Good nutrition creates health in all areas of life. All parts are interconnected. 

Gut health affects more aspects of a dog’s life than you would initially think. If your puppy is acting out aggressively or has too much energy, it may be a side effect of an unbalanced gut.

Here’s a simple breakdown; both dogs and humans have bacteria inside their digestive system. There is good bacteria and bad bacteria. When there is an imbalance of bacteria, the following may result; 1. the digestive tract may not be able to get as many nutrients out of food. 2. The ability to focus will lessen. 3. Food intolerances will begin to develop. 

Modern society is seeing a rise in gut-related diseases in our dogs and ourselves. It’s more important now than ever to take care of our dogs’ gut health. But how do we do this? Here are 5 suggestions.

1. Raw foods

Raw meat is easier on a digestive system because it has specific enzymes inside of it to help it to be digested. Raw egg yolks are also a good option because they are made up good, saturated fats. Another good option would be raw milk because it also has naturally-occurring fats and enzymes. You’ll, of course, need to follow proper safety protocol when feeding your dog raw meats or foods.

2. Supplements

Many dog owners feed their dogs probiotics or fermented foods. These types of foods contain the good bacteria to help balance out the dog’s gut. Supplements also contain the same benefits. This is why daily supplementation is an excellent option. At Genuine Naturals we carry Digestive Chews for dogs which contain probiotics for a healthy canine gut.

3. Diet

Diet is perhaps the biggest factor at play in a dog’s overall gut health. Supplements can’t replace a diet as they are meant to work ALONGSIDE a balanced diet. Consult a vet and plenty of research about the best dog food available to your furry friend.

4. Antibiotics

If your dog is going through any kind a treatment in which they need to take antibiotics, they should also get probiotic food or supplements. The purpose of antibiotics is to kill bacteria… which is great to fight off the bad bacteria. However, it also kills the good bacteria. That’s why it’s important to get the good bacteria back into your dog’s belly! Supplements are great to pair with antibiotics to help your baby through his or her treatment!

4. Mental State

As stated in the beginning of this blog post, the gut and the brain are connected. Poor gut health can affect a dog’s mood; but the reverse is also true. Poor mental health can also affect gut health. Dogs get stressed too! There are many ways to help a dog relieve stress. One suggestion is to make sure he or she gets plenty of exercise. With all that energy, it can be stressful keeping it all bottled up inside.

Happy gut = happy life. This is true for both dogs and humans! When we take care of our furry friends, they will continue to have the energy to continue to care for us. Supplements are a great way to help a dog continue to live at optimal health when paired with other good lifestyle choices.