track, and take a step back from nutrition per se for a moment. Did you know that being in nature reduces scores of anxiety and depression? Our species has existed for thousands upon thousands of years – but even the oldest cities have only been around a fraction of that! What this means is that we largely evolved in nature, and this environment therefore shaped our brains – for want of a better phrase, going back to nature almost takes us back to our roots. What the data says: Being in nature is seen to improve sleep scores Spending time in green spaces simply makes us happier Mental stress scores significantly reduce when we live in urban areas with increased green spaces Time in nature improves our relationships with others and also cognitive functioning Findings here Findings here Findings here Not only that, but it is thought that exposure to green spaces reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death and high blood pressure. Findings here Spending time outside is also beneficial for our microbiomes. Nature and The Microbiome The skin can be seen as an ecosystem, composed of living biological and physical components occupying diverse habitats. Disruptions of this ecosystem can result in skin in disorders or infections. These issues call the immune system to action, creating inflammation. Sadly, chronic inflammation is linked to a range of issues throughout the body. Exposure to toxins can disrupt this ecosystem, but it can become imbalanced simply by not having exposure to enough of the “good guys!” We can find these good guys outside, in nature. It is well established that those who live in rural locations possess more diverse bacteria on their skin. But this similarly applies to the microbiome found in the lungs too! A particular study wanted to explore the impact of nature on allergic disease suffered in the lungs. Two groups of mice were housed, one group with potted soil, one with sterile bedding. Mice who had lived on clean bedding were more susceptible to developing lung inflammation in response to asthma-triggering allergens than those housed with soil! As an aside, in this particular study, those housed with soils also scored lower on standard stress tests. Findings here In short, what is concluded is that exposure to soil supports immune tolerance and stress resilience. It is clear that being in nature is beneficial to both our physical and mental health – not only for the rewards of movement. The same applies to our dogs. Nature and Our Dogs We know that exercise improves cardiovascular health and more, but we don’t always have to exercise our dogs when outside. Yes, we said it. Stick with us a moment. Dogs use their nose to explore their environment, and what is particularly interesting is that after activity, their sniffing capacity significantly reduces. Findings here This also applies if they are stressed,stress results in the same physiological responses as activity in many ways. Therefore, it’s clear that getting outside and allowing your dog to “just be” and explore their environment, is of benefit to them. If we return to those studies on mice – as dogs sniff, they are exposing themselves to more diverse bacteria, which could potentially support their immune tolerance. Nose breathing also stimulates the vagus nerve, which as we know is the chief of the parasympathetic nervous system – this is why we often hear that allowing a dog to sniff lowers their heart rate. The simple exposure to soils through their paws and fur can also be of benefit to their whole body. Dogs groom themselves, so the soil they have walked through, is then potentially ingested. The good bugs can help support a diverse community, but this same mechanism occurs with soil laced in pesticide and exposure to harmful pesticides can result in dysbiosis. This is one of the main concerns facing us. Many countries are managing to significantly reduce their usage of pesticides, but others are increasing it. For example, Armenia have seen a 2650% increase in pesticide use since 1990. USA have seen a 125% increase in use. In the UK, we have reduced usage by 34%! Findings here If you would like to explore more about how pesticides and more affect the microbiomes in our dogs, check out our blogs here, And here. On the subject of toxins – rural air has significantly less air pollution than that found in urban locations. It is believed that half of the world’s population are exposed to increasing levels. Findings here Trees remove pollutants from the air and plants are often seen as the “lungs” of an ecosystem because they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. They also act as an ecosystem’s “liver,” filtering atmospheric pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide through their leaves. Trees are particularly effective at removing particulate matter (PM). PM comes in the form of tiny particles of organic chemicals, acids, metals and dust which are emitted from fossil-fuel-burning vehicles and factories, as well as construction sites. The largest of these particles measure up to 10 micrometers across (known as PM10s), which is around a fifth of the width of a human hair. There are also PM2.5s, measuring 2.5 micrometres across, being even smaller nanoparticle pollution. Fine particulate matter can easily permeate the respiratory system, causing lung and cardiovascular issues, but it has also been linked to inflammation and heart disease, so reduced exposure is particularly important and trees can help us here! Summary It is clear that spending time in nature ticks all boxes for all our bodily systems; it supports immune function, cardiovascular health, mental health and more! Dog walks as exercise are necessary – but dog walks in nature are
