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What’s in Your Dog’s Bowl Might Be Affecting Their Mind
When it comes to your dog’s behavior, there’s rarely just one reason behind what you’re seeing. Behavior, training, and health are all deeply connected. It’s all about synergy, how the body and brain work together. If something’s off physically, it’s going to show up emotionally or behaviorally too.
Over the years, I’ve worked with a lot of dogs who struggled with things like hyperactivity, anxiety, restlessness, or reactivity. And more often than not, there’s more going on than just a “training problem.” Sometimes the real change happens when we look at what the dog is eating, and how that food is making them feel inside.
Food affects everything. It fuels the brain, supports the nervous system, impacts digestion, and even influences mood. That doesn’t mean behavior is only about food, but what’s in your dog’s bowl plays a much bigger role than most people realize.
Let’s break down how your dog’s diet may be influencing their behavior, and what you can do to help them feel better, inside and out.
You Are What You Eat
When I talk about food and behavior, I always start with this: You are what you eat. What we feed our dogs fuels everything, how they feel, how they move, how they respond to the world. It supports the brain, the body, the nervous system. It’s all connected.
Most of the dogs I work with are eating dry, processed kibble. And while it might be convenient, that kind of food can really take a toll over time, not just because of the ingredients, but because of how it’s made.
Kibble is cooked at high heat, often more than once. That heat destroys a lot of the natural nutrients, so synthetic vitamins are added back in later. It’s also extremely dry, there’s no moisture left. And moisture is critical. Our dogs’ bodies, like ours, are made up of mostly water. It’s around 70 to 80 percent depending on the tissue. Without enough moisture in their food, dogs can become chronically dehydrated, even if they drink water. Over time, this can stress the kidneys and lead to other health concerns like urinary issues, dry skin, and even inflammation.
Then there’s the ingredient panel. Many kibbles rely on cheap fillers like corn, soy, or white rice, plus artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. These ingredients don’t support the body, they weigh it down. And that can show up as restlessness, poor focus, irritability, or even just a general feeling of discomfort.
That’s why I recommend a fresh, moisture-rich diet whenever possible. Whether it’s a balanced raw food, gently cooked meals, or even adding in fresh toppers, that extra moisture and nutrition can make a huge difference in how a dog feels, and how they behave.
And don’t forget about variety. Even if you’re feeding a high-quality food, dogs do best when their meals change now and then. Switching up proteins and rotating healthy foods gives their body access to different nutrients and helps keep their system working smoothly.
A healthy diet isn’t just about avoiding bad ingredients. It’s about giving your dog the building blocks they need to thrive, physically and emotionally.
Gut Health and Behavior
There’s a strong connection between your dog’s gut and their brain. This is often called the gut-brain axis, and it plays a big role in how your dog feels emotionally. When the digestive system is out of balance, it can affect everything from mood and focus to sleep and stress levels.
A healthy gut is home to trillions of bacteria, some helpful, some not so much. When the good bacteria are thriving, digestion works well, nutrients get absorbed, and your dog’s body feels more at ease. But if the gut becomes unbalanced, maybe from a poor diet, medication, stress, or environmental toxins, it can cause discomfort, inflammation, and behavior changes that are easy to miss.
Understanding Prebiotics and Probiotics
Prebiotics are natural fibers that feed those good bacteria, helping them grow and thrive. You can find them in real foods like dandelion greens, bananas, asparagus, and even cooked sweet potatoes. You’ll also see prebiotic fiber added to supplements or commercial dog food, things like inulin or chicory root.
Probiotics are the actual live bacteria that help balance the gut. They’re the good guys, working to support digestion, the immune system, and a sense of internal calm. You’ll find them in fermented foods like raw goat milk, kefir, or in dog-specific probiotic supplements.
I recommend using both, real food sources and a well-formulated supplement. A food source offers variety and naturally nourishes the body, while a supplement ensures your dog is getting specific strains in a consistent amount.
How Much Should You Look For?
In general, a probiotic supplement should list multiple strains of bacteria and provide at least 1 to 5 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) per serving for a maintenance dose. For dogs needing extra gut support, that number may go up to 10 or even 20 billion CFUs, but more isn’t always better. It’s about the strains and the balance.
Look for strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, or Enterococcus faecium. These are common, dog-safe strains that can help with overall gut balance. Prebiotics may be listed as FOS (fructooligosaccharides), inulin, or chicory root.
