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Choline Supplements For Dogs

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Choline Supplements May Treat Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Choline Supplements for Dogs
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Choline is a seldom talked about supplement, but is actually a powerhouse for your dog’s brain. From what I remember during my college nutrition course, choline was recently considered an essential nutrient and it’s commonly called vitamin B4. Choline is considered an essential nutrient in dogs too. Interestingly, the importance of choline supplements was reintroduced during a recent visit to my veterinarian and I want to share why.

What Choline Does to Your Dog’s Brain

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Older dogs with CCD have odd sleeping behaviors; they’ll wander around at night and sleep during the day. Sometimes, dogs with CCD lose control of their bowels, seem lost in their own backyards or even stare into space.

Choline supplementation can help reverse canine cognitive dysfunction. The supplement prevents CCD from happening. Research studies suggest “[Choline] is only moderately effective, [yet] clinical experience suggests that when used in older pets, it may actually prevent clinical signs of cognitive disorder” (Marsden, Messonnier & Yuill, n.d.). Interestingly, other studies have shown that choline supplementation decreased and even reversed CCD in older dogs (Marsden, Messonnier & Yuill, n.d.).

RELATED: Turmeric for Dogs

How Choline Supplements Helped My Dog

Many years ago, my 17-year-old Bull Terrier was acting oddly. She became agitated quickly and was restless at night. She’d get lost in our bathroom, and then panic when she couldn’t walk forward. She ate and drank normally, but stared at walls and didn’t seem engaged with us and our other dogs. I discussed her odd behaviors with my veterinarian, and my vet recommended Standard Process Choline supplements.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but I noticed a huge improvement in my dog’s behavior within a week of supplementation. Now, my dog was able to sleep through the night and her unprovoked agitation reduced dramatically.

Speak With Your Vet First

Before starting any type of supplementation, please discuss your dog’s behavior with your veterinarian first. Liver and eggs are excellent sources of choline for both dogs and humans, but choline supplementation works well too. Your vet will guide you in the right direction.

My Experience With Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

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Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
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Doggie Alzheimer’s happens in middle-aged and older dogs, and it creeps in slowly before you notice a huge change in your dog’s behavior. While I’m not a veterinarian, I’m a pet owner and dog trainer who works with dog behavior every day. Plus, I’ve shared my own home with dogs that have displayed canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) as well.

Hopefully, this article will help other pet owners recognize canine cognitive dysfunction symptoms, so they can jump-start their research. I’ll admit: this was a very difficult article to write, but I’m grateful I can share my experience with you.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Symptoms

Withdrawal

Fifteen years ago, my older Shepherd-mixed dog started acting peculiar. Magenta, named after the character in “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” started withdrawing from us around 13 years of age. When we’d settle down in the living room at night and watched TV, she’d slink off and sleep in the back spare bedroom. We assumed the TV was too loud, so we ignored her behavior. However, we noticed her hiding in the spare bedroom more and more.

We scheduled a vet visit immediately because I thought she may have been in pain. Our veterinarian thoroughly examined her, completed blood work profiles, took several X-rays to rule out arthritis, and thankfully all results were normal. Our vet suspected our dog was suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction, and told us there was nothing we can do.

Disengagement

Magenta slowly slipped away mentally. She still ate and drank normally, but she’d immediately retreat back to “her” bedroom after each meal. She completely disengaged herself from us and our other dogs. She was in another world.

Wandering

Magenta would get lost in our home. We set up her bedroom with several orthopedic beds, non-skid rugs, a water bowl, toys and chewies, but she still had full run of our home. A couple of times we’d find Magenta wedged between the toilet and bathtub, which caused her to scream and thrash around. We placed a baby gate in her bedroom’s doorway to keep her safely contained at night. I felt horrible containing her, so for the next couple of years, my husband and I would take turns sleeping in the spare bedroom.

RELATED: How to Know If Your Dog Has Thyroid Dysfunction

It Got Worse

At 17 years old, Magenta was still healthy and pain free, but her mental health continued to decline. She lost control of her bladder and bowels, and became confused by simple things, such as which way a door opened. She stared at the wall; and if we tried to pet her, she became confused and screamed. We finally made the decision—it was time for her to cross the Rainbow Bridge. It was no longer fair to her and she passed peacefully.

