Mary Allen
A poorly functioning immune system in dogs can open the door to a variety of diseases such as infections, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer. By keeping your dog’s immune system balanced, you can reduce these risks and contribute to your dog’s overall health and well-being, according to veterinary experts.
The immune system works like a constant caretaker. It identifies potentially harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and then works to eliminate them before they can do any harm. And a dog’s immune system monitors the cells to make sure they’re functioning properly. When other cells age or function abnormally – such as when a cancer cell multiplies too quickly – the immune system attempts to intervene and maintain physiological function and balance.
When this system is disrupted, your dog can become increasingly susceptible to disease. An immune system that is unbalanced over a long period of time can lead to chronic inflammation, which in turn can pave the way for disease. Diabetes, osteoarthritis, some liver and heart diseases, asthma, and cancer are just a few of the diseases associated with inflammation.
Luckily, there are some simple, natural steps you can take to boost your dog’s immune system.
Encourage your dog’s innate love of play
Keeping your dog fit is one of the best ways to boost the immune system and promote overall well-being. The storage of excess fat weakens the immune system. “Fat is the body’s largest endocrine gland, which is responsible for secreting more than 40 different pro-inflammatory hormones.” “Even the smallest amount of excess fat can increase the amount of these hormones in the body. Exercise burns fat, which can reduce inflammation and thus the onset of disease.
Dogs are naturally active. Sufficient exercise and play are therefore important for their health. But exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. It should even be fun. Activities we recommend to your dog include retrieving, playing, tracking, and learning tricks.
Ideally, any training program should be approved by your veterinarian and tailored to your dog’s age, breed, and overall health. As a general rule, if your dog can’t run 15-minute miles, he’s not burning enough calories.
Feed your dog the right foods
Your dog’s diet is a cornerstone of a healthy immune system. The gut contains about 70 percent of the immune system. The gut also contains your microbiome – the collection of hundreds of species of bacteria – and the bacterial balance in the microbiome is heavily influenced by diet.
Dogs are designed to eat a wet, meat-based diet, but commercial dry food is at least 40 percent starch. The problem with starch is that it promotes inflammation. Starches from vegetables and legumes like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and lentils are thought to be less acidic and inflammatory than starchy grains. A grain and starch-free diet (when possible) that also includes some fresh meat and vegetables is recommended.
A diet with an adequate amount of good fiber and live bacteria from fresh foods is important for maintaining a healthy microbiome. Many raw diets that contain only meat and bones do not support the best microbiome for dogs.
When it comes to nutrition, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to ensure your dog is eating an optimal, immune-boosting diet is to consult your veterinarian. There are dietary guidelines from research, but these apply to the general dog, not the individual. Your veterinarian is aware of these guidelines, but must then assess the individual patient and decide if these guidelines should be changed.
Consider specific supplements for your dog
To increase the effectiveness of the immune system, you may consider supplementing your dog’s diet with certain nutrients. When you give your dog a lot of different products, it’s easy to overdose on certain ingredients, and conflicting ingredients can interfere with absorption.
Recommended supplements include probiotics, which are sought after for bringing beneficial microorganisms into the digestive tract. Healthy gut flora promotes improved gut immunity, which has been shown to improve internal immunity as well.
If you are considering supplementing your dog’s diet with probiotics, keep in mind that dogs’ microbiomes are different from ours. So if you give your dog the same supplement that you take yourself or treat him to a serving of yogurt, he probably won’t benefit. A better alternative is to speak to your veterinarian about dosage and appropriate probiotic types and strains.
Another recommended supplement is fish oil, which contains anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. The fatty acids are important because they dampen the inflammatory response. However, getting adequate dietary intake can be difficult, so giving your dog a fish oil supplement is recommended.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is also recommended. Curcumin not only has anti-cancer properties but also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
If you are considering a dietary supplement, you should know that not all brands are created equal. There have been studies looking at probiotics, for example, and some didn’t contain what the label said, some contained inactive germs or misnamed them. Caution is advised here. It is recommended to buy from reputable companies that use quality ingredients and whose products are checked for purity.
Use the healing power of dog massage
Touch, massage, and similar methods can be beneficial for dogs because they promote relaxation and healing, which in turn affects overall health. While there is little veterinary research into the effects of massage on animals, human studies have shown that massage can reduce levels of stress hormones in the body.
Additionally, a research study published in 2014 found that moderate-pressure massage contributes to “improved immune function (increased natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity)” among many other “beneficial effects”. While we can’t be sure, it’s plausible that dogs might benefit from a massage in a similar way.
How to increase the immunity of dogs
Where does an autoimmune disease in dogs come from?
The exact causes of autoimmune diseases in dogs are still unclear. In many cases, however, their development seems to be favored by genetic predispositions. For this reason, dogs suffering from an autoimmune disease should not be used in breeding.
What strengthens the immune system of toddlers?
A balanced diet also includes vitamins. You can also strengthen the defense. Therefore, children should eat enough fruit and vegetables, especially in winter. This is very easy, for example with local winter vegetables and salads, which include lamb’s lettuce, carrots, leeks, and celery.
At what age is the immune system strongest?
The immune system is not fully developed from birth. In addition to an innate defense unit, the non-specific immune defense, the core of the second unit develops by around the age of 10 – the specific immune defense.