The Best Dog Immune Booster: How to Keep Your Pooch Healthy
To help keep their bodies healthy, dogs need boosters for their immune system. It helps them fight off viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.
If your dog is not strong, it is more likely to get sick or have chronic conditions such as infections, allergies, arthritis, cancer, etc. If your dog has allergies or arthritis, learn about natural products and natural arthritis treatments.
You can do some simple things to help boost your dog’s immune system. These include making small changes to your lifestyle, such as eating different foods and taking specific supplements.
Factors That Can Contribute to a Low Immune System in Dogs
There can be many things that make a dog’s immune system weak. Usually, it is a combination of things that make the immune system more ineffective. These can include:
- Poor Diet/Nutrition
- Stress
- Weight
- Vaccines
- Toxins are found in flea and tick repellent treatments, heartworm medication, and immunizations.
Top Immune System Boosters For Dogs
There are several ways to strengthen your dog’s immune system. You can alter their lifestyle, provide vitamins, or provide holistic medical care.
1. Food
This phrase means that you are what you eat. If you eat low-quality food with fillers and preservatives, your dog’s immune health and overall health will not be as good as if you eat high-quality food.
You can increase the nutrition in your dog’s meals by making homemade food for them. It would help if you worked with a vet to create a food menu with all your dog’s nutrients.
If you think of making your dog food, reading about the pros and cons is essential.
Not everyone has the time or finances to make homemade dog food. If you don’t have the time or money, go to your local pet store and ask the owner. They will be more than happy to help.
Probiotics are a natural way to boost your dog’s immune system.
About 80% of your dog’s immune system lives in its gut. If your pet’s gut isn’t healthy (meaning its microbiome is unhealthy), it won’t have a robust immune system.
Probiotics help to improve your dog’s immunity in different ways. Some probiotics create a layer of mucous in the gut, which helps keep harmful bacteria from getting into the intestinal lining. Probiotics also take up space in the stomach, giving harmful bacteria less space to live.
Finally, fatty acids produced by probiotics help reduce bad bacteria growth and inflammation in the body.
Many things can create stress for your dog. Some of the main ones are new family members, not getting enough exercise, not getting enough attention, and being left alone.
If your dog is stressed for a long time, it will weaken and get sick more often.
You can do many things to help boost your dog’s immune system. Exercise is not usually the first thing that comes to mind, but it is still an important part of keeping your dog healthy.
The muscle activity of exercise helps cleanse the body of toxins. When you exercise, your blood flow and lymph fluid increase, which helps move immunity components like white blood cells around the body.
Make sure your dog is healthy to avoid making its immune system weaker. Extra body fat can trigger “pro-inflammatory” immune cells that move around the body and cause inflammation.
Dogs that are lonely and neglected are more stressed. It makes their immune system weaker.
Giving your dog love and attention makes them both physically and mentally healthy. The added benefit is that the love you receive from your pet when you spend time together makes you healthier too!
Activities like decompression walk for dogs help your dog to destress. In turn, it improves their mental and physical health.
Omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation and support the immune system. Inflammation has been linked to many diseases, including cancer.
Studies have shown that echinacea can help improve your dog’s immune system. One study found that it stimulates the immune system in several ways.
Turmeric, the active ingredient in curcumin, has properties that can help with inflammation and cancer. Dana Scott at Dogs Naturally recommends giving it with an oil like coconut oil to increase absorption.
If you are interested in giving this to your dog, read about the health benefits of turmeric for dogs. It will help you decide if it is a good addition to your dog’s diet.
Medicinal mushrooms have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and contain essential vitamins and minerals. Their components are powerful immune stimulants that help your body fight infection.
Different mushrooms have different properties. You will need to work with your holistic vet to find the right combination of mushrooms for your dog.
Some medicinal mushrooms and their benefits include:
- Turkey tail mushrooms contain antioxidants that help improve the immune system. They also balance gut bacteria. This study showed that dogs with hemangiosarcoma had a higher survival rate when treated with turkey tails.
- Reishi mushrooms help to improve the immune system and increase energy.
