Our pets depend on us to keep them as healthy as possible. One of the things we must focus on as pet parents is our animals’ digestive health. Modern life has led to a rise in microbiome-associated disorders and inflammatory diseases in our pets. That makes it all the more critical to pay attention and keep our pets’ digestive systems in shape. Here are a few natural digestive health tips for pets.
How do you take care of your pet’s digestive health? Do you have any natural solutions for other pet parents? Let us know in the comments below!
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Natural Digestive Health Tips for Pets
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Probiotics
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Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our bodies, keeping our guts healthy. Inflammation kills these bacteria and leads to problems like diarrhea and constipation. The same is true for our pets.
If your pet is prone to digestive troubles, such as gas and diarrhea, giving them probiotics might help. Probiotics might also be able to help improve their mood, improve fur and skin appearance, and reduce bad breath.
Probiotics can help to build good gut bacteria and reduce unpleasant side effects of medications, such as diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.
There are several different types of probiotics to get your dog: chews, pills, powders, and even yogurts. Speak with your pet’s health specialist to find out what would be best for your furry friend.
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Add Bone Broth To Their Food
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Adding bone broth to your pets' meals increases the absorption of nutrients and also creates a perfect environment for gut flora to develop.
Bone broth is packed with nutrients such as iron, vitamins A and K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc, and manganese, and it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are natural compounds found in cartilage.
Bone broth also contains collagen, which contains an amino acid that strengthens your pet's digestive tract lining. This improves your pet's ability to absorb nutrients and helps prevent a leaky gut.
Additionally, bone broth contains glycine, which detoxifies your pet’s liver, as well.
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Exercise & Play
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You know how when you haven’t been very active you start to feel gross and lethargic? The same thing happens to our pets!
Daily exercise and play help to reduce stress and cut down the amount of cortisol their bodies create. Cortisol is a hormone that can cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.
Adding a new toy or playing a new game with your pet can really benefit their digestive health in amazing ways!
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Essential Oils
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According to the American Kennel Club, “Preliminary research suggests that these potent oils may have some health benefits for dogs and humans, and many holistic veterinarians incorporate essential oils into their practices.”
There are several essential oils that you can add to your pets diet such as milk thistle and dandelion, commonly used for detoxification and liver support. L-glutamine is an amino acid that is critical for maintenance of proper intestinal metabolism, structure, and function. Slippery Elm is an herb for detoxification and intestinal support.
There are several more oils you can look into such as lavender oil, peppermint oil, chamomile, and more.
Make sure you consult with your pet’s veterinarian before giving your them any oils, because there are many that could be toxic to your fur baby.
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Prebiotics
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Prebiotics are ingestible fibers that pass through the digestive tract and ferment in the colon.
As a pet parent, you have to deal with your pet’s poop a lot. That’s just a fact of having a pet.
Probiotics can help make their poop easier for them to get out and easier for you to pick up. And prebiotics can help to make the probiotics you give to your pet even more effective!
As with everything else on this list, make sure you consult with your pet’s veterinarian before giving your pet any prebiotics.