How to Read the Label
When reading probiotic or prebiotic supplement labels, check for:
- Clear listing of strains (not just “proprietary blend”)
- CFU count at time of expiration, not time of manufacture
- Few or no added ingredients like artificial flavors, dyes, or sugar substitutes
- Storage instructions, some may need refrigeration to stay potent
If you come across ingredients that sound unfamiliar, that’s normal. Probiotic strain names are often long and scientific. But you should recognize the rest of the ingredient list. If there’s a long list of fillers, flavorings, or additives, it’s worth choosing a cleaner option.
Go Slow When Adding Anything New
Even good changes can upset the system if they’re done too fast. That’s especially true when adding probiotics or fiber-rich prebiotics. Start with a small amount, maybe a quarter or half of the recommended dose, and slowly build up over several days. Loose stools or gurgly tummies can happen if the gut isn’t ready for a full dose right away.
Supporting the gut doesn’t have to be complicated. A little consistency, a mix of real food and targeted supplements, and patience can go a long way toward building a healthier, more balanced digestive system.
Signs the Gut May Be Off
If your dog has poor gut health, you might see signs that show up in a few different areas. On the physical side, things like chronic loose stools, inconsistent poop, gas, bad breath, or frequent gurgling sounds from the stomach can all be indicators that the digestive system isn’t working smoothly. You might also notice skin flare-ups, ear infections, or increased itching, many of which can be tied back to inflammation in the gut. Low energy, difficulty maintaining weight, or a dull coat can also signal that your dog isn’t absorbing nutrients properly. A healthy gut helps your dog digest food, absorb nutrients, and maintain a strong immune system.
Inflammation and Discomfort
Inflammation is the body’s way of responding to something that isn’t right. Whether that’s in the joints, gut, or skin. Even if your dog doesn’t seem to be in pain, internal inflammation can create a sense of discomfort. That can come out as irritability, tension, or restlessness.
It can also make it harder for the body to absorb nutrients, regulate emotions, or settle down after stimulation. A dog who’s inflamed may not show it physically, but emotionally, they might seem on edge or easily triggered.
To gently support the body, look at ingredients that are known to help soothe inflammation, like foods rich in omega-3s, such as sardines or anchovies. Whole-food sources of antioxidants like blueberries or turmeric can also be helpful, depending on what your dog tolerates.
You don’t need to go overboard. It’s about finding the right support and keeping things consistent, while allowing the body to settle.
What to Avoid When Reducing Inflammation
Some common ingredients in commercial dog food can contribute to inflammation in the body. Highly processed grains like corn, wheat, and soy are frequent offenders, especially when they’re used as the main source of calories. Added sugars, artificial colors, preservatives, and rendered fats can also place extra stress on your dog’s system. High starch ingredients like white potatoes and pea starch may spike blood sugar and feed ongoing inflammation. For dogs with sensitivities, dairy and certain proteins that are fed too frequently can also become inflammatory over time. Reading ingredient labels closely and avoiding heavily processed, filler-based foods is a helpful first step in calming inflammation from the inside out.
Food Energetics and Emotional Balance
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), food is more than just fuel, it has energy, temperature, and movement. This is called food energetics, and it plays a big role in how food supports your dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Some foods are warming, some are cooling, and others are neutral. The idea is to bring balance to your dog’s system based on what they need. For example, a dog who tends to be anxious, restless, or easily overheated may benefit from more cooling foods like duck or rabbit. A dog who’s sluggish or tends to run cold might do better with warming foods like lamb or venison.
TCVM also looks at the Shen, or spirit. If there’s an imbalance, often called a Shen disturbance, it can show up as clinginess, fearfulness, or general emotional unease. Food choices can help support the heart, liver, and other organs involved in emotional regulation.
This is where having a TCVM-trained or integrative vet on your team can be especially helpful. They can guide you in choosing the right types of food based on your dog’s individual constitution, not just what seems healthy on paper.
If you’re curious about this approach, I have two other articles on the blog that go deeper. One explains the basics of food energetics. The other explores how food energetics ties directly into behavior. Both are great next steps if you want to learn more.
Bringing It All Together
When it comes to helping our dogs feel better emotionally, food is a key part of the picture, but it’s not the only one. Just like we talked about at the beginning, it’s all connected. Training, environment, health, and diet all work together. Changing what your dog eats can be an important step, but it’s not a stand-alone solution.
That said, the right food can make it easier for your dog to focus, rest, and navigate daily life in a calmer, more thoughtful way. It gives their body the support it needs to do the work, whether that’s learning new skills, building confidence, or just feeling more comfortable day to day.
So if you’ve been wondering whether food could be playing a role in your dog’s behavior, the answer is: it very well might. And choosing better food is one of the best places you can start.
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