Your Pet's Gut Health
Chances are you know what foods settle well in your pet's tummy, what backyard bombs signal danger and what your pet needs to feel better, but have you gone the step further to really understand the “ins and outs” of your pets digestive system? Because gut health is just as important in our pets as it is in ourselves for a long, happy and healthy life.
More than 80% of the immune system lives in the gut and is responsible for preventing toxins and bacteria from entering the bloodstream. It’s also responsible for ensuring that your pet digests and absorbs valuable nutrients to prevent them from getting sick. Even in a healthy and young dog or cat, there are no downsides to becoming more informed about your pet's gut.
Prebiotics are types of dietary fibre that feed the friendly bacteria in your gut that are found in foods including (but not limited to) certain fruit and vegetables, flaxseeds, and some fermented foods. Prebiotics help the gut bacteria produce nutrients for your pet’s colon cells. It reduces inflammation and regulates bowel movements.
Probiotics are live, good, friendly bacteria that reside in the gut and promote balance in the intestines. Probiotics are responsible for increasing and maintaining the “good” bacteria in the gut. They can help to protect the gut mucosa, preventing gut inflammation, leaky gut and other intestinal or systemic disease problems. Good bacteria can also attach to the cells and release substances that help prevent bad bacteria from increasing. Too many of the wrong bacteria, parasites and yeasts can create a poor digestive ecosystem and lead to problematic symptoms creeping in such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, itching, yeast infections, food intolerances, leaky gut and at times immune problems where disease starts to present.
Postbiotics are the breakdown products of prebiotics, probiotics and fiber-rich compounds after digestion. They can include metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), microbial cell fractions, and more. Postbiotics finish the cycle of gut health by shifting the gut microbiome towards a healthy composition, supports the growth of probiotics and gut microbiota, stimulates the immune system, lowers the risk of colon cancer and enhances epithelial barrier function.
It’s also important to know that there are many external influences, sometimes out of our control, that can impact your pets microbiome. These can include intolerance to vaccinations, stress, the ageing process, excessive antibiotics, inappropriate foods and environmental contaminants.
However, there are certainly things that we as pet owners are able to do to support happy family pets.
We can also reduce stress where possible. Frustrating for the owners and the animal isn't the only consequence of a stressed or upset pet, stress can also interrupt their gut health. An upset stomach can also cause pain and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle for your furry friend.
Less stress, environmental control and high-quality food are three great ways to improve your pet's microbiome.
At Bella and Boots we pride ourselves on only including proven ingredients that improve and support your pets overall nutrition and gut health. We use the perfect formulation in our blends that contain organic ingredients including pro and prebiotics, green leafy matter, fermented foods and wild and organic cuts of meat.
For better gut health — and general well-being — order Bella and Boots online now! Or come in store at Belmondos Organic Market.