Ensuring good gut health is essential for the overall health and well-being of dogs. A strong gut may assist with allergy prevention and control, fix skin and and immune issues, reduced inflammation (which can trigger other issues in the body when inflamed) and a healthy weight and digestion. Here are some ways to help maintain gut health in dogs:
-
Feed a high-quality diet: A nutritious and balanced diet is crucial for good gut health. Dogs should be fed a diet that contains high-quality protein, fiber, and a variety of nutrients. Fresh food will always be #1 for building a strong, resilient gut that is ready for a variety of foods. While a balanced, processed dry food will provide nutrients as needed - they are less digestible and of lesser quality due to high heat processing. Try adding ANY fresh food to a processed diet as even 20% has science backing to show improvement. Avoiding inflammatory foods like grains, potatoes and other highly processed items will help with overall gut support. Great fresh food examples are Tom & Sawyer cooked food or Big Country Raw. -
Avoid overfeeding: Overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health problems, including gastrointestinal issues. It's important to follow the feeding guidelines recommended by the food manufacturer or your veterinarian. While we love to "feed for love", this is never has a good outcome for our pets. When feeding a dry food always use the "less active" guideline and for raw food the guideline is 2% of bodyweight. This is a guideline and adjust as necessary for the perfect weight for your breed. A great calculator to help with feeding is located here!
-
Provide plenty of clean water: Access to clean water is essential for healthy digestion and helps to prevent dehydration. If feeding dry foods, try to hydrate with a bone broth or goat milk (Primal makes great options for both) to provide nutritional boosters for gut health and to get moisture into the food. -
Add probiotics to their diet: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help improve gut health. They can be found in many dog foods or as supplements. Whole food options are better than most powders in this case, so consider: Kefirs and goat milks as options. One of the best lines of shelf stable probiotics is the Adored Beast line!
-
Avoid giving human food: Human food can disrupt the balance of a dog's gut microbiome and lead to digestive issues. While fresh veggies, etc are a great thing to add - giving them Mcd's fries, popcorn and other foods can cause upset (kinda like us ..)
-
Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps to maintain a healthy digestive system by promoting healthy gut bacteria and preventing constipation. This also helps with maintaining a good weight, providing mental enrichment and better digestion to keep everything moving along.
-
Keep up with regular veterinary check-ups: Regular veterinary check-ups can help to identify any health issues early on and prevent them from becoming more serious.
By following these tips, you can help ensure your dog's gut health stays in optimal condition. However, if you notice any changes in your dog's digestive system, it's important to seek veterinary care promptly. If any questions about improving gut health or about these products were always here.