You are What you Eat…and this Applies to Dogs too!
The expression comes from the ancient medic, Hippocrates, who famously postulated in 600 BC that: “food should be your medicine and medicine should be your food.”
Achieving Optimum Dog Health
I was lucky to have grown up in the 1970’s feeding our family dogs, as learnt ’back in the day’, on meats, especially lamb’s hearts, leftovers, veggies, and raw bones from the butcher.
When I brought Molly, my first Miniature Bull Terrier home in 2002, I was confused when, at our first vet appointment, we were gifted a bag of kibble – apparently the new way of feeding dogs for maximum health. On the way home I quickly reflected on this and as we lived near an excellent butcher’s shop, I thought I didn’t need this bag, especially as Molly’s breeder had recommended that I fed her on raw green tripe!
My passion to feed Molly for optimum health inspired my study on canine (and feline) nutrition at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies.
Nutritional Science
The field of nutrition changes almost daily with science increasingly confirming the health value of fresh and functional whole foods on a human level, but this is the same for dogs.
These foods should be ‘bio-available’, meaning the type of food that can be digested, broken down and absorbed seamlessly into the bloodstream from the small intestine, before being circulated to every cell in the body and fuelling them with ‘micro-nutrients’ and energy.
Thinking of food as impacting positively on cellular expression isn’t new, but what is new is realising that many overly processed options can be classed as an ‘environmental stressor’; sometimes referred to as an ‘anti-nutrient’, which has been defined as: “a toxic contagion in your surroundings that accumulates over time to impact negatively on health and mental wellbeing.”
Food as a Pillar of Health
Appreciating the role of food as a ‘pillar of health’, the new science of Epigenetics investigates the interplay between our environment, not least nutrition, that either impacts positively or negatively to genetic expression.
Determining whether nutrition promotes health or creates disease, each of our trillions of cells is surrounded by a semi-permeable structure called the Epigenome. This is responsible for selecting and transferring nutrients like metabolites into the Genome – this is where DNA is stored in almost every cell.
Ideally only ‘good’, appropriate nutrients should be allowed into the genome; but inevitably in our modern environments, many contaminants like sugars, antibiotics, and chemicals will also enter through its semi-permeable structure and over time, potentially contribute to distorting genetic expression, promoting inflammation and disease.
The Transformative Power of Food
Dogs can’t choose and buy the food they eat; they are dependant on their pet parents to do that for them. Having advised on many dog nutritional consults, I’ve seen how dogs have been transformed by a switch from ultra-processed food to either a raw or cooked balanced and complete species appropriate alternative.
This is in both healthy dogs and those suffering from a condition; be it kidney issues, diabetes, liver problems or pancreatitis, where tailored, natural diets support an integrated wellness strategy.
There is research that proves that puppies weaned to a raw, balanced and complete diet have a greater diversity and a higher proliferation of the good ‘Bifidobacterium’ in their microbiomes, compared to puppies weaned onto an ultra-processed, sterile kibble option.
Adding Superfoods to Your Dog’s Diet
If we really are what we eat, simply being aware of some simple superfoods to add to any diet, like the age-old remedy bone broth, could enhance a meal’s functional nutritional element, arguably most notably when added to ultra-processed choices. This broth is packed with functional nutrients, including an abundance of proteins, especially collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, electrolytes and sodium.
Science has investigated its impact on the microbiome (where the immune system resides); the results suggest that bone broth not only strengthens the gut lining, but promotes ‘good’ bacteria whilst reducing ‘bad’ bacteria in the microbiome, and increases the diversity of bacteria species.
It’s as if bone broth naturally creates balance or homeostasis, which is a key element in maintaining optimum health.
It suggests that perhaps we really are ‘what we eat’.
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk
Pet Abduction Act
The nation rejoices the very welcome news, that finally, Government has passed Legislation to make pet abduction a criminal offence.
Under the new Pet Abduction Act 2024 – which was a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Anna Firth MP and Lord Black of Brentwood and supported by the Government – anyone found guilty of stealing a pet in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
Recognition of Sentient Beings
In my podcast, I’ve chatted with SAMPA (The Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance) several times, not least with Sir Duncan Smith and Dr Daniel Allen.