- Maitake is known for its ability to boost the immune system. Studies have also shown that it can help suppress tumor growth in mice.
- Shiitake mushrooms contain phytochemicals that help keep your cells functioning and your immune system strong.
- Cordyceps is well-known for its immune-boosting properties. It can make it more robust if it is too weak or weaker if it is too strong to help bring it back into balance.
- Chaga is a mushroom that has antioxidant properties. It means that it allows the immune system. It is also high in fiber and other nutrients.
DMG is an amino acid that aids physical, psychological, physiological, and environmental stressors. It is known to support immune system function and performance.
The research found that DMG could improve the immune response in laboratory animals and humans. There are also a lot of stories out there of animals recovering from terminal cancer or living much longer than their diagnosis timeframe after taking DMG.
Colostrum contains immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, which aid in immunological function.
Colostrum is a clear, yellowish fluid produced in a mother’s milk for 72 hours. It is rich in immune and growth factors.
Bone broth is a drink that has many benefits. It can help with chronic illnesses, allergies, and hip dysplasia. Bone broth contains many beneficial substances like immune system enhancers, growth factors, proteins, enzymes, etc.
Whole Dog Journal has a great article that explains how colostrum works and what conditions it is used for.
Massages help the body increase the number of lymphocytes and make them work better. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system.
When your pet (or massage) a dog, you benefit yourself and you. Petting a dog can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress and strengthen your immune system!
Acupuncture is a medicine that helps to balance the body. It allows the energy, called chi, to flow through the body. When everything is balanced, the immune system also becomes more vigorous.
There are numerous ways that essential oils can help improve your immune system. For example, they can help reduce stress levels and strengthen immune function.
However, you need to be careful when using oils with your dog. Some fats can be harmful if you use the wrong kind or put too much on their skin. Make sure you read these articles before you decide which oils to use:
Julia Henriques provides helpful information on using essential oils safely when caring for your dog.
- Aura Cacia Relaxation Kit
These essential oils help you relax and reduce stress.
- Eden Garden Stress Relief Essential Oil Blend
This product contains a blend of essential oils known to help relieve anxiety and stress. The oils are sweet orange, bergamot, patchouli, grapefruit, and ylang-ylang.
- Eden Gardens Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is known for its antibacterial and relaxing effects. The room will smell lovely if you put the oil in a diffuser!
Vaccines and Chemical Preventatives
Toxins from these products can stress your dog’s immune system over time if you give him immunizations or treat fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, or heartworm.
Your dog’s immune system can be stressed in many different ways, and when this happens, it leaves the door open for many health problems. For example:
- Allergies
- Digestive Issues
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
Vaccines
Some dog owners choose to do fewer vaccinations because they want to reduce the number of chemicals their dog’s body processes. It can be a good idea, but working with your holistic vet is important to ensure you are doing what is needed to protect your dog.
Suppose you want to learn more about vaccine choices. In that case, Dr. Jean Dodds has a plan that focuses on immunity without over-vaccinating. She also discusses titer tests to see if your dog needs a new vaccination or if their immunity is still present from the last one.
Deworming
There are natural methods for removing worms from a dog’s stomach. It is a healthier option when possible because it avoids toxins.
If your dog has a severe infestation, you may need to use a conventional dewormer to eliminate the parasites. You can also help your dog’s liver by giving it milk thistle, eliminating toxins.
Make sure you are working with your vet to develop a plan to prevent worms, and also take in post-treatment fecal samples to ensure the treatment is effective.
Best Guide to Naturally Boosting Your Dog’s Immunity
As a dog owner, you want to offer them a good life. Weak immune systems make dogs susceptible to immunological diseases, viral infections, and cancer. We’ll discuss how to boost your dog’s immune system naturally and why it’s important.
Why a Healthy Immune System is Vital for Dogs
It is essential to care for your dog so that they maintain a healthy immune system to:
- Fight foreign microorganisms that can deplete cells and deteriorate tissue function.
- Adapt to a variety of physiological conditions.
- Fight infections and prevent diseases as a new puppy and a mature dog.
