Boosting Immunity

“No doctor has ever healed anyone of anything in the history of the world. The human immune system heals and that's the only thing that heals.” - Bob Wright

***Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian - this blog post is intended for information on boosting a pets immune system using food therapy and supplements. If your pet is showing symptoms of illness, ALWAYS, always contact your veterinarian.***

It’s that time of year again where immune function for all mammals tanks, and especially for our beloved elderly pets. It’s important to pay close attention to immune function year round, but especially in the colder months when the extreme conditions naturally weaken immune defenses. 70%-80% of Immune Function comes from the gut. If the gut is not operating at full capacity, the immune system is sure to suffer.

So how do you know if the gut is out of balance? There are a few indicators; Allergies (Environmental OR Food Related), Diarrhea or Constipation, Acid Reflux, Hot Spots, Itchy or Flaky Skin, Vomiting, out of balance Hormones. Even if your pet doesn’t show any of these symptoms it’s never a bad idea to help boost their immune system in the colder months so that they are better supported to fight off any nasty bacteria or viruses.

Luckily, there are tons of foods and herbs that are easily accessible, and can be added to your pets bowls in small quantities to feed the microbiome and charge the immune system. First of all, we need to support the microbiome with probiotics and prebiotics which serve as food for all those beneficial bacteria aka microbiome or gut flora. If your pet is showing symptoms of gut imbalance rotating between a few good probiotics is where you need to start! My favorites are; Sym-Biota K9, and Fido’s Flora from Adored Beast Apothecary. In order to make sure that these new bacteria have plenty of food to thrive off of, you want to make sure your pet is eating healthy fiber sources; plant material (should be lightly cooked to break-down cell walls and make it easier to digest) OR fur, and feathers (if you are a whole-prey diet advocate). A paw’s size worth should be sufficient per meal to start. If your pet is NOT showing these symptoms and has not had any antibiotics or vaccinations recently, you can skip the probiotic supplements but I would still suggest adding some naturally occurring probiotics in their meals a few times a week to support the microbiome; Fermented Veggies, Raw Goats Milk (1tsp-1tbsp depending on the size of your dog), Apple Cider Vinegar (1/2 tsp - 1tsp depending on the size of your dog). Fermented veggies provide PRE and PRObiotics and are an excellent choice for dogs who are not displaying signs of yeast overgrowth (itchy).

Fresh Whole Foods are going to be the bodies best defense against illness, limiting their consumption of highly-processed extruded kibbles and treats is going to have the biggest impact on their microbiome and immune function. Dogs can be fed a primarily meat-based diet with supporting veg and fruit. Cats are obligate carnivores and their diets should be entirely made of meat, their bodies are not designed to breakdown plant material and longterm use has ill effect on their health. That being said, if feeding an entirely fresh food diet is not possible, just add as many fresh foods into the diet as you can. Vegetables should always be lightly cooked, raw plants are very hard for your dog to digest and lightly cooking them breaks down the cell walls making them more digestible for your dog.

Now that we’re supporting the gut, we also want to focus on foods to bolster the immune system and these can also be used a food source (prebiotic) for the beneficial bacteria you’re introducing and for supporting the existing microbiome. Decaffeinated Green Tea is an excellent immune system booster and also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help relieve symptoms for itchy pets. Decaf Green Tea can be brewed, allowed to cool to room temp and added to the pets meals 1-2 times a week, I like to add a small bit of the tea leaves to the meal as well from the brewed packet, 1-3 pinches should be sufficient depending on the size of your dog. Seaweed is another excellent choice; seaweed helps support immune function and according to TCM, is cooling and can also help soothe the symptoms of itchy dogs. Seaweed can be in Nori form, and made into a broth (dissolving a quarter of a sheet in hot water and allowing to cool). Fatty fishes a few times a week (not to be fed with every meal) are also a great choice; Wild-Caught Atlantic Salmon or Sardines (can be fresh OR canned in water), if your dog does not tolerate fish well; Flaxseed oil and Chia seeds are a good alternative. If you’re feeding fresh food make sure you add a vitamin e supplement with the fish; small amount of rinsed sunflower seeds or a supplement (Sunn-E K9 is a good choice). Lightly cooked Broccoli and Shiitake Mushrooms are another excellent add! Ginger, and Turmeric are anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, these should be used sparingly and Turmeric should always be fed with a healthy fat for digestibility; fatty fish, eggs, or flaxseed/coconut oil. Oysters are high in zinc and therefore support immune function and fight illness, these should be fed in small amounts a couple times a week if your dog or cat does not have sensitivities to shellfish.

Last, but certainly not least is the magic elixir; bone broth! Bone Broth has NUMEROUS health benefits, including; supporting joint health, boosting immune function, fighting free-radicals and encouraging a healthy microbiome! When making a bone broth at home (recipe in our blogs) you can customize it with ingredients to fit your pets needs!

If you’ve never heard of Circadian Rhythm, it is the bodies natural internal clock. This is what the body uses to make sure all necessary functions are acting accordingly. Following it is one of the easiest, and most beneficial things you can do to support immune function. Modern day living has removed us from this simple but impactful routine, and in-turn we have deprived our pets of it without even realizing it. There could be an entire blog on this alone, so to make it simple; Circadian Rhythm follows the natural order of our environment; Daytime and Nighttime, the patterns of the sun rising and setting. The body wants to be resting after sunset and awake after sunrise, sufficient rest and exercise is extremely important in balancing the body and supporting immune function. Feed after sunrise and feed the last meal before sunset. Limit artificial lighting after sunset as to not confuse the body and allow for uninterrupted rest whenever possible!