Toxins are everywhere: in the air you breathe, the household products you use daily, dog toys, and even the dog food you give your dog. When toxins enter your dog's body, whether from food contaminated with pesticides and herbicides or exposure to diesel and lawn chemical fumes while out for a walk, free radicals that cause disease and accelerate aging are formed.

Free radicals can change DNA and damage cells. If allowed to accumulate in the body, free radicals can do irreversible damage to your dog’s body, negatively impacting her health and reducing her lifespan.

Antioxidants are compounds that prevent or lessen the harm that free radicals do. Antioxidants are used by your dog's body to counteract free radicals and strengthen the immune system.

The atoms in your dog’s body are surrounded by electrons that orbit the atom in shell layers that need to be filled by a set number of electrons. When one shell layer is complete, the electrons proceed to fill the next shell layer. When the outer shell is not full, it is an incomplete atom that will seek out other atoms to fill its outer shell. 

These unstable atoms are free radicals, damaged cells that stabilize their outer shell by stealing molecules from other cells. As free radical cells attack healthy cells, damage can occur to the cell’s DNA, making your dog more prone to disease.

Because free radicals are unstable, they react quickly with other substances, trying to bond with other atoms to complete their outer shell layer. Oxidation is the term for losing electrons from one atom to another. Reduction is the process of receiving electrons. 

Oxidated atoms cause oxidative stress, which leads to chronic disease and premature aging. Antioxidants can aid in facing this oxidative stress.

Free radicals are a normal byproduct of your dog’s metabolic processes, such as food digestion or physical exercise. Free radicals can also form from pesticide exposure, herbicides, household cleaners, air pollution, and even strong sunlight. Because it is impossible to avoid the creation of free radicals, you must ensure that your dog receives enough antioxidants to maintain a balance with the free radicals.

Air pollution, cigarette smoke, medications, and ingesting hazardous chemicals included in frequently used household objects are environmental elements that can directly impact your dog's health. Long-term stress, untreated illnesses, and inadequate nutrition all contribute to the overproduction of free radicals.

Organophosphates are found in pesticides used on fruits and vegetables that we consume. 

These chemicals get leached into our water sources. Glyphosate is one example that is commonly used in large farming operations. 

Formaldehyde, a product you associate with a science class cadaver, is found in mattresses, pillows, nail polish, clothing, cleaning products, and detergents. It has even been found in poor-quality dog toys!

Paraffin, a by-product of the petroleum industry, is found in candles and air fresheners. During paraffin burning, carcinogenic chemicals are released into the air and inhaled into your lungs!

Many other potential chemicals are used daily—research all products you use to minimize the negative impact on your dog’s health. Toxins discovered in dog toys include:

BPA (Bisphenol A): Often present in plastic toys, BPA can leach into a dog's system if they chew or ingest the toy. It's known to interfere with hormonal functions and has been linked to various health issues.

Phthalates: These are chemicals added to plastics to increase their flexibility, but they can be harmful if chewed or ingested by dogs. Phthalates have been associated with hormonal disruptions and reproductive issues.

Lead and Heavy Metals: Some toys, especially those manufactured outside regulated environments, might contain lead or other heavy metals, posing severe health risks if ingested, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and organ damage.

Chemical Dyes and Paints: Vibrantly colored toys might contain chemical dyes or paints that could be toxic if ingested by dogs. Always opt for toys with non-toxic, natural dyes.

Flame Retardants: Some soft toys or beds might contain flame retardants that can be harmful if ingested. These chemicals have been linked to various health problems in humans and animals.

Chronic Stress and Poor Nutrition Go Hand in Hand

A well-fed dog is a dog that is given the proper nutrients and energy to sustain normal body functions. Dogs need high-quality proteins and fats to thrive. Unfortunately, the dog food industry supplies kibble loaded with starchy carbohydrates, sugars, and poor-quality proteins and fats. 

Over time, kibble-fed dogs only begin to exhibit chronic diseases involving the skin, immune system, gastrointestinal tract, and other organ systems. This is due to the oxidative stress in the body due to the production of excessive free radicals. Without fresh, whole foods, your dog’s body cannot keep the balance of free radicals and antioxidants.

An antioxidant is a compound that neutralizes free radicals or oxidized atoms in the body and prevents or limits cellular damage. Antioxidants are readily found in nature in many fresh raw vegetables and fruits. The colored fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, goji berries, carrots, and dark leafy greens, tend to have the highest concentrations. 

There is no need to worry if your dog does not like fruits or vegetables. Other good sources of antioxidants include mushrooms, pine bark extract, milk thistle, phytoestrogens such as soybeans, and spices including rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, sage, basil, pepper, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. All of these sources can be mixed into your dog’s bowl.

Antioxidants are also in vitamins C, E, and A, quercetin, coenzyme Q10, and decaffeinated green tea. Minerals with antioxidant properties include selenium, manganese, and zinc. 

Antioxidants can be supplied as supplements or through antioxidant-rich foods. However, not all antioxidants are readily absorbed. Vitamin E is usually more easily absorbed when given with a meal. 