Dogs’ immune systems determine their survival. This is important throughout life. If a puppy’s immune system doesn’t develop properly, 10-30% die before 21 days. Your dog’s immune system fights inflammatory, neoplastic, and autoimmune disorders as it ages.
What Causes a Dog’s Weak Immune System?
Several factors can weaken your dog’s immune system:
- Hereditary Immunodeficiency
- Tumors
- Viral Infections
- Excessive Stress
- Allergies
- Surgery
- Vaccines and Medication
- Age
- Poor Sleep
By taking care of your dog, you can prevent several immune-suppressing factors. Hereditary immunodeficiency is unavoidable. Predisposed dog breeds include:
- Basset Hounds
- Beagles
- Chinese Shar-peis
- Cardigan Welsh Corgis
- Doberman Pinschers
- German Shepherds
- Gray Collies
- Irish Setters
- Jack Russell Terriers
- Weimaraners
Best Tips for Naturally Boosting Your Dog’s Immune System
To strengthen your dog’s immune system naturally, follow these tips:
Encourage Physical Fitness Through Play
A dog’s immune system is stronger when it’s active. Encourage physical activity by walking and playing with your dog for 30 minutes daily. Any cardio exercise that makes your dog pant is healthy.
- Fetch
- Jumping
- Swimming
- Running
You benefit from walking your dog, too. Dog owners are 57%-77% more active.
Feed Your Dog a Diet Rich in Nutrients
According to studies, a proper diet is crucial for your dog’s immune system. Buy dog food with immune-boosting ingredients. Look for excellent ingredients on labels.
Portion control is also important. Healthy dog weight enhances the immune system.
Want to strengthen your dog’s immune system? All-natural food toppers from Rogue Pet Science.
Provide Fresh, Clean Water
Keeping your dog’s water bowl clean and refilled will prevent it from microorganisms that might damage it and weaken its immune system. One ounce of water per pound of body weight daily will keep your dog hydrated.
Supplement Your Dog’s Diet for Added Nutrients
Good dog food is crucial, but you can also add vitamins and nutrients. Some dog owners give their dogs a regular supplement to boost their health. In contrast, others only do so after surgery or illness.
What Vitamins Benefit the Immune System of a Dog?
You should provide your dog with the following vitamins and nutrients in the form of food, supplements, or treats for a strong immune system:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Vitamin A
- B Vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Direct-Fed Microbials
- Phytogenics
- Prebiotics
- Probiotics
- Zinc
What is the Strongest Immune Booster?
These are the top nutrients and vitamins for enhancing your dog’s immune system:
- Vitamin C: Antioxidant that aids in the fight against free radicals and protects against viruses and illnesses.
- Vitamin E: A fat-soluble that improves the heart, eyes, skin, and muscles.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fatty acids reduce inflammation and support joints, skin, heart, and immune system.
- Probiotics: contain good yeasts and bacteria that help balance the digestive tract and counterbalance harmful bacteria that would otherwise weaken your dog’s immune system.
Avoid Stressful Situations
Stress affects dogs physically and emotionally. Your dog’s stress releases cortisol. Cortisol might impair your dog’s immune system if his stress levels are constantly high.
Some dogs are more anxious and sensitive to noise, people, and travel. Understand what stresses your dog and try to limit or avoid them.
Take Your Dog to The Veterinarian Regularly
Regular vet visits can enhance your dog’s immune system since your vet can see symptoms and causes you might miss. It helps you keep your dog healthy.
Proper Care Leads to a Long Healthy Life
Give your dog a portion of good food, frequent exercise, correct nutrition, and water. You’ll enhance their immune system and help them live active lives.
Rogue Pet Science makes natural pet nutrition and treats. Rogue Pet Science’s supplements improve your dog’s health and life.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of different supplements for dogs that can help build their immune system. Some supplements strengthen the immune system, while others help regulate it.
If your dog has an over-active immune system, it needs a modulator. If your dog has a low immune system, it needs a stimulator. Giving your pet the right product is essential to help your dog get better.
