By Dr. Claire. Staff Writer.
In humans, we now know that certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, are exacerbated by chronic stress. Researchers have also determined that long-term stress can contribute to medical and compulsive disorders in pets. Diseases such as obsessive behaviors, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders such as obesity and anorexia, gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat), noise phobias, destructive behaviors,and separation anxiety have all been found to have a chronic stress component in dogs.
Other than studies done on unwanted behaviors that endanger the human-animal bond, there has been relatively little research published regarding stress and its effects on companion animals. While the assumption has been that the effect of stress on dogs and cats is not much different than other non-human animals, this may not be the case.
Why?
Well, when it comes to mammals, dogs and cats are unique because of their bonded relationships with humans, their outgoing social natures, and the human-centric environments (i.e. human homes) in which they now reside. As dogs and cats have moved from the barnyard into the family home, one would surmise that they would have less stress than their ancestors, but the truth is, dogs and cats still have stress in their lives. In fact, some veterinarians would argue that even though environmental stress is lower for modern day companion animals (i.e. predation, starvation, injury and disease), overall stress levels are higher.
In addition, modern-day sources of stress, such as boarding, a visit to the veterinarian, a new baby, tight restraint, long-term confinement, boredom or inactivity, or noises from fireworks or guns, are ones that dogs and cats may not have well-developed defenses against, and are often situations from which they cannot extricate themselves.
Perhaps it would be helpful to define stress and how it is managed by the body.Stress has been defined as ‘the sum of all nonspecific biological phenomena caused by adverse conditions or influences. It includes physical, chemical, and/or emotional factors to which an individual fails to make satisfactory adaption and that cause physiological tensions that may contribute to disease
In the body, stress is managed by the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). In general, the response of the autonomic nervous system is very rapid and specific, whereas the endocrine system adjusts more gradually and is broader in its effect.In order to mount an adequate stress response, both the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system require nutrients that can only obtained by diet. In other words there are two components required for these two systems; one is the amino acids made in the body and the other is amino acids taken from food.
For example, the endocrine messengers, nor-epinephrine, acetylcholine, and cortisol are synthesized by the body and require tyrosine, choline and acetate, and cholesterol and acetate in the diet. Several of the key enzymes necessary for the synthesis of these endocrine messengers are dependent upon nutrients such
as zinc, copper, and manganese. Production of stress hormones also requires large amounts of Vitamin C. In the autonomic nervous system, transmission of nervous signals is brought about by electrical activity in the nerve cells that requires sodium, calcium and potassium. All of these elements are important for proper physiological communication of a stress response and are needed in the diet for normal nervous and endocrine system responses to stress.
It is important to know responses to stress and chronic disease might have predisposing nutritional factors, such as a nutrient deficiency, imbalance, or toxicity. I also need to know whether or not supplementation of a given nutrient is important in helping a pet to manage stress.
As well as you care for your pet, it is still likely that your dog or cat encounters daily stressors that are unavoidable, but it is possible to minimize the effect stress has on your companion animal with a combination of exercise, nutrition and holistic treatments. Valerian, chamomile, and inositol are all calming for dogs that are going into a stressful situation, such as boarding, the veterinary hospital or having visitors in your home. Pheromone diffuses, sprays, or collars are effective stress reducers for dogs (D.A.P).
Alcohol-free Bach flower Rescue Remedy are an option to try – you can pick specifically animal formulated flowers that are safe for your pet. These remedies can be given before, during or after a stressful event to help your pet to cope emotionally. You can also practice pet massage or schedule a massage for your pet. To develop the best combination of holistic stress-reducing treatments for your pet, enlist the help of a local alternative-medicine or holistic veterinarian.
References
Campbell, K.L., J.E. Corbin and J.R. Campbell. 2004. Companion Animals: Their Biology, Care, Health, and Management. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Cameron, M.E., R.A. Casey, J.W.S. Bradshaw, N.K. Waran and D.A. Gunn-Moore. 2004. A study of environmental and behavioural factors that may be associated with feline idiopathic cystitis. J. Small Anim. Pract. 45:144-147.
Luescher, A.U. 2003. Diagnosis and management of compulsive disorders in dogs and cats. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 33:253-267.
DeNapoli, J.S., N.H. Dodman, L. Shuster, W.M. Rand and K.L. Gross. 2000. Effect of dietary protein content and tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial aggression, and hyperactivity in dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 217:504-508.
Dodman, N.H., I. Reisner, L. Shuster, W. Rand, U.A. Luescher, I. Robinson and K.A. Houpt. 1996. Effect of dietary protein content on behavior in dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 208:376-379.
Casey, R. 2002. Fear and stress. In: BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine. (D. Horwitz, D. Mills and S. Heath, eds.) British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, England. pp. 144-153.
Glickman, L.T., N.W. Glickman, D.B. Schellenberg, K. Simpson and G.C. Lantz. 1997. Multiple risk factors for the gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in dogs: a practitioner/owner case-control study. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 33:197-204.
Gue M., T. Peeters, I. Depoortere, G. Vantrappen and L. Bueno. 1989 Stress-induced changes in gastric emptying, postprandial motility, and plasma gut hormone levels in dogs. Gastroenterology 97:1101-1107.
Hennessy, M.B., V.L. Voith, T.L. Young, J.L Hawke, J. Centrone, A.L. McDowell, F. Linden and G.M.
Davenport. 2002a. Exploring human interaction and diet effects on the behavior of dogs in a public animal shelter. J. Appl. Welf. Sci. 4:253-273.
Hennessy, M.B., V.L. Voith, J.L. Hawke, T.L. Yound, J. Centrone, A.L. McDowell, F. Linden and G.M.
Davenport. 2002b. Effects of a program of human interaction and alterations in diet composition on activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dogs housed in a public animal shelter. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 221:65-71.
Sheppard, G. and D.S. Mills. 2003. Evaluation of dogappeasing pheromone as a potential treatment for dogs fearful of fireworks. Vet. Rec. 152:432-436.
Simpson, J.W. 1998. Diet and large intestinal disease in dogs and cats. J Nutr. 128:2717S-2722S.
Takeda, E., J. Terao, Y. Nakaya, K. Miyamoto, Y. Baba, H. Chuman, R. Kaji, T. Ohmori and K. Rokutan. 2004. Stress control and human nutrition. J. Med. Invest. 51:139-45.
Kim, YM, Lee JK, Abd el-aty AM, Hwang SH, Lee JH, Lee SM. Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) for ameliorating separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs. Can Vet J. 2010 Apr; 51(4):380-