A diet that is low in Omega 3 fatty acids will cause all sorts of behavioral issues, as Omega 3 deficits/imbalances have been linked to hyperactivity, depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness.

So, you can have your sugar. Just take your fish oil, too.

If I had an anxious or obsessive dog, I would give serious consideration to mega-doses of Omega 3s.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

If I had an anxious or obsessive dog, I would give serious consideration to mega-doses of Omega 3s.

Since a shortage of long-chain Omega 3s in the body has been shown to exacerbate ADHD (and some other types of) behavior in children, there's plenty of sense in that.

However, so far, while a deficiency has been shown to trigger symptoms, mega-doses have not been shown to improve behavior more than doses that bring the 6:3 ratio closer than 4 to 1. (OTOH, such mega-dose research is scanty at best. It's not yet generally accepted that approximately 2-to-1 to 1-to-1 is a good 6:3 ratio. I think that, but no research people have called me about it yet. )

 Quote: aaron myracle

If I had an anxious or obsessive dog, I would give serious consideration to mega-doses of Omega 3s.

I don't know the correlation between Omega 3's & behavior;
but when my son was younger, & going to ingest "mega sugar" ie birthday party, holloween, I made sure he had a protein prior, ie yogurt cup, boiled egg = pure protein.
Protein offsets sugar effects.
Also the reasoning behind a raw diet = Protein & not the "sugar" reaction, content, of kibble.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

If I had an anxious or obsessive dog, I would give serious consideration to mega-doses of Omega 3s.

Since a shortage of long-chain Omega 3s in the body has been shown to exacerbate ADHD (and some other types of) behavior in children, there's plenty of sense in that.

However, so far, while a deficiency has been shown to trigger symptoms, mega-doses have not been shown to improve behavior more than doses that bring the 6:3 ratio closer than 4 to 1. (OTOH, such mega-dose research is scanty at best. It's not yet generally accepted that approximately 2-to-1 to 1-to-1 is a good 6:3 ratio. I think that, but no research people have called me about it yet. )

Our family is a walking experiment, lol.

When I started taking testosterone, I suddenly began suffering from severe joint and muscle pain. After doing a lot of research in the wrong direction, common sense slapped me in the head and I realized that it wasn't the testosterone itself.

The medication is suspended in Sesame Seed Oil, which is very high in Omega 6 fatty acids. I was increasing my 6 intake, without a compensatory increase in my 3 intake.

I was already taking the max recommended dose of EPA/DHA so I called my endocrinologist to discuss getting testosterone custom compounded into hemp oil. She just told me to increase my salmon oil dose.

When I mentioned my dose to my psychiatrist, he showed me a couple of studies that indicate that mega-doses are more effective for people with ADHD, depression and anxiety.

I'm trying to find them, but I'm batting zero. I have an appointment later this month, so I'll try to remember to ask for the links again.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: sharon degaramo

... While I ask these questions, I'm also considering the difference between wild canids and domesticated ones.

You mean about digestion? What differences?

Didn't post my thought correctly: I should have written, "...I'm also considering IF there is a difference between how the digestive tract of domesticated canids may have evolved differently."

Hmmm. Still not quite phrased correctly, but better.

Nope.

The shape of the body plays a role in bloat, but beyond that, there are no differences there.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

When I mentioned my dose to my psychiatrist, he showed me a couple of studies that indicate that mega-doses are more effective for people with ADHD, depression and anxiety.

I'm trying to find them, but I'm batting zero. I have an appointment later this month, so I'll try to remember to ask for the links again.

As you know, long-chain Omega 3s are a major interest of mine (along with all factors of canine nutrition). I would LOVE to see new studies along these lines! Sometimes I get such things later than I would if I subscribed to people-type health newsletters instead of vet school ones.

THANKS if you can dig 'em up!

 Quote: sharon degaramo

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: sharon degaramo

... While I ask these questions, I'm also considering the difference between wild canids and domesticated ones.

You mean about digestion? What differences?

Didn't post my thought correctly: I should have written, "...I'm also considering IF there is a difference between how the digestive tract of domesticated canids may have evolved differently."

Hmmm. Still not quite phrased correctly, but better.

As Aaron says, aside from the deep narrow chest in some breeds that is a factor in bloat, nope .... the GI systems are virtually identical. The suppression of production of certain enzymes triggered by generations of kibble-fed dogs is not only minor, but also reversible (I mean in a relatively short period of time, in the individual dog -- not over generations).

Evolutionary Nutrition for the Dog by Griffiths, Ruish DVM, and Goldberg DVM, does a nice job of explaining that "fourteen thousand years of selective breeding may have changed the outer appearance and some of the behaviors of our canine companions, but on the inside they have remained virtually unchanged. On the evolutionary scale, this amount of time does not allow for any drastic changes in the physiology and anatomy of a species." So do Tom Lonsdale's books and The Molecular Evolution of the Dog Family (R. Wayne). (That first one may not be available online, but I have it in some form if anyone wants it.)

All JMO! You will find plenty of disagreement about this, but you will also find that a little detective work on the authors often (IME, usually) leads to the research departments of Hills/SD.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

As Aaron says, aside from the deep narrow chest in some breeds that is a factor in bloat, nope .... the GI systems are virtually identical. The suppression of production of certain enzymes triggered by generations of kibble-fed dogs is not only minor, but also reversible (I mean in a relatively short period of time, in the individual dog -- not over generations).

This is truly amazing when you consider how many veterinarians are opposed to feeding a balanced, raw diet!!! Truly amazing.

Obviously, wolves and wild dogs are not grabbing a happy meal of kibble at the local pit stop and are very healthy animals, yet an educated human with access to all the right products, suppliments, etc... are not to be trusted with replicating a similar diet for domesticated dogs.