Prevention and Possible Treatment

Research on canine cognitive dysfunction 15 years ago was limited, so prevention and treatment options weren’t available. Fortunately, researchers have recently discovered ways to reduce and even reverse Alzheimer’s in dogs, and I’ve witnessed these options work. For example, my middle-aged Bull Terrier was starting to act a bit odd too, so our vet suggested adding Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and hemp oil and choline to Stella’s diet. The results were fascinating.

RELATED: Best Joint Supplements for Dogs

Beware of False Promises

While Stella’s symptoms have improved, they don’t completely subside. Now, she acts oddly at night once every two weeks rather than every night. She aggressively becomes startled one to two times a month instead of several times a night. Improvement is key, but be wary of miracle promises.

I’m sure we’ll learn more about canine cognitive dysfunction as science continues to uncover causes, but until then I recommend spending lots of quality time with your dogs. Their only fault is not living long enough. 🙂

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

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A Guide to Dog Pheromone Collars

Dog Pheromone Collars
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Many years ago, I attended a dog training conference where a veterinarian was lecturing about the effects of pheromones on dog behavior. I remember scratching my head and thinking pheromone therapy was some type of woo woo stuff and it didn’t work. Thankfully, I kept digging into the topic. If you’ve never heard of pheromone collars or other products before, allow me to introduce you to the world of calming pheromones for dogs. I’ll also answer whether or not pheromone collars work!

What are Pheromone Collars?

Mammals, and some insects, emit pheromones that affects behavior. When a mother dog gives birth, she releases a calming pheromone that calms herself and her puppies. Since a mother dog’s pheromones are so calming, a synthetic version was created. Pheromones can now be found in dog collars, room sprays and wall plug-ins (Adaptil, 2016).

At first, I wasn’t convinced that a synthetic pheromone would calm a dog, so I purchased the wall plug-in version to give it a try. I’m happy to say, it seemed to calm my dog that suffers from separation anxiety and has helped many of my clients’ dogs too.

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

That’s the magic question, right? Yes, pheromone collars do work—in the sense they reduce your dog’s anxiety and stress. Pheromone therapy won’t change your dog’s behavior though. I’ve heard some pet owners swear that using an Adaptil diffuser (pheromone therapy wall plug-in) stopped a puppy from pottying in the house. That doesn’t seem likely because pheromones won’t teach a dog a new behavior.

I do believe pheromone therapy will reduce worry, stress and anxiety, which will ultimately reduce fear and aggression. Think about it this way: if you’re learning how to drive a car for the first time, pheromone therapy will keep you calm. As a result, you learn better. Pheromones won’t show you how to steer a car. Never underestimate the power of remaining calm; it’s the key to learning in a stressful situation. 🙂

Pheromone Therapy Effects on Dogs and Cats

Over the years, research has been conducted on the effects of pheromone therapy on cats, puppies, fearful dogs and puppy mill dogs. For those who don’t know, puppy mill dogs are puppies purchased from pet stores. Researchers found pheromone therapy reduced stress, which then discouraged fighting between cats as well as prevented inappropriate urination in pets.

Several of my dog training clients swear that pheromone therapy keeps their dogs calm during thunderstorms and stressful car rides. I also know many veterinary practices using pheromone therapy to keep pets calm during veterinary visits. So far, pheromone therapy for dogs looks pretty promising!

It’s Not Magic Though

While pheromone products have proven to work, it shouldn’t be used as a fix-all solution. In my opinion, a combination approach is always best.

Dog pheromone collars should be used in combination with:

  • Prescribed medications
  • Anxiety wraps (Thundershirts)
  • Supplements
  • Behavior modification (changing your dog’s behavior)

How to Use Pheromone Products

Pheromone therapy has evolved and with that comes a slew of dog calming products.

Diffusers or Wall Plug-Ins

It’s best to place wall diffusers in a commonly used room by family and pets, such as the living room or bedroom. That way, your dog is exposed to the pheromone scent, but it’s not directly in his or her face. One pheromone diffuser lasts about 30 days. What I’ve found super interesting is most clients are reminded to replace empty diffusers because their previously calm dogs begin acting anxious again. When they refill the diffuser, their dogs calm down again.

Spray

Using spray pheromone therapy works well if you travel a lot. You can spray a paper towel and place it inside your car, hotel room, RV, or kennel when going to the vet’s office or groomer. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, so I don’t recommend spraying your dog with it.