You are what you eat! This is a phrase that has dominated the media for decades. On a biochemical level it’s true – each cell in the body has a function, to carry out that function, it needs nutrients, co-factors and energy. Whilst some nutrients and cofactors can be synthesised within the body – in one way shape of form, what cells need must come from somewhere, and that somewhere is the diet. This also applies to the cells that tell us, and our dogs how to behave, or more interestingly, influences how us or them feel. So, can food affect behaviour? It sure can! But the full answer needs a little more explanation, so grab a coffee and join us as we take a look at the link between food and mood, and specifically which compounds or foods may play a role. What is Mood? Mood is the way us or our dogs are feeling at a particular time and they can change – depending on internal and external factors. Although they can change – moods still have physiological symptoms – for example, during anger, heart rate increases and in humans, a noticeable red flush to the face. When calm, heart rate reduces. Being focussed or distracted is also a mood and this is largely affected by biochemical processes too. In this case, the right balance of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and these chemical messengers are in fact a key element in how food can influence behaviour. Neurotransmitters are like the nervous system’s carrier pigeons. The main neurotransmitters that do that work are acetylcholine, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, histamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Neurotransmitters can be excitatory, or inhibitory. They either make something do something or stop something doing something. Like an accelerator and a brake pedal. All of these neurotransmitters must be made from something. We can think of it like a recipe for behaviour – we have main ingredients, but we also need some seasoning (co-factors)! So, let’s take a look at the recipe book for some of the heavy lifting neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine Acetylcholine stimulates muscle contraction, both skeletal and smooth. It is also involved in attention, memory, and learning. Acetylcholine is needed in high amounts during waking hours, but in low levels during restorative sleep. In most cases acetylcholine is excitatory. What is of interest is that acetylcholine is released by nerve cells during times of mild stress (or concentrating on learning something new), so during these times, demand is increased. Acetylcholine is synthesised from choline and it is carried out in the liver. Sources of choline include egg yolks, liver, kidney and seeds. Dopamine Dopamine can be both inhibitory and excitatory depending on the receptors it acts upon. It contributes to the control of voluntary movement and influences learning, attention, and emotion. It is largely associated with reward mechanisms in the brain and plays a part in pleasure seeking. Dopamine gets particular interest in incarcerated humans, but also in aggression in dogs. Aggressive dogs have been found to have significantly different alleles for dopamine receptors than their non-aggressive counterparts; short form alleles demonstrate greater impulsivity. Whilst it is easy to suggest that aggression and impulsivity is in the genes, there are processes that can regulate gene expression. DNA methylation is one such epigenetic mechanism. If you would like to know more about this then check out our blog here. Findings here Dopamine is synthesised from phenylalanine and tyrosine which are both amino acids. Sources of phenylalanine include dairy, eggs, nuts, chicken, beef, pork and fish. Sources of tyrosine include chicken, turkey, fish, bananas, yoghurt, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. Dopamine is broken down by a couple of enzymes, and there can be genetic variants which affect how quickly it occurs –for some, dopamine may hang around a little too long, for some it may disappear incredibly quickly. Increased breakdown can lead to attention deficit behaviour and often fatigue like behaviour. On the other side of the scale, decreased breakdown is sometimes noted in aggressive behaviour. Altered protein intake can sometimes help to balance this out. GABA GABA is the primarily inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, this stops the firing of neurons and we call it the breaks on the brain. By inhibiting neural activity, GABA facilitates sleep, reduces mental and physical stress, lowers anxiety, and creates a calmness of mood. Its relationship with glutamate is key to overall balance. GABA also modulates intestinal motility,gastric emptying, and gastric acid secretion. Findings here GABA’s recipe includes an amino acid too, glutamine. Sources of glutamine include beef, chicken, dairy, fish, eggs, cabbage, spinach, carrots, kale, and papaya. Serotonin Serotonin has a wide-ranging role in the body including regulation of energy balance, food intake, and GI and endocrine function. But its behavioural processes include mood, perception, reward, anger, aggression, appetite, memory and attention. In cases of canine aggression, serotonin levels are found to be significantly lower than their non-aggressive counterparts. Serotonin is synthesised from tryptophan, but you might already know this! However, in times of stress, tryptophan gets stolen. We’re not lying. It’s called the “tryptophan steal”. Tryptophan also feeds another pathway in the body, known as the kynurenine pathway which is a necessary pathway, but in times of stress or inflammation this pathway steps up a notch and siphons the little tryptophan we did have! Foods to boost serotonin: Banana Pineapple Pomegranate Strawberry Spinach Nettle Kiwi Lettuce Tuna Turkey Chicken Oats Nuts and Seeds Glutamate Glutamate has excitatory effects on nerve cells, and it can actually excite cells to their death. Both too much and too little glutamate are harmful. The oversupply of it can lead to seizures, and environmental stress can significantly enhance glutamatergic release. Findings here But like everything in the body, we’re looking for goldilocks – just enough! Glutamate occurs naturally in protein-containing foods like diary, mushrooms, meat, fish and some vegetables. Histamine Histamine is a transmitter in the nervous system and a signalling molecule in the gut, skin, and immune system. It is
