The more we learn about dog gut health, the more we know how much it affects a dog’s immune health. Your dog’s immune system needs to be at its best so they can be their healthiest, and the best way to enhance your dog’s immune system is to encourage good dog gut health. At Bernie’s Best, that’s our number one goal!
What’s so important about how my dog’s immune system works?
A strong immune system is key for not just human health but dog health too. Like yours–your dog’s health relies on robust immune systems that keep immune responses on target and allow immune cells to protect your dog and enhance their overall health. A weak immune system may prevent the proper immune response when it comes to fighting off infections and maintaining optimal health. Without healthy immune system cells, your dog is not fully protected from harmful pathogens, disease and infection.
Dogs’ immune systems are remarkable and act as the body’s defense against microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites. When dogs’ immune systems are at their healthiest, they are able to identify and neutralize or eliminate toxins and pathogens that put them at risk of infection or disease.
A well-functioning immune system supports a dog’s overall health. It helps maintain homeostasis by recognizing and eliminating abnormal or damaged cells, including cancerous ones. Additionally, a strong immune system promotes faster recovery from illnesses and injuries.
Aging can affect dogs’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections and illnesses, so it is particularly important to ensure elderly dogs’ immune systems are as efficient and healthy as they can be.
Like humans, dogs can develop allergies. An immune system that functions optimally can help regulate and modulate the dog’s response to allergens, reducing the severity and frequency of allergic reactions. When a dog’s body reacts to an allergen with an antihistamine response, it’s actually a result of the dog’s immune system erroneously reacting.
Perhaps most importantly, dogs with a strong canine immune system tend to have better longevity and a higher quality of life. They maintain overall vitality, leading to their overall happier lives.
What could compromise my dog’s immune system?
Your dog’s immune system can be compromised in numerous ways. Poor nutrition is the most common reason your dog may suffer from a weak immune system. They will have a weaker immune system if they don’t have an adequate or unbalanced diet. Lack of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins prohibits your dog’s immune system from working appropriately and producing functioning immune cells, making the dog more susceptible to infections.
Additionally, dogs experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, or emotional trauma may also have compromised immune systems and suffer from immune-mediated diseases. Stress hormones can suppress the immune response, and this could have an adverse effect on the dog’s life.
Some medical conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases or even hormonal imbalances may compromise how well a dog’s immune system works. They may compromise the health of immune cells, prevent red blood cells, white blood cells and t cells from acting on behalf of your dog, and weaken an otherwise healthy immune system.
On the same token, medications and treatments for many medical conditions can also compromise a healthy canine immune system. Some dogs participate in long-term corticosteroid use to make the dog’s immune system work effectively, but the side effect can actually bring impairment to their immune function in the process.
Other issues may include genetics. Some dog breeds are predisposed to have certain medical conditions that affect the dog’s immune system in negative ways.
What’s the connection between a dog’s immune system and gut health?
The gut-immune connection in dogs is complex and heavily intertwined. The gut is where a large portion of your dog’s immune system is. A specialized immune system that’s located in the gut, the GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissue) is what facilitates this unique and important connection.
The GALT consists of immune cells, such as lymphocytes and antibodies, which work together to protect the body from harmful pathogens. These immune cells (including b cells and t cells) constantly monitor the gut for potential threats, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
A crucial component of the gut-immune connection in dogs is their gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is a huge community of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) in the gastrointestinal tract. These microbes are crucial in maintaining a healthy gut environment and influencing the canine immune system.
The gut microbiota helps regulate the immune response in dogs by promoting balance in the gut and the dog’s immune system. In a healthy immune system, immune cells interact and release substances that help strengthen and fortify the immune system. When there’s a powerful presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut, this means an overgrowth of harmful pathogens has a harder time wreaking havoc on your dog.
Sometimes, dysbiosis occurs. This could be through the use of antibiotics or diet changes or simply because your dog is stressed. But when it happens, it can compromise the gut-immune connection and that can leave them vulnerable to infections, allergic reactions and other adverse health conditions.
So how can you strengthen the gut-immune connection in dogs?
Factors that can help the gut-immune connection be stronger in dogs include stress management, regular exercise, and minimizing exposure to toxins. Giving dogs lots of regular exercise and mental stimulation helps reduce stress levels, support a healthy gut-immune connection, and strengthen their immune system.
The most important way to promote a healthy gut-immune connection in dogs, though, is to focus on your dog maintaining a diverse and balanced microbiome. The easiest way to do this is to ensure that they have the proper diet–which includes providing high-quality, nutrient-dense food that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria. Foods rich in fiber, such as vegetables and fruits, are helpful as they also act as prebiotics to nourish and feed the probiotics.
Give Bernie’s Perfect Poop to help your dog’s immune system be its best
Bernie’s Perfect Poop can help support a dog’s immune system in several ways. Here’s how:
- We focus on gut health. Bernie’s Perfect Poop is designed to promote a healthy gut, plain and simple. We know that a healthy immune system relies on a healthy dog gut, so we used premium ingredients that work together to help improve gut health. It also helps improve their immune system and helps them live their best, healthiest lives.
- We use key, beneficial bacteria. The probiotics in Bernie’s Perfect Poop, help introduce beneficial bacteria into your dog’s gut. These beneficial bacteria support a balanced immune response by enhancing the production of antibodies and other immune factors, and this strengthens their immune system.
- We pay attention to anti-inflammatory support. Perfect Poop includes ingredients like flaxseed, which is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that can help regulate the immune system and reduce excessive inflammation, which can hinder your dog’s immune system and immune responses.
- We aid optimal nutritional absorption. Perfect Poop is formulated with premium ingredients that provide high-quality fiber, which allows your dog to absorb the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from their food. When your dog has optimal nutrient absorption, their immune system is one that can effectively fight off infections and maintain its overall health and longevity. Bernie’s Perfect Poop also contains digestive enzymes that help break food down to ensure optimal nutrient absorption.
So give your dog Perfect Poop with every meal. You’ll not just help their gut health be its best, but enhance your dog’s immune system as well.
