Nutraceuticals in Behaviour
Overview
A nutraceutical is defined as "a substance that is produced in purified or extracted form and administered orally to provide agents required for normal body structure and function and administered with the intent of improving the health and well-being of animals.[1]" The majority of nutraceuticals have possible benefits as opposed to proven benefits. Nutraceuticals are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals and do not have to undergo the same rigorous testing to be approved.
Herbs
Alpha-casozepine
Alpha-casozepine has been found to be extremely useful in the treatment of anxiety, where its efficacy has been shown to be on a par with selegiline[2] as well as fear related behaviour[3] in cats in conjunction with behavioural modification techniques. Alpha-casozepine is available as a supplement or as part of a commercial diet. It is a trypsin hydrolysate of alpha-S1 casein found in milk.
Cognitive Boosters
Many products aimed at improving cognitive function of older animals are mixtures of multiple ingredients such as antioxidants, mitochondrial cofactors, fatty acids (especially polyunsaturated fatty acids - omega 3 and 6 oils) amongst others which are generally thought to have a positive effect on the development of cognitive dysfunction. Additional ingredients which may be found in a supplement or diet with the aim of slowing cognitive dysfunction include vitamins C, E and B6, choline, phosphatidylcholine, alpha-lipoid acid, resveratrol, gingkobiloba, carnitine and flavonoids and carotenoids.
Products which are more specific and focus on an active ingredient include those with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) which is thought to improve depression in humans[4] and apoaequorin. Care should be taken when using SAMe in conjunction with behavioural drugs such as clomipramine a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and fluoxetine a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) as it may augment serotonin levels and therefore potentially cause toxicity due to serotonin syndrome.
L-theanine
Melatonin
There are reports that melatonin can be helpful in the treatment of anxiety, fear of loud noises[5] and problems with sleeping patterns in dogs and cats, however further research is needed to strengthen these claims and their level of effectiveness.
References
- ↑ Anonymous. Council defines "nutraceutical." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1996; 209:1986.
- ↑ Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Diaz, C., et al. Comparison of the effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) versus selegiline hydrochloride on anxiety disorders in dogs. J Vet Behav 2007;2:175-83.
- ↑ Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Coll, V., et al. Effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) on anxiety in cats. J Vet Behav 2007;2:40-6.
- ↑ Papakostas, G.I. The use of complementary and alternative medicines to achieve remission in major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry 2009;70(Suppl. 5):18-22.
- ↑ Aronson, L. Animal behaviour case of the month. A dog was evaluated because of extreme fear. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;215:22-4.
- Crane, S.W., Griffin, R.W. and Messent, P.R., 2000. Introduction to commercial pet foods. In: M.S. Hand, C.D. Thatcher, R.L. Remillard and P. Roudebush (eds), Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th edition (Mark Morris Institute, Topeka, Kansas, USA)
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