For the past several decades, researchers and scientists have known about the direct line of communication that is found between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, the nervous system as we know it first began in the gut.

Because both the brain and the gut share much of the same tissue, there is an uncanny relationship between the nervous system and the digestive system.

One of the most important brain chemicals is SEROTONIN. It is responsible for regulating things in the body like mood, appetite, and sleep. The right amount of serotonin in the brain produces a relaxed and positive feeling.

As it turns out, approximately 90% of the serotonin in the body is located in the gut. (The remaining 10% is synthesized in the central nervous system.)

Because the tissue in the gastrointestinal tract is largely nerve tissue, it follows that the friendly microorganisms in the gut would not only benefit the digestive system but also the nervous system. A healthy population of microorganisms will lead to well regulated serotonin levels and a “happy” brain.

Another substance that is important is 5-hydroyxTRYPTOPHAN (or 5-HT). This amino acid is converted to serotonin in the brain. Raw meat improves the natural levels of 5-HT.

Studies in cats show that long-term feeding with cooked meat lead to adverse behavioural changes.

It is becoming increasingly important to “feed” the digestive system properly in order to achieve good brain health. Poor gut health leads to anxiety, hyper-excitability and aggression. There are now probiotic supplements to “improve” to bug populations in the stomach.

Remember to feed high quality pet foods, together with a variety of raw meat. A healthy diet will lead to a happy pet.

Next time, “how often should you feed your pet?”

Dr Stewart Scott is a vet of over 30 years experience and has spent his lifetime looking after animals. He believes that over 90% of these health problems arise from what you are feeding your pet and that we need to get back to feeding our pets in a manner that is closer to their natural diets.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this newsletter is based upon the opinions of Stewart Scott unless otherwise noted. The information is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from research and experience of Stewart Scott and the Barn Vets.

Research from the 1980s suggested that pet ownership could have positive benefits on human health. These benefits ranged from:

higher survival rates from heart attackfewer visits to doctorsreduced risk of asthma and allergies in children exposed to petsreduced risk of cardiovascular diseasebetter physical and psychological outcomes in retirement homes

Three potential ideas have been proposed to explain this association:

pet ownership is linked to factors such as personality traits, age, and economic or health status. Motivating you to take up and maintain a regular exercise routine is just one of the health benefits that pets, specifically dogs, can providepets may enhance social interactions with other people, thus providing an indirect effect on wellbeing. This can alleviates feelings of loneliness and social isolation. This can be very important for elderly people and those with physical disabilitiespet ownership may exert a direct effect on human health and wellbeing through the nature of the relationship. This can reduce the perception of stressful events, helping to protect against anxiety related illness, and may enhance recovery from serious illness such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and cancer.

In summary

Over 90% of pet owners regard their pet as a valued family memberPets may be of particular value to older people and patients recovering from major illnessThe death of a pet may cause great distress to owners, especially when the pet has associations with a deceased spouse or former lifestyleMany people would welcome advice and support to enable them to reconcile or manage pet ownership and health problems whenever possible

Remember, in all things related to pet ownership, it is keeping your pet healthy that is the key to having a happy companion.

Next time, “how does diet affect your pets mental health”

Dr Stewart Scott is a vet of over 30 years and has spent his lifetime looking after animals. He believes that over 90% of these health problems arise from what you are feeding your pet and that we need to get back to feeding our pets in a manner that is closer to their natural diets.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this newsletter is based upon the opinions of Stewart Scott unless otherwise noted. The information is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from research and experience of Stewart Scott and the Barn Vets.

Next time - “How does diet affect your pets mental health”

“How does diet impact on dental health?”

Did you know four out of five Australian dogs and cats over the age of three years suffer some sort of dental disease, and this worsens with age?

What causes tooth decay in cats and dogs?

Oral bacteria love sugar and carbohydrates. (This is what we see in pet foods that are high in grain products.) This results in the accumulation of plaque on the tooth surface, which in turn calcifies to become bacteria-rich tartar. When these bacteria invade the gums it causes painful gum disease which erodes the tooth root and can lead to tooth loss.

