Could Glutamate Be Triggering Your Dog’s Seizures?
If your dog suffers from epilepsy, you may be searching for ways to reduce seizure frequency and improve their quality of life. While medication is often the first line of defence, diet can play a significant role in managing epilepsy. One of the most intriguing topics in this field is the role of glutamate — a common amino acid found in many foods and a key neurotransmitter in the brain. In this post, we’ll explore whether glutamate could be triggering your dog’s seizures and how dietary changes might help.
What is Glutamate and Why Is It Important?
Glutamate is the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter, which means it helps neurons (nerve cells) communicate by exciting them into action. It’s involved in important functions like learning and memory. However, when glutamate levels become too high, this excitement can go into overdrive, leading to a state of hyperexcitability in the brain. This hyperexcitability is known to be a key factor in triggering seizures in both humans and animals.
In epilepsy, an imbalance between excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate and inhibitory neurotransmitters (such as GABA, which calms neuron activity) may lead to recurrent seizures. Excess glutamate can tip the brain into an overactive, unstable state, potentially contributing to seizure activity.
How Could Glutamate Be Affecting Your Dog’s Seizures?
There is growing evidence that glutamate could be a potential trigger for seizures. While this has been more extensively studied in humans, the principles of how glutamate affects brain activity apply similarly to dogs. For example, Sarlo et. al. (2023)’s study “Investigation of the Low Glutamate Diet as an Adjunct Treatment for Pediatric Epilepsy" looked at how reducing dietary sources of glutamate might affect seizure control in children with epilepsy.
Interestingly, this study did not find a statistically significant reduction in seizure frequency in the participants who followed a low-glutamate diet. However, what stood out was the improvement in non-seizure outcomes. Children on the low-glutamate diet experienced behavioural improvements, including reduced irritability, better attention, and improved emotional regulation, which in turn contributed to a better quality of life for both the children and their caregivers.
This finding is significant because it suggests that even if reducing glutamate doesn’t always stop seizures outright, it may help alleviate some of the behavioural distress that often accompanies epilepsy. This could be especially relevant for dogs, where behavioural symptoms such as anxiety and agitation are common comorbidities of epilepsy.
How Does Glutamate from Food Contribute to Seizures?
Glutamate is naturally present in many protein-rich foods, such as meat, dairy, and plant-based sources like soy and corn. It is also commonly used as a food additive, particularly in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can raise glutamate levels in the brain. In dogs that are sensitive to dietary glutamate, eating foods rich in glutamate or containing additives like MSG might exacerbate their condition, leading to more frequent or severe seizures.
However, it’s important to distinguish between free glutamate and bound glutamate. Glutamate naturally bound to proteins in whole foods like meats is processed differently by the body compared to free glutamate, which is present in processed foods and additives like MSG. When glutamate is bound to proteins, as in natural, whole meats, it is released more slowly during digestion, giving the body time to regulate its levels.
Free glutamate, on the other hand, is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to a quick spike in glutamate levels in the brain. This sudden increase in glutamate can contribute to the brain’s hyperexcitability, making it more likely to trigger seizures. This is why processed meats (such as deli meats, sausages, or foods containing added flavour enhancers) can be more problematic than fresh, unprocessed meat.
Meat and Glutamate: Why Whole, Unprocessed Foods Are Best
Many dog owners worry that feeding their pets meat may increase glutamate levels and worsen seizures. However, high-quality, whole meats are not the primary concern. In fact, fresh meats contain bound glutamate, which is absorbed and metabolised in a more regulated manner than free glutamate found in processed foods.
When feeding your dog meat, it’s essential to focus on whole, unprocessed meat from high quality sources. The issue lies not with meat itself but with processed meats that may contain MSG, hydrolysed proteins, or other additives high in free glutamate. These ingredients can rapidly increase glutamate levels in the brain and are much more likely to cause issues.
For example, when choosing between a processed sausage or fresh chicken breast, the fresh chicken breast is a better option because it contains naturally bound glutamate, which is released slowly and doesn’t spike brain levels of glutamate like processed meats might. Always opt for high-quality cuts of meat without artificial flavour enhancers or preservatives.
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What the G.A.R.D. Tells Us About Diet and Epilepsy
The Glutamate-Aspartate Restricted Diet (G.A.R.D.), as described in Food Intolerance, Epilepsy, and The G.A.R.D., suggests that restricting glutamate and aspartate in the diet may help reduce seizure frequency and improve overall neurological health. This diet targets common food intolerances to ingredients rich in glutamate, such as gluten, casein (from dairy), soy, and corn.
Although direct evidence in dogs is limited, many dog owners report that switching their epileptic pets to a low-glutamate diet (which is often achieved by using a keto diet) has reduced seizure frequency or improved behaviour. The G.A.R.D. diet emphasises eliminating foods that may be overstimulating the nervous system and replacing them with ingredients that are less likely to contribute to neuronal hyperexcitability.
Could a Low-Glutamate Diet Improve Behavioural Symptoms in Dogs?
While reducing glutamate in the diet might not stop seizures entirely, it could help with behavioural symptoms like anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity—all of which are common in dogs with epilepsy. As highlighted in the low-glutamate diet study, even if the seizures remain, improvements in behaviour can dramatically enhance the quality of life for both the dog and its owner.
Dogs with epilepsy are often highly sensitive to stress and environmental changes. By stabilising their behaviour through dietary interventions, you might be able to create a calmer, more predictable environment for your dog. This could reduce the frequency of seizure triggers, which are often linked to stress and anxiety.
Steps to Consider in Reducing Glutamate in Your Dog’s Diet
Identify High-Glutamate Foods: The most common and highest ranked culprits on the list are processed foods and preservatives, particularly those containing MSG or other flavour enhancers. Common foods that are high in glutamate include gluten-containing grains (like wheat), dairy products (especially aged cheese), soy, and corn.
Focus on Whole Foods: Fresh meats, like chicken or lamb, are great options, as they contain bound glutamate, which is metabolised more slowly. Avoid processed meats like sausages or deli meats that often contain added free glutamate in the form of MSG or flavour enhancers.
Monitor for Changes: Keep a seizure diary and note any changes in your dog’s behaviour or seizure frequency after modifying their diet. Improvements might not happen overnight, but tracking any trends can help guide your approach.
Consult with Your Vet: Before making any major dietary changes, it’s essential to consult with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist. They can help ensure that your dog’s diet remains balanced and that you’re meeting all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
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In Summary: Can Glutamate Trigger Seizures in Dogs with Epilepsy?
Glutamate is a powerful neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in brain function, but could glutamate trigger seizures in dogs with epilepsy? While reducing glutamate in the diet may not always result in fewer seizures, it could help improve behavioural symptoms and overall quality of life. The evidence from studies on low-glutamate diets in humans, particularly children, and the anecdotal reports from dog owners, suggest that this approach is worth exploring, especially for dogs that are sensitive to food intolerances.
Importantly, not all glutamate is created equal. Whole, unprocessed meats containing bound glutamate are not what is referred to when speaking about glutamate as a potential trigger, and in fact plays a large role in epilepsy management as part of a ketogenic diet. Therefore, feeding your dog high-quality, whole food ingredients is key to managing glutamate intake while still providing them with the nutrition they need.
For dog owners managing epilepsy, a low-glutamate diet offers a promising, non-invasive way to potentially reduce stress, anxiety, and behavioural distress. While the research is still ongoing, taking a closer look at your dog’s diet and consulting with a vet could lead to improvements in both seizure management and behaviour.
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