The new law, whilst brilliant news, has been campaigned for years and falling on deaf ears for decades, so it’s testament to the hard work of the Pet Theft Taskforce for not giving up!
The new law recognises that cats and dogs are not inanimate objects, but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners or keepers.
Pandemic Pet Thefts
Evidence from the Pet Theft Taskforce suggests around 2,000 dog and over 400 cat theft crimes were reported to police in 2020, causing considerable distress for owners and their pets alike.
It was late last summer, still in the wake of Government shelving of what was called the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, when I chatted to Dr Daniel Allen, Animal Geographer at Keele University and champion of Pet Theft Reform/Taskforce.
Dr Dan, along with SAMPA and Vets Get Scanning, continued to lobby Government for a separate law with appropriate penalties for stealing all pets as the victims of organised crime for decades.
Brought to a head in the pandemic when the demand for puppies outstretched supply, along with prices for puppies soaring to ridiculous levels, canny criminal activity reached preposterous levels with scamming, stealing dogs in daylight, breaking into private gardens and more.
A Leap Forwards for Animal Welfare
As a crime defined under the antiquated Theft Act 1968, dogs were classed in law as chattel. This meant that stealing dogs was a low-risk, high-gain business for criminals. The penalty was the same for stealing a laptop, a phone or a car.
During the pandemic there was much talk of creating a specific law that factored in the enormous emotional attachment between dogs and their owners and the trauma to individuals suffering from this ‘abduction’.
Just nine months after the airing of my podcast with Dr Dan Allen, it is in part due to his persistence to see justice for our pets as family members, that this new legislation has been passed.
The Pet Abduction Act 2024 is arguably the biggest step forwards in animal welfare since the Animal Welfare Act was introduced in 2006.
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk
World Rabies Day
Shockingly, Rabies is currently responsible for an estimated 59,000 agonising human deaths per year, of which 40% are children – mainly those living in poor rural communities in Africa and Asia that are farthest from medical and veterinary services.
Supporting World Rabies Day
In up to 99% of human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for the virus transmission. Thousands of dogs (and other animals) suffer and die due to both the disease and the indiscriminate culling prompted by fear of the disease.
This is why Wild at Heart Foundation supports World Rabies Day, which is an awareness and fundraising initiative to help prevent human deaths from dog-mediated rabies, whilst relieving the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially in dogs.
The Elimination of Rabies
The global aim is to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030, by working with governments, veterinary, public health and educational experts; and communities to facilitate policy change and build capacity to eliminate rabies in areas hardest hit by the disease.
In the hope that with sustained vaccination over multiple years, the disease can be eliminated, Wild at Heart Foundation is continually raising funds to work with its global animal welfare partners.
Helping fund and facilitate sterilisation and vaccination programs to immunise dogs and protect their communities from the threat of rabies whilst educating local populations is the multi-layered approach that can succeed.
A Vaccine-Preventable Disease
Nevertheless, Rabies remains a killer disease to all mammals. It is Zoonotic (spread between animals, and from animals to humans), as a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, including a fever, hydrophobia or fear of water and a fear of fresh air and drafts, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.
Yet Rabies is vaccine-preventable. With prompt post-rabies exposure, the administration of prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent the virus from reaching the central nervous system. PEP consists of thorough wound washing, administration of a course of human rabies vaccine and, when indicated, rabies immunoglobulins (RIG).
In richer countries like Canada and America where wildlife including wolves, bears, racoons, bats and skunks have been a ‘Rabies’ threat to pet dogs and cats, a mandatory rabies vaccination is required no later than eight months of age. The duration of immunity will vary according to the vaccine brand ranging from a year to five years.
Keeping the British Isles Rabies Free
In the UK we’re lucky in that ‘the British Isles’ is a Rabies free zone. The last outbreak was recorded in 1902. Any animal cases since then have been from dogs or cats having contracted the disease abroad and have shown symptoms.