Disease can often progress without any pain or loss of appetite. Plaque (or tartar) is a calcium build-up on the tooth, leading to reddened gums and erosion at the tooth margin. This will eventually loosen the tooth root and tooth loss. Broken teeth and badly worn teeth may (or may not) cause pain, as the tooth nerve may be exposed.

Hugh numbers of bacteria can build up the mouth causing bad breath and sometimes vomiting (where they swallow these bacteria).

Uncontrolled disease often requires expensive procedures involving general anaesthetics, tooth extraction and cleaning to remove plaque.

How can you prevent dental disease?

Feed grain-free; eliminate (or reduce) your pets carbohydrate intake to reduce the substrate that oral bacteria feed on. Alternatively, go onto a fresh meat and vegetable diet.Use polyphosphates in the diet. Some prescription diets contain tri-polyphosphates which are able to bind directly to the enamel where it takes up the binding sites for calcium to attach, preventing tartar. It can also be used to reduce some calcium build-up.Physical removal of plaque. Bones and chews massages gums and acts as an abrasive on the tooth surface. Be aware of some dental sticks as they are made from carbohydrates!Dog toothbrush and toothpaste. This can act to reduce dental disease.

So, what can you do?

In puppies and kittens, ensure they start with a high quality diet, preferably grain free.Where you have early disease, look at ways to prevent progress and even reverse the changes.Where disease is advanced, call us and we can best advise on treatment options.Once teeth are cleaned, remember to start better preventive measures.

Remember, it does work. My personal favorite was a cattle dog on dairy farm in Aberdeen. Its diet, for most of its life, was fresh meat and milk. There were no dog biscuits or canned food. She recently died at 15 years old, and had perfectly white and clean teeth up to that time.

Next time, “healthy pets make healthy people”

Did you know we offer at the Barn Vets?

If you would like to make an appointment for your pets free check please call the clinic on (02) 6543 1888!

Essential fatty acids (EFA) are an essential fat required for life. They are an integral component of every cell in the body, with balance of these fatty acids on the cell membrane determining how the cell functions. In humans, they are inflammation and hormone modulators. They have roles in regulating blood pressure and can determine reactions to asthma and allergies.

There are 2 main types; omega-3 and omega-6. The recommended maximum ration is 1 to 4. All budget brands will have a much higher ratio (often 1 to 20). This is due to the ingredients in these feeds and how they are processed.

How do we think about omega-3 and omega-6?

The easiest way to consider this is to think about a shower; you need enough hot AND enough cold water to be in balance. Omega-3 is the cold water and omega-6 is the hot water. Too much omega-6 and you get too hot. This is seen in dog’s skin that actually feels hot to the touch. You can also see this reaction inside the ear and red eyes. Remember last time, this is also usually a red colour and/or smelly. This is the major predisposing factor for pruritus.

Where does omega-3 come from?

Grass from pastures and algae from the ocean are rich sources of omega-3. The animals that eat this are also rich in omega-3. Things like grain, fruit and milk are low in omega-3. With all animals the “you are what you eat” rule applies:

Grass fed beef contains 2x omega-3 to feedlot finished beefEggs tend to be high in omega-6, unless they are completely free-rangeWild caught salmon has a much higher omega-3 than farmed salmonKangaroo and rabbits are good sources of omega-3

How does processing omega-3?

Omega-6 is heat stable (not destroyed by cooking) and omega-3 is not. All processed pet food is cooked (to improve shelf life) or sometimes preserved. This means that any omega-3 in the raw diet is likely to be destroyed by cooking. Any processed pet food needs to have omega-3 added after pelleting. The same applies to fresh meat.

So what do we know?

Mid-range pet food is a little betterSuper-premium and ultra-premium pet food is usually grain-free and has omega-3 added after cookingChoose good omega-3 supplements (the highest naturally occurring omega-3 is flax oil)

If you have any questions, post them on Facebook. If your pet has any of these problems, call in for a chat.

Next time, we look at “the link between bad teeth and diet”

For the whole month of July, in conjunction with the National Desexing Network, we are offering discounted rates on desexing.

