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As a fur parent, you treat your furry pal as a family member. This means you want to keep them strong and healthy, and you usually go out of your way to ensure that you get everything right. This includes keeping their immune system healthy.
Perhaps you’ve never considered it, but your dog’s immune system health is critical. Like you, your pooch relies on its immune system for their overall health, allowing them to live their life to the fullest. With a healthy immune system, they can combat possible diseases and infections.
To help you manage and strengthen your pup’s immune system, here are some tips and strategies to consider.
1. Serve Them The Right Diet
A well-balanced diet is the foundation of your pup’s immune health. Did you know that the gut makes up 70% of the immune system? In addition, the gut also contains microbiomes essential for the proper functioning of the body. And a good balance of gut microbiome is heavily influenced by your dog’s diet.
At its core, dogs are designed to eat a meat-based diet. This is why the raw dog food diet is becoming more popular amongst dog owners.
From its name, raw dog food is not cooked or baked like canned wet food or kibbles. It is based on fresh, high-quality animal sources, either freeze-dried or frozen. Since it is not processed, raw foods lock in the natural ingredients and nutrients. In addition, raw dog foods use whole animals, including meat, vital organs, and bones, providing a nutritional balance of fat, carbs, and protein that resembles the natural diet of your dog’s ancestors.
When opting for a raw food diet, you must choose top-grade, high-quality food. Also, never buy bulks–you need to get raw dog food delivered weekly to ensure its freshness and safety for consumption.
Aside from the meat, it’s also good to include healthy vegetables and fruits like carrots, apples, spinach, sweet potatoes, and more in your pup’s diet to help improve their immune health. Consider adding at least one vegetable or fruit to your dog’s meals. However, be wary of fruits and veggies that could be toxic to dogs, including raisins, onions, and grapes.
2. Consider Adding Supplements
To boost the efficiency of your dog’s immune system, you may also consider adding supplements to their diet. Generally, the best supplements you can give them include the following:
- Fatty Acids: Fatty acids like omega-3 help improve immune system function while reducing inflammation.
- Vitamins: Essential vitamins, including A, C, and E, can help improve your pup’s overall immune system, provide the necessary antioxidants, and supports healthy growth.
- Probiotics: Probiotics can help support your pup’s healthy gut flora, which boosts gut immunity.
However, it’d be good to note that nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all solution. That said, make sure to consult with your veterinarian first before giving your four-legged buddy any supplement.
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Ask a Vet Live Now3. Encourage Exercise
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to strengthen your dog’s immune health and promote happiness. Excess fats can weaken your dog’s immune system and promotes inflammation. With exercise, you can help dogs burn excess fats and reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic diseases.
So, ensure your dog gets at least an hour of exercise and active play daily. However, this shouldn’t be an issue since dogs are naturally active. Moreover, exercise doesn’t mean that your pooch should constantly be running. Playing, regular walks, learning tricks, and simply letting them explore their surroundings are good exercises that help keep them healthy and mentally stimulated.
4. Ensure Proper Hygiene
Proper hygiene is critical for our health, and your furry pal is no exception. After all, dogs are explorative in nature, and they can easily be exposed to dirt, germs, and bacteria. So, bathing your dog can help reduce the number of bacteria its immune system has to deal with.
It’s also best to keep up with your dog’s dental hygiene to prevent tooth decay and gum diseases, which can compromise their immune health. During their bath time, ensure to clean their ears, wash their face, brush their coat, and trim their nails to maintain good grooming and appearance and promote their overall health and well-being.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, a strong and functional immune system is critical to your dog’s health. It can help reduce the risk of them developing a host of diseases and ensure a lively and happy doggo. So, follow the tips and methods mentioned above to enhance your dog’s immune system health and ensure that your four-legged buddy is living his best life.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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