How to Guide on Maintaining Gut Health in Dogs
The reality is that a healthy gut is the foundation for the overall health of your mutt. It literally impacts everything from how energetic they are to their digestion, immunity, and mood. As a rule, pet parents tend to focus on visible stuff like a shiny coat and clean fangs, using products like dental powder dog formula and vet-approved shampoos to support the dog’s hygiene. But then comes the invisible.
What is going on in your pooch’s belly is as important.
The digestive system of a fluffball is the ecosystem of gazillions of microbes….good and bad. If the gut microbiome is balanced, it helps break down food, support immune defenses, and keep harmful pathogens at bay. If something goes wrong, gastrointestinal issues might become part of the game.
Is there something you can do? Absolutely, yes. Here is our quick guide on how you can maintain your furry buddy’s gut health:
- Give preference to top-quality food only. Why? For the same reason that you choose products for yourself. Make sure their diet is rich in fiber, healthy fats, and quality proteins. It is highly recommended to choose products with limited fillers and artificial additives. Besides, it is better to add whole food toppers like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or bone broth. In tandem, they boost the digestive system like nothing else.
- Make probiotics and prebiotics part of the routine. When it comes to probiotics, they are beneficial bacteria that help maintain a healthy gut. As for prebiotics, they are fibers that feed these very bacteria. As a caring parent of a tail-wagger, you should choose dog-specific probiotic supplements or foods with ingredients like inulin or chicory root. The latter are famous for promoting a thriving gut microbiome.
- Stay away from antibiotics…if possible. There’s no doubt that sometimes antibiotics are just necessary. However, they can easily destroy good and helpful bacteria living in the gut. Keeping this in mind, you have to use them only when your vet prescribes. What is more, it is crucial to follow up with probiotics to help restore the bacterial balance.
- Provide a stressless routine. Even though sometimes it is impossible to avoid stressful situations, you have to remember that they can negatively affect a dog’s health (just like yours!). Make sure your pup has a calm personal haven to hide from everyone and have some zZZ. It should be well-structured and include loads of physical activities and mental stimulation. Thus, your wooder won’t get anxious or stressed.
- Control the parasites. Unfortunately, intestinal parasites like worms can seriously worsen your dog’s digestive health. That is why you have to do regular deworming, flea control, and provide them with clean water.
As you can see, caring for your pet’s gut health is just as crucial as keeping their coat shiny or their teeth pearly white. The good news is that with a well-structured routine, healthy food, and regular vet checks, you can be 100% sure your mutt thrives from head to tail.