Pheromone Collar

This is the newest addition to pheromone therapy, and it’s a dog collar that contains the right amount of pheromones. As your dog wears the collar, his or her body heat warms up the collar, which disperses the pheromones. Dog pheromone collars aren’t overpowering; they’re just effective enough for dogs on the go.

Pheromone therapy products are certainly worth a try for your anxious or stressed dog! You can purchase them online or at your local pet supply store. I would love to hear your comments after using these products, so please comment below. 🙂

How To Know If Your Dog Has Thyroid Dysfunction

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Testing for Thyroid Dysfunction

Thyroid Dysfunction in Dogs
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If you suspect your dog’s thyroid isn’t functioning properly, your dog will need a blood test to confirm exactly what’s going on. Before you agree to a routine thyroid blood test, I highly recommend asking your veterinarian for a detailed thyroid test instead. Allow me to share my story with thyroid dysfunction. I learned the hard way that it’s worth the extra effort and cost of a detailed thyroid test.

My Story

For years, I suspected my Rottweiler had hypothyroidism, but my vet disagreed. Sobek, my young Rottie, has had moderate to severe anxiety since he was four months old. Sobek stresses over anything and everything, and he has a hard time settling down. Thankfully, Sobek isn’t aggressive. He’s super friendly with dogs and people, but he just worries a lot. My dog training experience has taught me that anxiety is usually based on fear, but there was something else I couldn’t put my finger on.

Signs of Thyroid Dysfunction

At one year old, Sobek had routine blood work done to check for thyroid dsyfunction. His total thyroid level was 0.9, which is 0.1 below normal—low normal is between 1 and 2. Yet, my vet said his thyroid was functioning properly. I would’ve agreed if I were a normal pet owner, but I’m painfully aware that thyroid dysfunction in dogs can cause anxiety and aggression, so I pushed forward.

Sobek’s anxiety got worse over time, so we consulted with a veterinary behaviorist who prescribed medications. They helped immensely and controlled his anxiety, allowing us to train him using behavior modification. His anxiety still lingered though. His coat also felt coarse and he was missing hair on his chest.

Every year, we would test Sobek’s thyroid and the results would always be the same, falling a tad below normal. My vet persisted his thyroid function fell into the normal range (1-5), and he shouldn’t be supplemented. Then, Sobek experienced two focal seizures. That was it; I was determined to find a vet who would listen.

Finally, Someone Listened

We found a holistic veterinarian to whom I explained my concerns about Sobek’s lingering anxiety and low thyroid level. Our holistic vet agreed that something was off and decided to retest him. She sent his blood work off for a detailed thyroid report that would test all aspects of his thyroid and not just his total thyroid and T4.

His thyroid test results came back and Sobek was confirmed to have hypothyroidism. He started off with a thyroid supplement and his anxiety decreased within a week. After six months of supplementation, Sobek’s total thyroid became 1.9, which my holistic veterinarian says is perfect for him.

Hypothyroidism Effects on Dogs

Hypothyroid dogs are assumed to be fat, neutered, middle-aged and bald, but that’s not always the case. Sobek had a glossy black coat and he wasn’t neutered (check out this study about neutering Rottweilers and cancer). He was relatively healthy with the exceptions of a torn ACL at 2 years old, a couple of focal seizures and anxiety.

I researched everything about hypothyroidism, and thankfully I found Dr. Jean Dodds’ research. While reading Dr. Dodds’ articles, I felt like she was writing about us. Dr. Dodds is a veterinarian who has done extensive research on canine thyroid disease and allergies. She believes that several aspects of the thyroid should be tested before diagnosing thyroid dysfunction. In addition, thyroid dysfunction can cause anxiety, fear and aggression in dogs.

RELATED: Crystal Healing for Dog Anxiety

How to Test for Canine Hypothyroidism

Instead of sending your dog’s blood work off to a local lab, ask your veterinarian to send your dog’s blood work to Hemopet or Michigan State University (MSU) Diagnostic Center. Our holistic vet sent Sobek’s blood work to MSU and his six-month follow-up blood work to Hemopet (Thyroid Profile 5). While requesting a detailed thyroid test might seem excessive, it’s the only way to truly diagnose thyroid dysfunction.

Difference Between Hemopet and MSU

There isn’t much of a difference between Hemopet and MSU, but I found Hemopet was slightly cheaper than MSU. I highly recommend visiting Hemopet and MSU’s websites and printing blood work collection protocols before bringing your dog in for testing. One thing I really liked about Hemopet is Dr. Dodds would note if your dog was considered hypothyroid at the bottom of your test results. It took 10 days to receive Sobek’s results.

Asking Your Veterinarian

Bring your printed blood work collection protocols with you to your appointment and explain how you’d like a detailed report on your dog’s thyroid by having it sent to either Hemopet or MSU. So far, I haven’t had one vet push back on my request. Your vet will then collect your dog’s blood and mail it to Hemopet or MSU, and receive your test results when they come in.

Should You Seek a Second Opinion?

Asking for another vet’s opinion on your dog’s thyroid is difficult, but understand that you’re your dog’s health advocate. If you disagree with your regular veterinarian, ask for a copy of your dog’s thyroid test results and bring them to another vet. I highly suggest locating a holistic vet, as this has worked well for me in the past.

Keep pushing and be your dog’s health advocate!

Do Different Dog Breeds Learn Differently?

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No, Different Dog Breeds Learn the Same

Different Dog Breeds
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“Do different dog breeds learn differently?” is the most asked question and it’s usually asked by purebred dog pet owners. As a professional dog trainer, I’m always happy to answer this question. If you’re curious if certain dog breeds learn differently, read below for a professional dog trainer’s take on different-breed dog training.

The Answer

Okay, here it goes! Each dog, regardless of breed, is an individual; and all dogs learn by following the same principles applied to human learning.

Yup, we use the same learning principles to teach:

  • Rhinos to hold their feet up for nail grinds
  • Silverback Gorillas to open their mouths for flossing
  • Fish how to perform tricks
  • Butterflies how to put on a show
  • Children to tie their shoes

I’ve trained hundreds of dogs, and each dog was able to learn the same behaviors given the same learning principles. While a dog’s specific breed can determine his ultimate dog training reward or reveal some aspects of his personality, it has nothing to do with his ability to learn new behavior.

But What About Bouviers Being Lazy or Pit Bulls Being Aggressive?

I cringe when someone mentions that Bouviers are lazy, Basset Hounds are slow, Terriers are untrainable, Rottweilers need a firm training hand or Poodles are the smartest breed. I also find it unsettling when I hear people say all Beagles howl, Irish Setters are ditzy, Chihuahuas are ankle biters, all Pit Bull Terriers are aggressive or other certain breeds requiring special training skills. These statements are simply not true, and I’m sure pet owners living with these different dog breeds would disagree too.

Let’s think about the question on whether or not different dog breeds learn differently another way. If certain breeds of dogs learn differently, how would we train mixed breed dogs? About 20-plus years ago, dog trainers were successfully teaching thousands of mixed breed dogs new behaviors—and that was before dog breed DNA testing. The only thing DNA testing for specific breeds has taught dog trainers is we were incorrectly assuming a mixed dog’s breed of origin. 🙂

Easiest Way to Train Any Dog Breed

Positive reinforcement is key and it works quickly! You’ve probably heard of positive reinforcement before and wonder what it had meant. Positive reinforcement is one of the four quadrants of operant conditioning, and it increases the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

Positive reinforcement means rewarding with a good thing whenever someone does a behavior you like. It’s important for professional dog trainers to have a thorough understanding of each quadrant and how it applies to dog training, as this is the foundation for all learning. If your dog trainer doesn’t know that, it’s time to find a better dog trainer.

Picking a Good Thing to Motivate Your Dog

Just because dogs are a certain breed, don’t assume certain breeds all like the same things. As pet owners, it’s our job to find each dog’s favorite “good thing” or ultimate reward and use it to teach polite behaviors.

Ignore your dog’s breed type and discover what your dog truly loves. As an example of how dog breed type can become quickly confusing, some Terriers may love bits of hot dogs instead of fetch, some Basset Hounds may find a fast game of tug more rewarding than treats and some Chihuahuas may find a game of fetch more rewarding than hugs and treats. Remember, learning depends on each individual dog’s personality and not his breed.

While your dog looks like a specific breed, he learns just like every other living being!

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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