When the Pet Passport Scheme was introduced back in 2000, it truly was a landmark moment not just for dog ownership, but it opened up a travel market for pets, especially dogs. Prior to this, it was impossible to holiday in mainland Europe with your dog unless, on your return, you were prepared to leave your dog in quarantine for six months.
The mandatory requirements of the PETS Passport were being microchipped, the Rabies vaccine, and a wormer to be given no less than 48 hours before returning to the UK. Before 2012, serological immunity to the Rabies vaccine was confirmed with a blood test, and owners had to wait six months before travelling. This provided a six-month ‘quarantine’ period, ensuring the dog was immune to Rabies. Back then Vets recommended that puppies were at least six months old to receive a Rabies vaccine. So, the process needed planning in advance, and prevented puppies from being brought into UK ‘under-age’.
In 2012 the rules were made more flexible, reducing the waiting / quarantine period to three weeks, and the age for a puppy to receive a Rabies vaccine to 12 weeks. Making travelling with your dog or cat to mainland Europe even more accessible. This opened up a new market known as #DogFriendly, which encouraged pet owners to be more adventurous as thousands of pets would travel under the PETS Scheme.
However, after Brexit in January 2020, the Pet Passport Scheme was dissolved, and replaced by The Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Similar to the original PETS passport, the dog must be microchipped, and have proof of a current ‘Rabies’ inoculation. The new certificate scheme similarly is allowed from 12 weeks, and travel is permitted after a 21 day ‘incubation’ period after the first rabies shot.
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk
National Dog Day
As we approach National Dog Day on Monday, it’s the moment to reflect on and celebrate everything DOG!
For the Love of Dogs
As man’s best friend, dogs contribute to our wellbeing in so many ways; some might even say that it’s a love of a dog that makes us human. For centuries we evolved epigenetically as we domesticated the dog to be our guards, our hunters, and our best friends. Without dogs to drive our livestock to market back in the day, we may not have even built our modern capitalist world!
It’s only advances in science, over the past 20 years or so, that have enabled us to unpick exactly why the human to dog relationship is so strong.
The Wonder of Dogs
Much is down to their huge olfactory system, estimated to be a million times more acute than ours. Back in the day, a dog’s nose helped us hunt for our food, helped guard us by smelling danger and alerting us to take action. Over time, dogs have used their olfaction to read us like a book by ‘smelling’ our moods, even detecting when we’re feeling unwell by responding to changes in our bio-chemistry.
Dogs smell cortisol levels rising and falling so they know when we’re happy or sad. Cleverly they’ve correlated distinct facial expressions associated with such cortisol fluctuations to pick up on minute facial and body language cues.
Unlike our closest animal relative – the Chimpanzee, dogs understand from birth that the cue of pointing means look in that direction or go and find something ‘over there’, whereas Chimps literally have no idea of what pointing means. This is why dogs respond to the subtlest cues and confirms why body language is a universal language between people and their dogs.
Every Dog Around the Globe Deserves the Best Life
Of course, to build a close relationship with your dog takes time, patience, consistency and is a huge commitment! After all: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas! Every dog around the globe should deserve the best life – one of joy, love, protection care and respect. That’s why I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Wild at Heart Foundation.
A staggering 75% of the world’s dog population are strays, and Wild at Heart Foundation works tirelessly to raise funds to control the population with spaying and neutering programmes, vet support and education at a local level. Successfully helping to sterilise well over 31,000 dogs in countries as far afield as India, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand and Ukraine, Wild at Heart Foundation is not only controlling the population of street dogs, but also breaking the cycle of dogs being born into a life of suffering on the streets.
Also, as World Rabies Day approaches, Wild at Heart Foundation is proud to offer vaccination programmes through their partners, helping protect these dogs and the people in communities at risk of the deadly disease.
All dogs deserve a loving permanent home, and Wild at Heart Foundation has also rehomed over 2,000 lucky dogs into their forever homes from around the world. Whilst we’re obsessed by puppies, with rescues in the UK at bursting point, the mantra #AdoptDontShop is increasingly morally mandatory.
The Greatness of the DOG
Undoubtedly, dogs offer us an antidote to modern life’s stresses. They’re our gateway to the outdoors, and being a dog owner is like being part of a club, connected to nature but also to like-minded people.
