Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone can offer any advice, I have a female bulldog puppy who is 5/12 months, currently being fed on Royal Canin Bulldog 30 as advised. My concern is she has 5-6 episodes a day of extreme hyperactivity, when I say extreme I mean extreme . I know she is a pup but she will keep going at full pelt for 2/3 hours and then will crash for about an hour then the cycle starts again. I also have a boxer who is 5, as a pup he was full of beans but no way as much as this little lady. Has anyone come across diet related hyperactivity in bulldogs

Ive posted this in the behaviour section too


Thanks

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R.I.P Mollie B 29.10.2010 gone but never forgotten
R.I.P Muppet 24.11.2011

I have never known a dog of any breed to have 2 - 3 hour episodes of manic activity 5/6 times a day.

This would mean that your dog is on the go for between 10 and 18 hours per day, which is highly unusual in an adult, working breed that is out all day eg Border Collies and working gundogs etc.

What has the vet said?

I know its quite random, I can only assume its diet related. Even my boxer who can be full of beans cant keep going for that long. She does hit the deck at about 9pm and thats it until we get up at 6am

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R.I.P Mollie B 29.10.2010 gone but never forgotten
R.I.P Muppet 24.11.2011

Hyperactivity can indeed be diet related - whats the protein level in the food you are feeding??

I am going to my friends later today, to see their bulldog litter and will ask about hyperactivity in the breed for ya.

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

First of all there are no scientific studies that link protein levels with hyperactivity.

However there ARE scientific studies which demonstrate that a tryptophan deficient diet can influence CERTAIN types of aggression.

In cereals, maize (corn) is tryptophan deficient however if there is sufficient complete protein via meat in ratio to maize this should not be a problem.

So if your diet is maize based I would suggest you change to one that contains oat and or rice only.

There can be other issues with cereals.

Casomorphine is derived from the digestion of casein (milk protein) and exorphine from the digestion of gluten (found in cereals) These substances, together with hormones, hormone like substances and pheromones are naturally present in many dog foods. All have been scientifically shown to alter normal dog behaviour. Casomorphine and exorphines can trigger behaviour in dogs not unlike giving them morphine or other opiates.

There has been a lot of research done on this with autistic children and they have found that they can interfere with the activity of neurotransmitters.

Dietary manipulation by excluding milk and gluten products may have have behavioural benefits as well as digestive ones!

In addition, and almost counter intuitive to the above, it has been found that it is possible to counter some adverse behavioural effects by feeding a high carb meal (eg baked potato and/or some pasta) with Vitamin B 6 (many people advocate using the B Complex) supplement an hour after the main meal.

What you may like to try is a food that does not contain grains or dairy so Orijen, JWB cereal free or Fish for Dogs.

However I would advise you speaking to the vet first to rule out any medical conditions, and then you could try with another food, if this does not solve the problem then a vet referral to a reputable behaviourist may be able to help.

I have looked up this food

COMPOSITION: rice, dehydrated poultry meat, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate*, dehydrated pork protein*, hydrolysed animal proteins, vegetable fibres, beet pulp, minerals, fish oil, soya oil, fructo-oligo-saccharides, egg powder, hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin). ADDITIVES (per kg): Nutritional additives: Vitamin A: 24700 IU, Vitamin D3: 800 IU, E1 (Iron): 40 mg, E2 (Iodine): 2.8 mg, E4 (Copper): 11 mg, E5 (Manganese): 53 mg, E6 (Zinc): 201 mg, E8 (Selenium): 0.1 mg - Technological additives: Pentasodium triphosphate: 3 g - Preservatives - Antioxidants.

ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS: Protein: 30% - Fat content: 17% - Crude ash: 6.5% - Crude fibres: 2.7%. *L.I.P.: protein selected for its very high assimilation.


So as this food has been designed specially for Bulldogs, have you considered contacting them to see what they say?

The link is below

Home - Royal Canin

thanks everyone for your replies.

I will give Royal Canin a call and see what they say although I suspect they will say its not food related . I picked that food as they grow at a very fast rate its important they get the correct balance etc.
I gave my vet a call and he said its possible, he isnt concerned about any possible health issues as she goes once a fortnight for weigh ins.
So can anyone suggest an alternative dry food for a rapid growing breed?

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R.I.P Mollie B 29.10.2010 gone but never forgotten
R.I.P Muppet 24.11.2011