NUTRITION:TheSecretBetweenNutrition&AnimalBehavior

The brain is the platform for the mind and therefore the

platform for your pet's mental health and stability. Our

understanding of how the canine brain works is much more

advanced than it was ten years ago. Much of the practical

knowledge we do have of the brain has been developed by

great studies done by Penn, Texas, Ohio St. and other great

Universities. Pet Nutrition Systems has embraced these

advancements and put them into good use. This represents a

spectrum of wonderful opportunities to promote mental

health, prevent behavior problems and help in the mental

development of our companion pets.

One of the clearest examples is the role of nutrition in relation

to mental health. The brain is made up in large part of

essential fatty acids, water and other nutrients. Mental

alertness, memory, nerve stability, attention span and proper

brain development are all are rooted in nutrition. We know

that food affects how dogs feel, think and behave. In fact, we

know that dietary interventions may hold the key to a number

of the mental health and behavior disorder challenges our pet

companions face. Yet trainers and pet owners rarely invest in

developing this knowledge, and a relatively tiny - but growing

- number of professionals are putting it to effective use.

No one has more clinical experience and success in using

nutrition to affect the performance of young service and sport

dogs. Now many training kennels and top handlers are

championing our programs and using our diet plans in the

care and treatment of behavior and mental development. Pet

Nutrition Systems has promoted dietary interventions in

treating depression, attention deficit issues, anti social

behavior and aggression. Mal-absorption of essential

nutrients and/or malnutrition can contribute to behavioral

problems, hyperactivity and it would be foolish to

underestimate the importance of nutrition to the training

process, mental development and the over all mental

performance of our pets. We can make the difference

between a very good service or national competition dog and

a great one. The Brain-Nutrition Connection

Why do some dogs get very nervous before having to

perform an exercise or commands? Why does a dog lose

concentration or patience in waiting for a cue or command?

Many malnourished puppies do not develop a strong nerve

structure, which can cause over reaction to stimuli, sensitive

fight or flight reflex, have problems with self-control and/or

other social developmental issues.

The canine’s gut and brain early development happens in

embryogenesis from the same clump of tissue which divides

during fetal development. While one section turns into the

central nervous system, another piece migrates to become

the enteric nervous system. Later the two nervous systems

connect via a cable called the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve

travel from the brain stem through the neck and finally

extend into the abdomen. This is where the brain- nutrition

connection starts.

The state of the gut has a profound influence upon our pet’s

health. It is from a healthy gut that they enjoy neurological

and psychological as well as immunological health.

How it all Works

The gut's operating system, known as the enteric nervous

system (ENS), is located in sheaths of tissue lining the

esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Considered

a single entity, it is packed with protein, neurons and

neurotransmitters that send messages between neurons or

support cells like those found in the brain. It contains a

complex circuitry that enables it to act independently, learn,

remember and help regulate the organs, genetic systems

and nourish the brain.

If we add the nerve cells of the esophagus, stomach and

large intestine, there are more nerve cells in the gut than

there are in the entire remainder of the peripheral nervous

system. Nearly every chemical that controls the brain in the

head has been identified in the gut, including hormones and

neurotransmitters.

This complex circuitry provides the brain in the gut with the

means to act independently. Proof of this can be seen in

stroke victims whose brain stem cells, which control

swallowing, have been destroyed. If this occurs, a surgeon

has to create an opening in the abdominal wall, so that

feeding can be accomplished by manually inserting foods

directly into the stomach. Once the food is in the stomach,

digestion and absorption can take place, even in individuals

who are brain dead. The central nervous system is needed

for swallowing and for defecation, but from the time the

food is swallowed to the moment its remains are expelled

from the anus, the gut is in charge.

In most of the body, a network of vessels carry lymph, a

fluid that removes excess plasma, dead blood cells, debris

and other waste. But the brain is different. Instead of lymph,

the brain is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. For decades,

however, neuroscientists have assumed that this fluid

simply carries soluble waste by slowly diffusing through

tissues, then shipping its cargo out of the nervous system

and eventually into the body's bloodstream. Determining

what's really going on has been impossible until recently.

There have been studies which have identified a second,

faster brain-cleansing system. Nedergaard an expert in non-

neuronal brain cells called glia, has long suspected that

these cells might play a role in brain cleansing. These

research studies have lead to our cognitive cleanse program

as well as our mental development formulations.

For more information and to learn more consider have a

nutrition consultation to see how Pet Nutrition Systems can

help your pet be all they can be.