A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is essential for normal physiological functions. Suppose there are too many free radicals for the body to control; oxidative stress results. Antioxidants are necessary to maintain the correct balance.

A wide array of diseases are attributed to free radicals in dogs, including 

Diseases of the central nervous system such as dementia and cognitive decline

Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders-allergies and skin disorders

This is Where Antioxidants Come into Play

Oxidation is expected in your dog’s body. It’s only when it becomes excessive that a problem begins. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Antioxidant supplementation is needed if too many free radicals are created due to excessive exposure to toxins or oxidizing agents. 

Because most naturally occurring antioxidants are heat sensitive, they are destroyed by cooking or other heat processing. This is one of the key reasons you will see such a dramatic improvement in dogs’ health when switched to a raw diet; they are finally getting the antioxidants needed to balance out the free radicals in their body!

Natural Antioxidants versus Artificial Antioxidants

Studies have concluded that using natural antioxidants as preservatives in dog food stabilizes the food components and minimizes the free radical levels in dogs’ blood. Natural antioxidants that can be used for preservatives include clove oil, rosemary oil, oregano oil, and vitamin E. A blend of natural oils and vitamin E supplies excellent food preservation and has a nutraceutical effect that stimulates your dog’s antioxidant and immunological response. 

Another study concluded that curcumin, cranberry, pomegranate, and grape seed extract had comparable results in controlling lipid oxidation in dog food as the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).

However, none of these preservatives can extend the shelf life for extended periods, past six months like the synthetic one, so pet food companies do not appear interested.

Beta-carotene, found in many fruits and vegetables, assists in fighting infections by boosting the antibody levels in the body.  Selenium is a mineral shown to decrease the incidence of heart disease, assist in the retention of cognitive function, support thyroid function, and reduce the risk of cancer.

Research is just beginning to reveal all of the benefits of vitamin C as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. One study showed that giving vitamin C to dogs during bouts of distemper increased the survival rate from 5-10% survival to 44% survival rate.

The results of two other studies on the supplementation of vitamin C encouraged veterinarians to recommend vitamin C supplementation to kibble-fed dogs at the rate of 50-100 mg/kg of body weight per day. 

Vitamin E promotes cardiovascular health, immune health, and skin health.  Grass-fed meats are a great source of vitamin E as they have four times as much as grain-fed or grain-finished meats. Other good sources are eggs, salmon, liver, spleen, mango, blackberries, and broccoli.

Because the brain tissue has the highest respiratory rate of any tissue within the body, oxidation is created at a higher rate. Over time, oxidative damage accumulates in the brain tissue and causes neuron degeneration and dysfunction, resulting in accelerated aging and neurodegenerative disease.

Studies revealed a decrease in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in older dogs that are not supplemented with antioxidants and are not provided environmental enrichment. As the dogs began receiving the combination of antioxidants and enrichment, the BDNF levels began to increase, nearing those found in a young dog. Their cognitive performance also improved. 

In another study, a Brain Protection Blend (BPB) diet that enhanced levels of B vitamins, antioxidants, Omega-3, and arginine was created and tested. The results concluded that senior dogs fed this diet had improved cognitive function. The diet also retarded age-induced decline in learning and memory for the senior dogs.

Although the exact mechanisms have yet to be determined, the study demonstrated that providing a diet with antioxidants and modifying your dog’s enrichment levels dramatically affects aging, even in older dogs with cognitive impairment.

Free radicals are created during the normal metabolic processes of your dog’s body. When they accumulate and are not balanced by antioxidants, they cause disease.

Antioxidants, found in many foods we consume daily, can be added to your dog’s bowl.

Most antioxidants are heat sensitive so providing whole raw foods is essential for your dog to receive the antioxidant levels needed to balance the free radicals in her body.

Addition of a blend of essential oils (cloves, rosemary, and oregano) and vitamin E to replace conventional chemical antioxidants in dog feed: effects on food quality and health of beagles  

BDNF increases with behavioral enrichment and an antioxidant diet in the aged dog - ScienceDirect  

Nutritional management of canine brain aging: with pets living longer comes an increased prevalence of age-related behavioral and cognitive problems; diets rich in antioxidants, mitochondrial cofactors benefit.  

A Review on Free Radicals and Antioxidants  

Antioxidants, free radicals, health and disease  

Diseases related to oxygen-derived free radicals  

Effects of natural antioxidants on the stability of omega-3 fatty acids in dog food  

Frontiers | Efficacy of a Therapeutic Diet on Dogs With Signs of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS): A Prospective Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Clinical Study | Nutrition 

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 4 - Pesticides Plague Your Dog Daily 

Toxins are a part of everyday life. They are in the air your dog breathes, the products used in your home, the toys she plays with, and even the food in her bowl. When these toxins enter your dog’s body, whether through food containing pesticide residues or from breathing in things like lawn chemicals or exhaust during a walk, they can lead to the formation of harmful molecules called free radicals.

Free Radicals and Natural Antioxidants

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