Everything you need to know about the role of proper nutrition in maintaining intestinal health and how to overcome digestive problems in your beloved pet!You love your cat or dog, it is a part of your family and it brings you a lot of happiness and joy everyday. Their health and well-being is so important to you. You browse online pet shops to find the best food, accessories or supplements to keep him healthy! But do you check its gut health? Did you know that it can affect its general health, its immune system and even its behaviour? We will explain it all to you! We'll help you identify the signs and, most importantly, we'll give you ideas and tips on how to prevent digestive problems and preserve your dog or cat's intestinal health!
- Gut health: why is it important?
- How does nutrition impact the good intestinal health of your cat or dog?
- How to understand that your cat or dog is suffering from digestive problems.
- 4 tips to prevent digestive problems
- Food supplements for optimum intestinal health
Gut health: why is it important?
A healthy gut is a hallmark of good health
There is increasing evidence from scientific research about how food 'feeds' the gut and how this affects not only gut health, but also immunity and general well-being. The more we learn about how the gut and stomach work, the more we realise its importance.
Gut health is the foundation of overall health!
Gut health is, in many ways, the cornerstone of your pet's overall health. He is healthy if he is active, bright looking, has a healthy coat, a good appetite and regular, well-formed stools. Gut health helps to build all of these attributes in a healthy pet.
Gut health is very important for immunity
The immune system ensures your pet's body's defences. It protects your pet from all the daily attacks and threats. When the immune system is working well, your pet is at its best.
About 70% of a pet's immune system is related to the gastrointestinal tract. So the immune action of the gut is largely due to the gut microbiome sending messages to the animal's immune system.
The animal's immunity is therefore strongly impacted by the food it eats.
How does nutrition impact the good intestinal health of your cat or dog?
" We are what we eat "!This statement is true for humans, but it is also true for our beloved companions. The right diet helps to maintain a healthy gut able to supply nutrients to the animal.
Good nutrition for good intestinal health
Just as in humans, the mouth, colon and intestines of dogs and cats are home to thousands and thousands of bacteria that contribute to the correct working of many vital functions. These micro-organisms live in the body of our four-legged friends from birth, and are usually introduced and generated through the diet.Gut cells need to be fed!
The reason that gut health is so important is partly because gut cells divide very quickly. They need to get their nutrients directly from the gut. The right diet keeps these cells actively dividing and healthy, while leaving enough food for the rest of the body.How to understand that your cat or dog is suffering from digestive problems.
Learn to spot the signs
Certain elements and circumstances can lead to unbalances in your cat or dog's gut flora. This can lead to discomfort and even disease.
What can cause unbalances?
In addition to diet, here are some factors that have a direct impact on gut health:
Antibiotic use
Antibiotics kill the bad bacteria that make your dog or cat illness. But they also kill the good bacteria in the gut. This is true even if they are only used on the skin. Therefore, avoid antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs
Many drugs used for pain and inflammation can affect the gut. The most common side effects of most of these drugs are diarrhoea and vomiting. Consider other options for long-term pain control such as natural healing or grain-free diets that can reduce inflammation.
Times of stress
Whatever the source, stress also affects the gut. You should try to reduce stressful situations for your dog as much as possible. As your dog feels your own stress, it is also a matter of calming yourself and relaxing.
Signs of intestinal problems in cats and dogs!
It's not always easy to tell if your dog or cat has a tummy ache. Many endure the pain in silence, so it's important to read the body's signals.
Here are a few signals that can alert you to digestive system problems and imbalances in the flora:
- Stomach rumbling or flatulence
- Bloating in the stomach
- Tending to bite the abdomen or flank
- Vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
- A dull, brittle coat
Behaviour problems, your pet is excited or, on the opposite, is calmer than usual.
For minor symptoms, it may be sufficient to keep the dog fasting for 24 hours. Remember that vomiting and diarrhoea are the body's defence against foreign substances that are unhealthy for the body, so they do not necessarily need to be treated immediately.
But if the symptoms persist or if other symptoms arise such as fever, blood in the vomit or stool, gastric dilatation or severe fatigue, a visit to your veterinarian becomes urgent.
4 tips to prevent digestive problems and maintain your pet's gut health
If you want your pet to avoid digestive problems and be healthy throughout its hopefully long and peaceful life, here's what you need to do:
#1 The right diet
It is essential to feed your pet a diet that is appropriate for its breed, age and size. You can choose between home-made or industrial food. The most important thing is that it allows your pet to have all the nutrients it needs without causing imbalances in the intestinal flora. In case of deficiency, you can use natural supplements.
#2 Regular exercise
Your dog or cat needs exercise. Choose activities that suit your dog's personality, body type and age. Be patient if he refuses to follow you at first. If he is not very active, a short walk may be enough. Avoid places that may stress him, as this may make his symptoms worse.
Exercise improves intestinal transit and aids digestion. You too will benefit from moving around and staying fit.
#3 Enough water
Your pet's fundamental need is water. You should not give him anything to drink other than water. If you notice that he doesn't like tap water (taste, colour, presence of chlorine,...) you can give him bottled source water. This is particularly recommended if he easily makes urinary calculi.
#4 A stress-free life
You can use natural anti-stress food supplements. They contain soothing ingredients, are specially developed for animals and promote relaxation and release.
Supplements for better gut health!
Supplements can boost your pet's immune system and help it cope with infections. In addition to a balanced diet and regular exercise, the nutrients, vitamins and all the high quality ingredients they contain provide your cat or dog with strength and vitality.
Dog or cat supplements that are rich in probiotics (the beneficial bacteria that live in your pet's intestinal tract) are particularly recommended for digestive disorders. Please note, however, that before giving your pet any food supplements, you should always ask your vet for advice.
At AnimalsVit. are particularly sensitive to the importance of the intestinal health of our pets. We have therefore developed 100% natural supplements specially designed to solve digestive problems on a daily basis.
So if you're looking for this high quality pet supplement that gives our four-legged friends everything they need to stay healthy, you'll find the perfect product in our online shop.
You can view our range dietary supplements for pets. and order online. We deliver worldwide