Everyday, ours and our pet’s bodies are exposed to toxins. They are produced internally in the body, like lactic acid and consist of waste products from gut microbes, hormones, and neurotransmitters. But the largest threat is possibly those external toxins, like air pollution, chemicals from cleaning products and volatile organic compounds from the plug-in air diffuser in your lounge. Here at My Pet Nutritionists, when considering your pet’s well-being, detoxification is largely looked at as part of the health picture. It is thought that in the 25 years between 1970 and 1995, the volume of synthetic organic chemicals produced tripled from about 50 million tonnes to approximately 150 million tons, and this number has grown year on year since. Findings here These toxins can disrupt essential biological structures in the body. A toxin is defined as any substance that must be neutralised and eliminated to avoid its promotion of ill-health if left to accumulate. What surprises most people is that the body produces waste products every second of every day in the form of used hormones, neurotransmitters, or oxidised lipids. For this reason, even if we manage ours and our pet’s environments well, we still need to support our detoxification system, simply to eliminate the exhaust fumes of daily life. So, what is detoxification? Detoxification is carried out by a range of mechanisms and this comes in particularly handy if one pathway is overwhelmed, another can pick up the slack. We can think of it like a waterfall, water will always find a way down. In a healthy system, toxins will be able to find a way out. Initially, the body will attempt to detoxify at source. These locations include the intestinal mucosa, the respiratory mucosa, the microbiome,and the skin epidermis. Whilst these also provide a physical barrier to prevent toxin penetration, they also express a range of enzymes which are essential in sweeping toxins away. Detoxification falls into three phases. The first two phases are concerned with breaking down the toxin in the body, and phase three is concerned with excreting it. For us to manage ours and our dog’s toxic load, all three phases need to be working optimally. Liver Guard Phase I PhaseI is primarily undertaken by a superfamily of enzymes and they are predominantly concentrated in the liver (but are found in the oral and nasal cavity). t also includes enzymes like MAOs or monoamine oxidases to deal with neurotransmitters (those chemical messengers involved in mood and behaviour ) and PON1 or paraoxonase 1 dealing with pesticides and oxidised lipids. The names aren’t important, but the point is that at this stage the body needs to be efficiently producing these enzymes to metabolise the toxins. So, it stands to reason that this stage is particularly nutrient demanding and sufficient levels of key vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3 and iron, along with cysteine, are essential. This phase also generates high numbers of reactive oxygen species, or ROS leading to oxidative stress (there is also evidence of poor antioxidant capacity in obesity). These enzymes are also highly polymorphic – which means they are prone to altered gene expression. If you would like to know how gene expression can alter detoxification in the cat, then check out our blog here. But, whether the expression starts to cause problems can often depend on the nature and exposure to toxins. Once toxins have been passed through phase I, they are not finished with. Intermediate metabolites are produced, and they sit in the body. t’s almost like putting your rubbish in the outside bin, but missing collection day. The rubbish remains. Welcome to phase II Within phase II there are number of pathways and they are all responsible for detoxifying different compounds. Methylation The process of methylation deals with heavy metals, plastics, medications, mould,histamine, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This process requires nutrients like folate, vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium. Many environmental factors can limit methylation capacity including low dietary intake of co-factors, use of proton pump inhibitor medication, stress, use of anti-depressant medication, gut dysbiosis, high exposure to toxins and a high histamine diet. This can then become more of an issue in those with genetic SNPs in the genes that code for the enzymes involved. Poor methylation can also impair bile synthesis, which then impacts on cholesterol maintenance and glucose metabolism. Sulphation The process of sulphation deals with heavy metals, heavy smoke, hormones, neurotransmitters, plastics, phenols, and medications including antibiotics. Efficient sulphation requires an adequate supply of sulphur (included in cruciferous vegetables for example), but also iron, molybdenum and vitamin B12. Deficiency in any of these can result in an accumulation of sulphites and then an increased sensitivity to sulphite containing foods or supplements (MSM for example). Since this pathway modulates catecholamine levels, poor function can result in higher circulating levels too. Glutathione conjugation This deals with heavy metals, plastics, mycotoxins, mould, heavy smoke, pesticides, and medications like steroids. Glutathione is a master antioxidant so is also important in neutralising the reactive oxygen species produced in phase I. Steady supply of the enzymes in this pathway relies on vitamin B2. But what is also of interest is that the more the glutathione pathway becomes overloaded with long-term paracetamol use, the more depleted glutathione stores become, which places increased pressures on other Phase II pathways and Phase I processes. Low selenium also contributes to poorer enzyme function here. Glucuronidation Glucuronidation is involved in managing heavy metals, sex hormones, neurotransmitters, plastics, mould, alcohol, smoke, medications including paracetamol,non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, warfarin and immunosuppressants. Important nutrients in this process include vitamin B3, B6 and iron. The glucuronidation pathway is particularly affected by digestive health. Anything that promotes gut dysbiosis, like antibiotics, high sugar intake or the use of certain medications which later digestive function can result in toxins being recirculated throughout the body. This then results in increased oxidative stress, which has its own ramifications throughout the body. Acetylation Acetylation supports the detoxification of smoke, halides, tyramine, caffeine, neurotransmitters, histamine, and
