Each week in The Pet Nutrition Show, Dr Anna does a Food Hack.

This week, she was looking in the fridge and while there wasn't a lot there she did find some watermelon...Can she do anything with it? Well yes she can...here's how and why watermelon might make a good, but inexpensive treat for your dog.

People claim that if you gave your dog chia seeds every day, 5 good things would happen. We put those claims to the test in a recent episode of The Pet Nutrition Show. 

Enrichment is an essential part of good heath for dogs. But as dogs get older, and less physically capable, how can we help keep our senior dog's brain healthy and delay mental decline?

Here are some simple ways to provide mental stimulation to senior dogs, which can help keep their minds active and engaged.

A dog needs different forms of stimulation to promote their physical and mental well-being, and a balance of continuous stimulation throughout their life. Let’s talk about different methods of enrichment that you can use,  and most importantly, how you can apply these tools for your pet.

Nearly 80% of dogs over the age of eight are affected by osteoarthritis, a multifactorial disease causing the joints to deteriorate. Including certain probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants in your dog’s diet has a significant role in helping prevent excess cartilage damage. We explain why.

Anxiety and stress in dogs typically manifests first as changes in behaviour, however chronic anxiety (stress) can also lead to health problems later on. It can also lead to aggressive behaviour. Here, we’ll look at some causes of anxiety in dogs, how to spot anxiety-associated signs and share common remedies.

Anxiety is a common concern among dogs and along with chronic stress, is associated with inflammation and gastrointestinal dysfunction. A healthy gut microbiome stimulates the production of bioactive metabolites, neurotransmitters, and gut hormones that communicate with the cognitive centres of the brain. Research shows some specific probiotics also help reduce anxiety.

Atopic dermatitis is a major inflammatory skin condition that makes up 50% of all skin allergy diagnoses in dogs. The gut microbiome is made of a core microbial population that maintains intestinal function and communication between the gut-skin axis, keeping your dog's skin healthy. In this article, we look at the research in this area, and how pet parents can now improve the health of their dog’s skin with targeted probiotics. Using nutrition to address problematic skin, your dog’s itchy skin can be significantly improved, and in some cases, even prevented.

A healthy gut microbiome can reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, improve digestion, and even prevent anxiety and mood disorders. Probiotics can help prevent dysbiosis and restore balance within the gut microbiome. We explain how.

Most of us also wish that our dogs will cross the 'rainbow bridge' peacefully in their sleep. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. 

But when is the right time to say goodbye? In this article we explain:

• A veterinary approved ‘quality of life scale’
• Suggested criteria to help pet parents make tough decisions
• Factors that can influence an owner in deciding when to say goodbye

As dogs age they often start to become less physically active. This doesn’t necessarily mean they should also become less mentally active too! In this article we will talk about the various ways pet parents can provide enrichment for their senior dogs.

• Sensory enrichment
• Environmental enrichment
• Cognitive and social enrichment

As dogs age, their brains age too, and this can affect learning and memory function. While we may be able to go to dance classes, learn a language, or do puzzles, to keep our brains healthy (Sudoku anyone?), our dogs don’t quite have the same options…Here we explain the terms, causes and signs and suggests ways to delay the onset.