Nutrition and Behavior
We don't stop to think about it too often, but it is so true and so obvious that we are what we eat — and it's no different for our dogs. Many of the commercially manufactured foods we feed our dogs have had the nutrients cooked right out of them. When you consider that most dogs do not eat a varied diet — and what they do eat may be lacking in elemental nutrients — is it any wonder that so many have skin conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, and behavior issues, or that they develop illnesses at younger and younger ages?
A change in diet may not be the complete answer to a particular health issue, but it's a good place to start if you want to make a difference. Look at the ingredients in your dog's primary food source and learn about how to evaluate them. Think about how you can improve the overall quality of the nutrients your dog receives on a daily basis.
By affecting how the body functions, nutrition also plays a part in how we behave. For humans, we can think about the effects of fatty foods, too much caffeine, too much sugar, chemical preservatives and additives, and so on. For dogs, we can think about the effects of malnutrition — where the body isn't getting enough sustaining nutrients. A chemical imbalance caused by poor nutrition will certainly affect behavior.
Again, just as our doctors do for us, veterinarians can run blood tests to get a sense of what may be high or low that's contributing to the imbalance. If your dog hasn't had one in a while, your veterinarian should perform a comprehensive blood test.
