Oxidative stress is linked to disease and cognitive decline
One of my favorite natural health Veterinarian Dr. Becker, recognizes the negative effects of oxidative stress on our pets. She has some wonderful advice on natural ways to combat the problem. After researching products that address this debilitating condition, I found LifeVantage, it has the most powerful Nrf2 synergizing supplement, Protandim is proven to reduce oxidative stress by 40% in 30 days in humans, and is also available in a pet formula Petandim For Dogs.
Give Your Best Friend The Health He Deserves
Your dog dedicates her life to making you happy. And there’s nothing easy about seeing her age. That’s why we created Petandim for Dogs. Using the same groundbreaking, anti-aging science as Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer™ in a dog-friendly formulation, Petandim delivers the health your best friend needs to stay active for longer. It’s a human approach to healthier dogs.
Reviewed and approved by Animal Health Consultants, Petandim is designed to extend your dog’s playfulness, happiness, and overall health. If the science behind Protandim Nrf2 is good enough for humans (us), then it’s good enough for your dog. Petandim is scientifically designed to deliver a wide range of benefits:
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A shinier coat
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Increased playfulness
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More energy
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Supports joint health
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Supports hearing and eyesight
Urgent Brain Function Alert for Beloved Pets
By Dr. Becker August 13, 2017
Causes of Geriatric Dementia
Cognitive dysfunction looks a lot like a mental or behavioral problem, but the root cause is actually physical, due to age-related changes within your dog’s brain. There are three main contributors to changes in an aging brain that cause gradual impairment in cognitive functioning:
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Oxidative stress from free radical damage
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Formation of lesions on the brain
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Alterations in oxygen and energy availability
Oxidative stress is physiological stress on the body caused by the cumulative damage of free radicals associated with aging. The brain is thought to be more sensitive to the effects of oxidation than other tissues of the body.
The damage to your dog's brain caused by oxidative stress can result in decreased cognitive function as well as degenerative nerve disease similar to, for example, Alzheimer's disease in humans. The aging process also involves the accumulation of beta amyloid deposits in the brain. These deposits consist of nerve-damaging proteins that form plaque. This "senile plaque" buildup interferes with the transmission of signals from the brain.
Brain energy availability can also decline over time due to environmental stressors and toxins, including diet. It can negatively alter cellular metabolism in the brain, leading to cognitive decline.
Aging and Disease Hate This - And It's Not the Least Bit Toxic
By Dr. Becker May 06, 2017
If you pay attention to matters of health and aging, you’ve no doubt heard the term free radicals, which are unstable molecules that travel around the body looking to bond with stable molecules in order to steal an electron and stabilize themselves. When they are successful, they create new unstable molecules.
Free radicals are unavoidable because they’re produced during normal metabolic, cellular and immune system activity, as well as by external factors such as strenuous exercise, a poor diet, stress, pollution and even sunlight.
Free radicals cause altered gene expression and damage to cell membranes, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation, which is associated with aging and disease.
The good news is that nature provides a very powerful weapon against this degenerative process in the form of antioxidants, which neutralize the effect of free radicals and help to protect the heart, brain and other organs from oxidative stress.
New Study About Animal Longevity Turns Up Weird Anomaly
Dr. Becker March 22, 2017
Recently, two undergraduate students at Colgate University decided to investigate why smaller dogs seem to age more slowly than large ones.5 For their study, the undergrads wanted to look specifically at the influence of free radicals and oxidative stress on the aging process in dogs.
Oxidative stress, which is associated with aging, is defined as physiological stress on the body caused by the cumulative damage done by oxygen free radicals inadequately neutralized by antioxidants. Free radicals are unstable molecules with an uneven number of electrons.
These unstable molecules travel around the body looking to bond with stable molecules so they can to steal an electron and stabilize themselves. When they are successful, they create new unstable molecules that damage cell membranes and eventually contribute to cancer and other diseases.
The researchers contacted veterinarians and collected about 80 tissue samples (removed during routine surgical procedures) from both large and small breeds of varying ages, from puppies to old dogs.
With the help of a Colgate animal physiologist, they isolated cells from the tissues, grew them in a lab dish for several weeks and then analyzed them.
Does Your Dog Need a Massage?
Dr. Karen Shaw Becker, April 26, 2018
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You probably pet your dog daily, scratch behind his ears and maybe rub his belly for a treat. Massaging your dog, on the other hand, may sound a bit more like a luxury reserved for human members of the family — but, in reality, massage therapy offers tremendous healing power to dogs and humans alike.
“Animals have performed massage on themselves or others since the dawn of time through natural grooming behaviors,” according to the Northwest School of Animal Massage. “Any animal's quality of life can be enhanced with massage.”1
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They note benefits such as increased muscle flexibility, reduced pain in stiff joints and muscles, stress relief, improved circulation and better performance in competitive animals, which are similar to those expressed by Kim Tews, a certified small-animal massage practitioner who offers in-home massage therapy for pets in the Portland, Oregon area. Depending on your pet’s needs, massages can be offered for maintenance and general well-being, lymphatic drainage, rehabilitation and more.
These pet-friendly article was brought to you by Dr. Karen Becker, Mercola Healthy Pets resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian. For more pet care tips and to stay up to date with her latest recommendations, visit HealthyPets.Mercola.com where you can also get your FREE Homemade Treats for Healthy Pets E-book today!