Did you know your dog has hundreds of unique single-celled bacteria and microbes present in its digestive tract? These single-celled microorganisms are referred to as the “gut microbiomes.”
Good gut health is necessary for your dog as it plays a vital role in digestion and acquiring nutrients from the food your dog eats. Microbiome is essential as it affects your dog’s mental health and physical health. A balanced gut bacteria helps prevent disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
It is essential to take care of your dog’s gut health, and that is why one needs to make sure their pup’s gut is in good shape. Scroll down to get an idea of what you need to do.
Probiotics play an essential role in maintaining a healthy gut for your dog. It also helps restore and maintain good intestinal bacteria. You can choose to give your furry friend natural probiotics, such as raw goat milk, yogurt, and fermented vegetables or opt for soft chews. Adding probiotics to your dog’s daily diet can improve their gut health.
Feeding your dog with fermented foods does not help probiotic microbes become permanent residents in your dog’s microbiome. That is why using daily supplementation is recommended as it provides more benefits to probiotic users. However, feeding your dog probiotics for extended periods should be avoided. Even though probiotics provide good bacteria, they do not suit every dog due to each dog’s complex microbiome.
The inflammatory nature of grains can cause sensitivities and allergies in pets. While some dogs are not sensitive to grains, many canines have a hard time processing them. Hence, it is necessary to remove grains from your dog’s diet if he has gut-related problems instead of focusing on grain-free foods such as meat.
Stress is a culprit in shifting your dog’s microbiomes towards an unhealthy state while causing inflammation in his gut. If inflammation is an issue, the immune system will have to work harder, which results in the weakening of the gut. That is why it is crucial to reduce your dog’s stress as it helps heal his immune system. There are many ways you can help your dog relieve stress, such as increased exercise.
Not all microbes are beneficial to your dog. Your dog might get an infection or an increase in the growth of harmful microbes, thereby requiring intervention.
The following approaches will help fight harmful microbes:
Antibiotics, along with humans, can also be used for treating dogs. Antibiotics help kill harmful bacteria while releasing beneficial bacteria as well. They tend to reduce microbiomes and can result in long-term changes to your dog’s microbiomes. That is why, if you are giving your dog antibiotics, you should make sure to support your dog’s microbiomes during and after treatment.
Unnecessary usage of antibiotics should be avoided. Antibiotics should be used to cure life-threatening diseases but avoided for treating any minor problem dogs have.
This effective treatment involves adding microbes to remove other harmful microbes. However, this life-saving treatment is often used as a last resort.
Digestive enzymes are proteins that are useful in breaking down and absorbing nutrients from food. This process takes place in the small intestines where the enzymes are released. However, if your dog has poor gut health, an enzyme deficiency can occur, hindering the digestive process. Digestive enzymes, combined with probiotics, can support and improve your dog’s gut health.
The intestines play a crucial part in the digestive process. Intestines help break food, and its walls help absorb the good nutrients while passing out the bad ones. In the event of inflammation, the growth of bacteria can lead to a leaky gut due to the opening of more holes and the expansion of existing ones.
Bone broth helps a leaky gut as it is loaded with gelatin, which helps cover up leaky holes, thereby preventing toxins from escaping the intestines and resulting in a healthier gut.
Medications can also have adverse effects on your furry friend’s gut health. Medications such as steroids(NSAIDS) can kill both types of bacteria, good and bad. That is why it is vital to use natural alternatives instead of medications.
Dogs digest food through the gut bacteria, which is why it is essential to monitor the types of food your dog eats. According to a study, dogs fed with a high-protein, low-fat diet transformed from being overweight to healthy due to a microbiome balance shift. Therefore, it is essential to provide your dog with a high-quality diet that is free from any additives, colorants, or preservatives. The treats you feed him should not be loaded with sugar or other inferior quality ingredients that can trigger the gut bacteria.
Providing a source of natural microbes to your dog is essential. A raw meat diet for your dog can lead to good hut health, but at the same time, you will have to follow specific safety measures in case you are planning to try this for your dog. After all, not all microbes that grow on food are deemed healthy.
Fecal microbiota transplants are performed in veterinary hospitals under sedation. They can be harmful as they are capable of moving your dog’s gut microbes. Fecal Transplants can make a healthy dog suffer, and the process can be stressful for your dog.
One of the most important things you can do to influence your dog’s health is to keep their gut healthy. Poor gut health can cause various digestive issues since the digestive tract covers about seventy percent of your dog’s immune system. Hence, addressing your dog’s low gut imbalance can prevent disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases in the future. Contact us on our website to get further information on your dog’s gut health.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions