At My Pet Nutritionist, we understand the importance of both macro- and micronutrients, as well as what happens when our pets are both deficient in them, and what happens when our pets are consuming too much of a specific nutrient. In this blog, we will look at folate – aka Vitamin B9, and what happens when dogs have too much folate; a fairly common issue. Read on to learn more! What is Folate? Also known as Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid, Folate is an important water soluble vitamin. Folate can be found in a lot of foods, some of which can be found below. If a pet requires a supplement version, folic acid would be used, as it has a higher rate of absorption at 85%, than naturally occurring folate with a 50% absorption rate. Findings Here Some dietary sources of folate include: Dark leafy greens Sunflower seeds Fruits Liver Eggs So what does folate do in the body? Folate is important for the metabolism of protein, as it aids the formation of DNA and RNA. Folate is also important to break down homocysteine into methionine in the body, which is an amino acid that can cause harm if there are high amounts in the body. Red blood cell formation during growth periods, including young dogs, and pregnant dogs, is also largely down to folate being consumed in the correct quantities. Some studies also suggest that folate can reduce the risk of some cancers due to it’s role in RNA production, however… and that is a big however… in one human study, high-dose folic acid was given to patients with a history of polyps, to see if folate would reduce the risk of these. The results were not as the scientists hypothesized, and unfortunately the risk of new, and more serious polyps was increased. So this brings us to why high folate isn’t ideal! Findings Here The Problem with High Folate Although folate is an important nutrient, having high folate levels is not ideal, and can lead to other issues in the body. In one study, high folate levels indicated low vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can lead to anaemia, skin problems, muscle weakness, weight loss, sickness, and cardiovascular issues. Brain and nervous system damage are two of the more life threatening problems with a vitamin B12 deficiency being masked by high folate. Findings Here Moving back to the aforementioned cancer risk, studies suggest a link between high folate levels, and the increased risk of some cancers, and cardiovascular disease. This area of research is still evolving as more studies are being done to look into the issue, but research so far, does suggest a link. Findings Here When looking at the risk specifically of folic acid, found in fortified foods, and in supplement form, we can conclude that excess amounts in the bloodstream is bad news. The liver is the main organ involved in breaking down folic acid, however it can only process so much, meaning excess folic acid, now known as Unmetabolised Folic Acid (UMFA) accumulates in the blood. UMFA is linked with many health concerns including insulin resistance, poor cognitive development in the young, early cognitive degeneration in older dogs, and other health conditions. In pregnant females, these issues can also be passed on to their litter! Findings Here Findings Here Causes and Diagnosis of High Folate In order to diagnose high folate levels, your dog will have a blood sample taken. This sample is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the components of the blood, leaving the serum. The serum is then tested for vitamin B12 and B9 concentrations, since low B12 and high B9 usually come hand in hand. The test is called a Metabolic Function Test. Your vet will be able to carry this test out – you may need to have this test done prior to a consultation with one of the My Pet Nutritionist team, for us to be able to help you, and better understand your pet’s situation. Let’s take a look at the two major reasons why your dog may have high folate concentrations. Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) The most common reason for high folate levels that we see here at My Pet Nutritionist, is SIBO. In dogs with SIBO, there is excess bacterial growth in the small intestine, which leads to maldigestion and difficulty absorbing nutrients. Symptoms include diarrhoea, sickness, weight loss, bloating and constipation. Dogs with SIBO, have less of an ability to synthesize folate. The reduced ability to synthesize it, makes for an increase of excess folate in the bloodstream, which in turn leads to other health issues, if not treated. Findings Here Findings Here Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) The second condition with similar effects on the folate and B12 levels, is much less common; and so rare, many veterinarians have little to no experience of the disease. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is another digestive issue, this time involving the lack of pancreatic enzymes. With the lack of enzymes from the pancreas, the small intestine becomes unable to sufficiently digest food, which leads to rapid weight loss, and inability to regain the weight without treatment. Due to the digestive imbalances caused by EPI, the body is unable to completely break down the folate consumed, which results in increased levels of unmetabolized folate in the bloodstream. EPI can be a secondary disease to those already suffering with SIBO, too! Findings Here Findings Here Stress This is a trigger which is very often overlooked. Stress has such an immense impact on dogs both behaviourally, and medically, as it causes disruption in the gut. You may have heard of the ‘fight or flight response’ whereby a dog in a stressful situation does one of two things – they either fight, or they leave the situation or shut down (flight); this isn’t where the ‘fight or flight’ response stops, however! Part of the response happens internally, as the blood supply is temporarily cut off from the gut, which in