Why it is important to desex your pet: - Reduced risk of getting cancer or other diseases of the reproductive organs, such as testicular cancer, prostate cancer/disorders in males, and cystic ovaries, ovarian tumors, acute uterine infections and breast cancer in females, and also other diseases like mammary cancer, perianal tumors and perianal hamias. - Females can suffer from physical and nutritional exhaustion if continually breeding. - Pets generally live longer and healthier lives. - Pets are less prone to wander, fight, and are less likely to get lost or injured. - Reduces territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors. - Less likely to suffer from anti-social behaviors. They become more affectionate and become better companions. - Eliminates "heat" cycles in female cats and their efforts to get outside in search for a mate. - Reduces the cost to the community of having to care for unwanted puppies and kittens in pounds and shelters. - No additional food or vet bills for the offspring. - No need to find homes for unwanted or unexpected litters of puppies or kittens.

We also offer discounted rates all year round for pension card holders. To be eligible for this discount any other month please contact the national desexing network.

For more information on the National Desexing network and what they do please go to www.ndn.org.au

If you would like pricing or to book your pet in please call the clinic on (02) 6543 1888

These days, it has become so common place for dogs to scratch themselves, that we all think it is normal. (In cats, it is commonly seen as excess grooming.)

Pruritus (itching) is characterized by scratching, licking, biting, chewing and rubbing. It is caused by chemical reactions that occur in the skin and stimulate the nerves, causing the brain to feel an itch. Pruritus and subsequent scratching or biting, causes the skin to become pink, inflamed and damaged. This causes further pruritus and continued damage.

What causes pruritus?

- Fleas, mites, lice and ticks (common and easily preventable)

- Food allergies (uncommon and require specialist diagnosis)

- Contact allergies from touching plants, grass and leaves (common and usually preventable)

- Bacterial and yeast infections of the skin (common and usually preventable)

What causes these allergies?

Allergies are basically an inappropriate or over-zealous immune system reaction. Genetics can predispose an animals to developing allergies, but environmental and nutritional factors will ultimately decide to what degree allergies are expressed.

Once established, allergies continue to be a chronic diseases. The best way to prevent allergies require an accurate diagnosis in the clinic. Most traditional treatments often require long term antibiotic therapy and possibly anti-inflammatory or antihistamines.

Is there a general underlying problem?

I believe that about 90% of itchy dogs and cats are fed an inappropriate diet. The main areas of allergy come from:

- Gluten overload; especially from 'budget' brand pet food

- Omega 3 deficiency; the main skin immunity substance

- Specific protein allergies; the vast majority of pet foods in Australia contain chicken

- Low quality ingredients; again commonly found in 'budget' pet food brands

If you have an itchy dog or cat, there is a lot we can do to treat AND prevent pruritus.

Next time; "How important is Omega 3?"

This old saying has never been more correct than when it comes to feeding your pets.

Canines and felines are CARNIVORES. This means they are animals that chiefly eat meat (with very little cereal grains).

Pet food diets changed around 40 years ago with the first commercial cooked dog and cat foods were released into the market. The high temperature cooking process used in many commercial pet foods destroys essential fatty acids and severely decreases the nutritional content of the food.

This processing, in combination with inappropriate ingredients (eg diets very high in cereal grains), has led to nutritional deficiencies and the beginning slow decline in health of modern day dogs and cats.

At The Barn, we spend over half of our time treating conditions including skin diseases, allergies, arthritis, teeth and gum problems, ear infections, anal gland impactions, urinary tract diseases and a huge rang of degenerative diseases and cancers.

I believe that over 90% of these problems arise from what you are feeding your pet. We spend half of our time treating these conditions, and most of these are preventable.

We need to get back to feeding our pets in a manner that is closer to their natural diets.

Over the next few weeks, we will talk about how to reverse some of these changes.

Next time; " How do you stop dogs from itching?"

Farmers Barn now stocking a great range of outdoor furniture from Swifts!

Drop in store to view our display pieces or check out the Swifts Website for the full available range.