Canine Nutrition Epidemiology: Understanding the Interconnected Health of Dogs
Canine Nutrition Epidemiology (CNE) provides a scientific framework for understanding and addressing the interconnected nature of canine health issues caused by nutrition. By focusing on real food as the central solution and considering the epidemiological relationships between allergies, cancer, dental disease, obesity, and other ailments, this approach aims to improve overall canine health and prevent the worsening of these conditions.
This approach can help elucidate the relationships between allergies, dental health, cancer, obesity, other chronic ailments, and feeding real food.
Visual Representation
Central: Real Food
Circle: Allergies, Cancer, Dental Disease, Obesity
Outer Ring: Other Ailments (Diabetes, Heart Disease, Digestive Disorders, Kidney Disease, Skin & Coat Conditions, Joint Disorders, and Behavioral Issues)
Holistic Approach
Education: We emphasize the importance of real food in preventing and managing health issues.
Diet Plans: Learn to develop individualized plans focusing on real food.
Prevention: We highlight the preventive role of real food.
Monitoring: Conduct regular health check-ups to adjust diet plans.
Central Solution: Real Food
Real Food: Focus on a variety of biologically appropriate fresh, whole, natural, and minimally processed foods to provide balanced nutrition for dogs.
Interconnected Health Issues
- Nutritional Strategy: Eliminate food allergens, add omega-3 fatty acids through fresh foods (small oily fish) to balance the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, and support gut health with probiotics and prebiotics.
- Impact: Reduces immune system stress and inflammation, lowering cancer risks, dental issues, and obesity.
- Nutritional Strategy: Emphasize cartilage and antioxidant-rich real foods; reduce processed and carcinogenic foods.
- Impact: Nutritional support during treatment; weight management reduces cancer risk.
- Nutritional Strategy: Promote fresh foods supporting oral health; reduce sugar and acidic foods.
- Impact: Prevents systemic inflammation and poor eating habits, reducing obesity risk.
- Nutritional Strategy: Focus on nutrient-dense, low-calorie fresh foods; promote balance over time and variety in meals.
- Impact: Reduces inflammation and risks of allergies, cancer, and dental issues.
Other Ailments (Outer Ring)
- Nutritional Strategy: Address health concerns like diabetes, heart disease, and digestive disorders through tailored dietary strategies.
- Impact: Mitigates additional health risks and complications, supporting overall health and preventing the exacerbation of allergies, cancer, dental disease, and obesity.
Other Ailments
Diabetes
- Cause: Obesity and diets high in starches can impair insulin regulation and glucose metabolism.
- Nutritional Strategy: Fresh real food low in simple carbohydrates and high in fiber; controlled portions and consistent feeding schedules.
Heart Disease
- Cause: Obesity can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
- Nutritional Strategy: Diets should include low carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, taurine and carnitine amino acids, medium-chain triglycerides, and antioxidants.
Digestive Disorders
- Cause: Ultra-processed foods, foods high in starches and lacking insoluble fiber to support the gut microbiome, can lead to digestive issues.
- Nutritional Strategy: Fresh food diets containing pre and probiotics and high-quality lean muscle meat support a balanced gut microbiome.
Kidney Disease
- Cause: Poor-quality proteins, ultra-processed foods, and dehydration can exacerbate kidney function decline.
- Nutritional Strategy: Diets low in phosphorus and moderate levels of high-quality lean protein; adequate hydration.
Skin & Coat Conditions
- Cause: Imbalance of the gut microbiome due to an inappropriate diet with excessive levels of omega-6 and carbohydrates, poor-quality proteins, and deficient in vitamins A and E.
- Nutritional Strategy: A species-appropriate diet that includes small fatty fish with high levels of omega-3, proper levels of vitamins and minerals, and high-quality protein. Probiotics can be added to the diet to support the gut microbiome.
Joint Disorders (Osteoarthritis, e.g., Arthritis)
- Cause: Poor-quality foods with high levels of inflammatory ingredients can exacerbate joint issues. Diets high in carbohydrates can lead to obesity, which further complicates joint issues.
- Nutritional Strategy: Weight management focuses on real foods containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Behavioral Issues
- Cause: Poor-quality diets that create gut microbiome imbalances prevent the production of essential hormones and neurotransmitters, significantly impacting behavior, energy levels, and cognitive function.
- Nutritional Strategy: Balanced, fresh food diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, high-quality protein, and insoluble fibers to support the gut microbiome.