There’s nothing as inspiring as watching your dog run on a beach full of the bliss of sea air and open space. Or exploring woodland with all their senses alert to the sights sounds and smells.
Equally as the ‘dog-friendly’ revolution stretches into the workplace, with cutting edge tech firms in particular welcoming dogs into the office, dogs are adapting to different roles.
Simply having a dog in a room full of people helps lower everyone’s blood pressure, plus studies concur that office staff are more interactive and productive when there’s a dog around. Plus, dog owners are known to smile more, and other studies suggest dog owners live longer.
Let’s be unanimous on National Dog Day and shout out about the greatness of the DOG, no matter their size or their breed. Remember every dog is an individual with quirks and personalities. There’s a match made in heaven for anyone ready to give up their heart for a dog.
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk
Human-Animal Bond Day
The dog was the first animal to be domesticated by our early relatives. Cave paintings dating back over 9,000 years show humans hunting with dogs highlighting how our relationship is one that has built slowly, but surely, over time as we’ve evolved epigenetically together.
Understanding the Human-Animal Bond
The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals, no matter the species, but dogs are coined as man’s best friend. The ‘bond’ is defined by behaviours considered essential to the health and well-being of both, built between people and their dogs by understanding the mental, physical and social health of both parties.
When the balance is right, the sky’s the limit to build this bond, which can be likened to ‘an invisible elastic band’. It’s like an energy that acts like indelible ink. Literally until ‘death do us part’. Like all relationships, the one between you and your dog takes time, patience and understanding but above all the appreciation that your dog is not a little person in a furry suit.
The Unique Bond We Have With Our Pets
Dogs are their own ‘people’, they are sentient, and hugely emotionally intelligent, but should not be considered as a comfort blanket, but as beings with their own thoughts, expectations and needs. As every dog is a unique individual, even the most experienced dog owners can face challenges, yet when the ‘path of true love’ may not be smooth, this can develop into the strongest bond!
Truly appreciating the life-long commitment that the human-animal bond deserves is especially poignant in today’s climate with ‘rescues’ globally full to the brim of unwanted dogs. What’s become apparent in the pandemic years is that many dogs were purchased in haste, perhaps not fully appreciating the commitment that dogs really are. Or the fact that very often our ‘human’ messages can get lost in translation, namely because we wrongly assume dogs understand speech and don’t think like humans.
I like to use the playing a game of ‘fetch’ as an example. It can become the perfect reciprocal experience when the dog brings the ball back to you, it’s fun and triggers happy hormone release – both ways. But so often it becomes a different game – where owners are chasing after their dog, who has the ball, without a recall in place, which is creating frustration and stress for the human and the dog. Research from the Royal Vet College earlier this year revealed concurs that stress-related behaviours are still afflicting a generation of dogs born into the pandemic. Over 40 % of dogs suffered from fear and anxiety, 77% showed attention-seeking behaviours, and 25% showed aggression. And a whopping 52% have no recall and 67% still pull on the lead.
Anna’s Bond with Her Dogs
Despite 15 years prior bull terrier experience, and a love of the breed billed as ‘untrainable’, my own 9-year-old mini bull terrier, Prudence, was diagnosed as both noise and touch-sensitive as a puppy. However, by understanding her limitations, and how to desensitise her gradually, we’ve strengthened our relationship by working together building mutual trust and teamwork in all manner of contexts and situations.
With Mr Binks my 12 ½ year old re-homed English Toy Terrier, his journey has been nothing less than transformative. Over the past decade, he’s turned into my ‘wingman’. But this took time as he lacked confidence due to his degenerative bone condition, combined with a lack of early socialisation.
He’s testimony to the effects of a good diet, wellness, training, socialisation, and pushing his boundaries. With over a decade of experiences shared, I feel like I have done him proud and vice versa.
Benefits of Having a Good Bond
When the human /animal bond is working in harmony science concurs on the many health benefits, namely in relieving stress. A relaxing human-animal bond acts on the adrenal and other corticosteroid hormones including reducing blood pressure and heart rates.