Here at My Pet Nutritionist, acid reflux is one of the most common issues we come across in our consultations. Dogs with acid reflux may have it for a variety of reasons, from allergies to BOAS, and many other reasons in between. These dogs are often less tolerable of some generally preferred diets, so require a specific diet and supplement regime, which we will discuss here! A Bit About Acid Reflux Acid reflux is formally known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When a dog eats, a mixture is formed in the stomach, comprising of stomach acid, salts and bile; this is called chime. Those with acid reflux suffer from the chime mixture entering the oesophagus. Acid reflux is a symptom of many underlying health conditions, and can be very uncomfortable. While acid reflux itself is not life threatening, it can lead to oesophageal ulcers due to repeated inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus, as well as the potential risk of aspiration pneumonia. Symptoms of Acid Reflux include: Bad breath Regular burping and regurgitation Tenderness of the stomach (bowing is the main sign of this) Constipation or diarrhoea Lack of appetite Lethargy Wheezing and dry coughs Weight loss Acid reflux is often caused by low stomach acid, contrary to what many may assume. Proton pump inhibitors are often prescribed under the assumption that the dog has too much stomach acid, however it’s often the exact opposite issue. This may seem an odd concept, however it becomes clear that when the stomach is lacking acid, it is unable to fully digest food at a high enough rate, so the food tends to sit in the stomach, which is then regurgitated. For more information on acid reflux, read our blog here! Diet When is comes to feeding a dog with acid reflux, it’s important not to feed processed foods. Processed foods such as kibble, are very inflammatory, which ultimately reduces stomach acid. A reduction in stomach acid can be a major trigger for acid reflux, as there’s less acid to digest foods. Fresh feeding for acid reflux dogs can be raw, or lightly cooked. Many dogs with acid reflux find it difficult to tolerate raw food, as the food sits in the stomach for a long time; when it sits in the stomach in chime, gasses are released, and the chance of reflux increases. Cooked food is often the best option. When feeding a cooked food, it is incredibly important to follow a balanced recipe, such as our recipes! Sticking to the leaner protein options such as the white fish recipe may be the best option, as feeding fattier proteins may cause more issue for dogs who are unable to digest efficiently. Acid reflux is often a symptom of allergies, so it’s important to get to the bottom of the dog’s allergies, and eliminate trigger proteins from the diet. To achieve this, an elimination diet should be carried out. Why not book in with one of our team for guidance through an elimination diet? Ensure there is plenty of fibre in the diet. Insoluble fibre increases gut and stomach motility, which is essential for those suffering from acid reflux. Some great sources of insoluble dietary fibre are: Broccoli Leafy greens Cauliflower Carrots Berries Findings Here Feeding a good variety of proteins (if allergy constraints allow), and a variety of plant matter can help ensure there are no vitamin deficiencies, which could contribute to acid reflux. In the human world, bariatric surgery patients often suffer with GERD, due to the inability to consume sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals – nutritional deficiencies can impact our dogs too! Zinc deficiencies are common among acid reflux patients as it is thought that zinc helps protect the lining of the stomach. Findings Here Findings Here Working on getting to the bottom of any allergies and intolerances is important in helping relieve your dog of symptoms too! Allergies and intolerances are largely down to gut health, which causes a knock on effect on acid reflux. It’s also very important to choose the correct supplements to give your dog when suffering with acid reflux. Supplements The first, and most important supplement, or group of supplements we will be looking at, is those that aid gut health. Mucilage Herbs Mucilage herbs include Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, and Declycyrrhizinated Liquorice Root. These herbs are excellent for healing the gut, as they coat the digestive system. They not only help heal the gut, but they also soothe the oesophageal tract which is great for those suffering with acid reflux. Our probiotic and mucilage herb blend, Gut Guardian, may be perfect for your dog! Probiotics Probiotics are essential for a healthy gut. They help the gut microbiome flourish, which in turn aids digestion of foods, reducing the risk of chime sitting in the gut. Our aforementioned Gut Guardian supplement contains a great variety of clean probiotics, so may be a great choice for your dog! Findings Here Digestive Enzymes Some dogs, especially our acid reflux dogs, often suffer from poor digestion, due to insufficient amounts of the required digestive enzymes. When lacking such enzymes, food sits in the stomach in the chime mixture, which is them repeatedly regurgitated. Giving a good digestive enzyme may be pivotal to your dog’s recovery, or management of acid reflux. The two enzymes as play in this situation are Pepsin and Trypsin. Findings Here Rhodiola This is a herb, less commonly known in general, which contributes to responding to physical and mental stressors. As well as aiding those with diabetes, cancer, and anxiety, Rhodiola is great at helping the body cope with the physical stressors acid reflux brings. Findings Here Theanine Theanine is a non-protien amino acid which occurs naturally in tea. It plays a role in the prevention of acid refluc flare ups by increasing GABA activity, and reduce oesophageal sphincter relaxations. Together these reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Findings Here If your dog has acid reflux, and you are unsure what to feed
