As advances in human nutrition show that gut health plays an important role in mental health, researchers have ventured into how this affects our pets too.
In both animals and humans there is the enteric nervous system (ENS) which is located within the gut. This is a network of nerves, neurons and neurotransmitters that extends throughout the whole system. These neurons and neurotransmitters are of a similar type to the central nervous system, and so this has led to many referring to the gut as the “second brain”. Not only do the brain and gut communicate through the nervous system but also through the immune system and hormones.
The nervous system, which controls and regulates the whole body, also has many pathways under the gut microbiome’s influence. What you feed your pet ultimately impacts their gut microbes and overall health, therefore your pet’s diet should always be considered carefully.
Each animal differs in the unique makeup of their gut ecosystem which is highly sensitive to a range of factors such as changes to diet, antibiotics, disease, age, and even genetics. Imbalances in gut microbes, have been shown to potentially lead to low-grade inflammation and are linked to disorders such as leaky gut and even Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease in humans.
So how can we help our pets?
Providing a well-balanced diet consisting of the correct balance of vitamins and minerals for each species and individual is key. This can be achieved through the use of pet foods as well as correctly balanced raw food products. Digestive supports such as prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and antioxidants can also play a positive role in the overall health of your pet.
Research has shown that Probiotics (which comprise live and/or deactivated bacteria which improve gut health by reducing the population of “bad” bacteria) such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains can improve memory and reduce chronic stress-induced anxiety and depressive behavior in mice (Xuan Sun et al 2021 and Yang et al 2017) but more research is needed within other animals.
Probiotics break down prebiotics into metabolites which we call postbiotics. Recent research has shown that postbiotics can work as antidepressive agents and thus may provide benefits to animals prone to anxiety or stress.
Our pets, especially those exposed to outside-of-the-home environments can be regularly exposed to free radicals, which can damage cells. Antioxidants help to remove these from the body. Antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium, and Beta Carotene. These can be found in natural foods such as carrots, kale, blueberries, and sweet potatoes. For those who can’t consume these items supplements from reputable companies will provide full antioxidant support.