A study on the effects of human-animal interaction on the level of salivary cortisol in shelter dogs found that contact with humans was associated with the shelter dogs’ lower cortisol levels. For people, the psychological stimulation induced by the presence of an animal and its need for care encourages self-care and reduces psychosomatic problems.
Perhaps at the nub of the Human-animal bond is Oxytocin release. The oxytocinergic system has been linked directly to many of the observed psychological effects of human-animal interaction. It promotes being social, bonding, and stress relief. It slows down heart rate, reduces blood pressure, calms breathing, inhibits stress hormones, and promotes a sense of calm, comfort and focus.
Interestingly studies have demonstrated that oxytocin levels are increased in dogs interacting with their owners but not with strangers!
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk \
The Power of Music for Your Dog
Have you ever wondered about the effects that music can have on your dog? Just as for us, science concurs that certain tunes potentially are therapeutic to our pooches. Research proves that dogs that are given a varied playlist, emulating their heartbeat in tempo with higher frequencies is best. Dogs hearing is four times more acute than ours and they hear high and low frequencies that we can’t. Hence dogs’ noise sensitivity to triggers like smoke alarms and fireworks.
What Type of Music is Best for Your Dog?
Interestingly Reggae scored highly in a study by Glasgow University in 2017. The aim is to study the effect of genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs. It revealed that dogs’ Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was significantly decreased, indicative of reduced stress, when dogs were played Reggae. The study also showed that dogs spent significantly more time lying down and much less time standing up when Reggae was played. As soft rock was also popular, the study showed that a variety of tracks and artists promoted auditory stimulation and reduced habituation. All the dogs appeared more relaxed with musical auditory enrichment. Reggae also offers the reassuring frequency of a heartbeat.
Adapting Music to Your Dog
Small dogs and puppies normally have heart rates of 120 to 160 BPM. Dogs over 15 kg have heart rates between 60 to 120 BPM. So, the larger your dog, the slower the normal heart rate, and vice versa for small dogs. Bearing this in mind, certain tracks might be more appropriate for your dog depending on the BPM’s of a particular song in its ability to offer the most calming ‘heartbeat’ effect. Various studies including a study from Switzerland in 2021 investigated the effect that the tempo or BPM had on dogs in kennels.
Interestingly playing low frequencies with harsh deep vocalisations like Heavy Metal increased the dogs’ arousal compared to high-pitched music. Possibly an understandable reaction considering that dogs generally communicate fear of a threat through low-pitched vocals like growling. Heavy metal tracks also reduce the dogs’ sleep quality according to the study, so perhaps it’s best to avoid playing your dog AC/DC!
Enriching Your Dog Through Music
Traditionally studies suggested that classical music with a low Bpm of 50-60 is proven to reduce stress, but after time, dogs become bored! Adding aural enrichment for dogs is easy and can help deflect from noise triggers outside, and help counter anxiety when home alone. Create a playlist that matches your dog’s heartbeat and BPM range, understanding that all dogs are individuals with a higher or lower sensitivity to sound. As stress is contagious from humans to dogs, any playlist must be as much of a personal experience for you, not only for your dog.
How Music Can Help with Nerves
Some dogs can suffer from nerves when travelling in the car. A playlist, that your dog has been carefully de-sensitised to, can provide comfort and reassurance in the car. By acclimatising your do to this compilation well in advance of travel, ideally in a pet carrier that will be in the car, you can help reduce the stress caused by travel. Don’t forget, it’s illegal to have your dog unrestrained in the car!!!
Start with the audio on low and build the volume gradually. Once this step is complete, transfer the dog, the pet carrier and the sounds to the car. Remain stationary, and at any point, your dog becomes stressed, (panting, lip-licking, barking), then stop! Repeat the next day, and keep training sessions short and positive. When your dog is happy in a stationary vehicle turn on the engine, and repeat. The final stage is to go for short varied drives and build gradually. Always have fresh air ventilation and plenty of water in your car – a calm dog makes for a calm human and vice versa!
Remember! Never leave your dog in a stationary vehicle for fear of dog theft, and in summer months overheating and death.
About the Author – Anna Webb
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk