Dietary Manipulations in Dogs

Transcription

1 Dietary Manipulations in Dogs SHEP 8 years old collie X Rescued 10 months ago Diet Royal Canin Senior Owners retired Problem intermittent aggression associated with the sofa! 1

2 Sugar is absolutely vital to the normal functioning of the dog s brain. Indeed the brain is the one part of the body that can only be satisfied in its insatiable thirst for energy by glucose. Normally this is achieved with the help of hormones called glucagon and insulin which do opposing jobs, with the former raising the blood sugar level in the dog and the latter lowering the blood sugar level. Reactive hypoglycaemia Reactive hypoglycaemia is possibly the most common reason for hypoglycaemia. This form of hypoglycaemia is probably caused by an overproduction of insulin from the pancreas after a large meal with a lot of carbohydrates. The insulin can still be detected even after several hours, although the level should be back to normal at this time Exertional Hypoglycaemia (Exercise induced Hypoglycaemia) HUNTING DOG SYNDROME The chances of developing this disorder are much more higher in high strung dogs that are anxious and nervous in nature. These dogs tend to be over stimulated and over active. When you add this temperament to the fact that the dog has been unconditioned to exercise and the calorific value of the diet cannot sustain the activity level, you may have a recipe for disaster. 2

3 Hypoglycaemia can cause some or all of the following symptoms: paleness trembling perspiration a feeling of weakness and fatigue rapid heartbeat hunger agitation difficulty concentrating and confusion irritability leading to aggression blurred vision temporary loss of consciousness convulsions coma. Which would you feed? Sophie 13 month Border Terrier Obtained from a local breeder at 9 weeks Both parents seen 4 other puppies in the litter Weaned normally 3

4 An example of an all natural diet to feed your Pet: A list of ingredients to feed in your kennel: Raw Meat Any raw muscle meat will work, I feed turkey hamburger because of price but normal hamburger is also just as good. A raw egg 3 to 5 times per week (with the shell) Turkey necks, chicken necks or chicken backs Chopped Veggie pulp (carrots, cauliflower, celery, green beans etc) Kelp and alfalfa the fine powdered type Powdered vitamin C Essential Fatty Acids Cod liver oil Salmon oil OMEGA 3 VERY IMPORTANT EVERY DAY Flaxseed oil Glucosamine Powder (99% pure) Vitamin E EXTREMELY IMPORTANT YOUR DOG MUST HAVE THIS!!!! Barney Woodhouse 14 months, male GSP 8/52 Possessive over food Generalised anxiety Touch sensitive Key Neurotransmitters Dopamine motor coordination, attention, reinforcement, reaction time. Deficiency results in movement disorders, inability to learn, irritability and anxiety. High levels result in agitation, impulsivity and over reactivity. Deactivated by monoamine oxidase, synthesised from tyrosine Noradrenalin Alertness, wakefulness. High levels result in aggression, over arousal, impulsive behaviour and high excitability. Deactivated by monoamine oxidase, synthesised from tyrosine Serotonin regulates mood, pain and eating, controls sleep and arousal. Deficiency results in impulsive and aggressive behaviour, impaired learning, anxiety and obsessive behaviour. Regulated by active reuptake, synthesised from tryptophan GABA Produced from glutamate. Major inhibitory transmitter. 4

5 Serotonin regulates mood, pain and eating, controls sleep and arousal. Deficiency results in impulsive and aggressive behaviour, impaired learning, anxiety and obsessive behaviour. Regulated by active reuptake, synthesised from tryptophan Tryptophan Aromatic Amino Acids Tyrosine (phenylalanine) Tryptophan essential amino acid. Must be taken in through the diet Tyrosine non essential amino acid therefore not dependent on dietary intake as it can be synthesised from the essential amino acid phenylalanine 5

6 Conversion of tryptophan to serotonin and tyrosine to noradrenaline/dopamine takes place within the brain capsule Tryptophan and tyrosine need to cross the blood brain barrier Increase the amount of tryptophan in the diet? Raising levels circulating tryptophan actually prevents the synthesis of serotonin via a negative feedback loop. High levels of tryptophan activate a repressor protein which reduces the availability of key enzymes associated with serotonin synthesis Avoids serotonin syndrome which can be induced if SSRI s/tca s (re uptake inhibitors) and MAO inhibitors (reduce breakdown) are used together Symptoms = mental confusion, head pain, agitation, coma, diarrhoea, vomiting, increased respiration and heart rate, hyperthermia, muscle twitching, convulsions Specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI s) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA s) work by decreasing reuptake which increases the availability of serotonin at the synapse. MAO inhibitors increase serotonin by reducing enzymatic breakdown For serotonin levels to increase, the number of receptors needs to normalise. This requires protein synthesis which takes time, (several days). 6

7 Serotonin is synthesised in the brain by the hydroxylation of the essential amino acid tryptophan. Due to the poor affinity of the enzyme that catalyses this reaction, the synthesis of serotonin can be increased by increasing brain tryptophan levels. Tryptophan and other large neutral amino acids (LNAA) are transported with equal efficiency by the blood brain barrier transportation molecule, which means that plasma tryptophan must compete with other LNAA for transport sites Large neutral amino acids all use the same transport system to cross the blood brain barrier Leucine, isoleucine, valine are branched chain amino acids whereas tryptophan, tyrosine (phenylalanine An essential amino acid, C 9 H 11 NO 2, that occurs as a constituent of many proteins and is normally converted to tyrosine) are aromatic. Because proteins are often low in tryptophan and high in the other LNAA, a high protein meal will reduce the proportion of plasma tryptophan to the remaining LNAA, retarding the transport of tryptophan across the bloodbrain barrier. In contrast, low protein diets increase the ratio of tryptophan to the other LNAA, resulting in a greater transfer of tryptophan to the brain. BUT low protein intake is detrimental to general health so what how can we increase tryptophan levels safely? 7

8 Insulin secretion diverts valine, leucine and isoleucine to skeletal muscle Therefore by stimulating insulin secretion by ingestion of carbohydrate we can give tryptophan a competitive edge over tyrosine Increasing the ratio of tryptophan to the other large neutral amino acids raises brain serotonin activity, reduces cortisol concentration, and improves mood under stress. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 71, No. 6, , June 2000 Conversion of tryptophan to serotonin is dependent upon vitamin B 6 which is water soluble Adequate levels of vitamin B6 and magnesium will help to ensure the conversion of dietary amino acids into the preferred amines. DIETARY MANIPULATION Two meals of an easily digested good protein source (morning and evening) (NO LESS THAN 18%) To each of these meals add Vitamin B 6 (suggested dose 1mg/kg) Approximately 3 hours after each of these meals feed a small saucer (amount dependent on weight of dog approximately 2oz for an average labrador) of pure carbohydrate e.g. boiled potatoes, or boiled white pasta 8

9 serotonin encephalin dopamine HYPOTHALAMUS REWARD CASCADE IN THE LIMBIC SYSTEM GABA NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS dopamine D2 RECEPTOR encephalin dopamine REWARD GABA dopamine Shelter Dogs? 9