Research in drug resistant epilepsy, conducted by teams from the Ontario Veterinary College showed that dogs with both epilepsy and anxiety had a decrease in the frequency and severity of seizures when partlled on high vs low fat diet as measured by home calendar recordings (Yuen et al 2015). This new way of addressing mental health problems in pets is providing more insight into the gut-brain axis.
Exploring the potential of Gut Microbiome
Researchers’ at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and at the Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover, Germany have announced that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) drastically improve the mental health of dogs experiencing drug-resistant epilepsy.
It is a retrospective study published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science and consists of nine dogs that suffer from one type of naturally occurring epilepsy characterized by resistance to traditional drug therapies. These dogs often have more ADHD type and anxiety related symptoms as well with their epilepsy.
FMT is a non-invasive treatment administered by researchers in which the feces (and therefore gut microbiome) from a healthy individual are introduced to a patient, via enema. Only three treatments over a few weeks led to big improvements in the psychological well-being of dogs, including reduced anxiety-like behavior and better quality of life.
Unleashing the Power of the Gut-Brain Axis
Gut health is emerging as a key factor when considering brain and mental well-being, dubbed the gut-brain axis in science. Health is being redefined (1) In a newly published study, scientists reveal that the gut microbiome — the large and diverse collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms living in our GI tractplays a greater role than just digesting food.
The study is more confirmation that the “gut is really important for overall health and plays an underappreciated role,” explained Dr. Jan Suchodolski, associate director of research & development at the Texas A&M Gastrointestinal Laboratory in College Station, head of microbiome sciences & services and David R. Elliott Endowed Chair in Gastrointestinal Research. We talk about the gut-brain axis but there’s also the gut-kidney axis, the gut-liver axis and so on.GetProperty()?>
We still do not understand the mechanisms by which the gut influences different systems of our body, but this is a growing field of study. But mental stress, such as that experienced by people living in war zones or conflict areas, as well as neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and strokes can result in gut-related complaints. Conversely, changes to the gut microbiome via probiotics or dietary interventions may alter disease symptoms.
According to the researchers of the previous study, FMT treatment helps by reinstating a fresher and healthier community of microbes in GI tract of dogs that result a positive impact on mental health. Consider the microbiome as a garden, Suchodolski said in an AgriLife Today article, and FMT is basically planting everything all over again. “[But] you’re adding in all this life, bacteria all over the place, building up to see if anything happens.
Conclusion
The results of this study were revolutionary — it suggested that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) could change the life for pets with gut-associated mental health issues, such as drug-resistant epilepsy. Veterinary researchers are now paving the way for a more holistic approach to pet health, using the gut-brain connection to unlock new ways in which we can keep our furry companions safe. As researchers learn more about the microbiome, we can expect new applications for this novel approach and an even newer way of thinking about our pets’ healthcare.
