Most of us believe that pet food provides what our dogs need to be healthy. But the sad truth is that many of these products lack nutrition, compromising our dogs’ immune systems. Immune support is crucial for dogs, as it prevents them from contracting infections and delays the onset of chronic diseases such as arthritis. A boosted immune system helps pets with allergies, and it supports heart health, eyesight, and overall balance. So, let’s get into the six tips you can rely on to naturally boost your dog’s immune system.
1. Introduce Your Dog to Soluble Vitamin C
When you’re down with a cold or flu, you might use vitamin C to recover quickly. We know that vitamin C plays a role in boosting the immune system, but the question is, does it work the same way for dogs? Yes, a vitamin C supplement is an excellent and natural way to strengthen your pup’s immunity. That’s because this nutrient is an antioxidant that safeguards cells from harmful free radicals and protects the body from common health problems.
In addition to strengthening their immune systems, vitamin C gives dogs energy and supports joint mobility. This vitamin can minimize severe knee, spinal, and hip issues because it increases collagen production.
But before you decide to feed poor Fido a fresh slice of lemon, dogs cannot digest vitamin C the way humans do. Instead, you can provide a powder form of buffered vitamin C to their food every week. It must be buffered to help them digest it. Be sure to stick to the correct dosage based on their weight, and always ask your veterinarian before introducing something new into your dog’s diet.
2. Add Salmon Oil to Your Dog’s Diet
Omega 3 and 6 are known to strengthen body function and are found in salmon oil. Omega 3, in particular, contains the fatty acids EPA and DHA, which improve eye and heart health. But why should you include this substance in your dog’s diet? Well, salmon oil is not only easily digested by both dogs and cats, but it also helps to fight inflammation. This makes it an excellent choice to support pets’ skin, joints, and immune systems. It’s particularly beneficial for dogs suffering from dermatitis and other common skin conditions.
Even though salmon oil is a wonderful addition to your pup’s daily diet, they can become ill if it’s overdosed. Stick to the recommended dose based on their weight and avoid issues ranging from foul breath and stomach upset to vomiting. You can feed pets salmon oil daily or every alternate day by adding the oil to their meals.
3. Use Mixed Vegetables to Provide Essential Vitamins
The idea of feeding your dog vegetables may seem odd, but surprisingly, vegetables offer dogs many vitamins and minerals to increase their immunity. For a veggie accompaniment to be effective for dogs, you need to feed them produce they can digest, always in moderation. Green produce should never replace a dog’s protein diet, and there’s certainly no such thing as a vegan or vegetarian dog! So, to improve your dog’s nutrition, you can add spinach, pumpkin, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli to their food.
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it’s packed with vitamins and minerals and has cancer-fighting properties. But only feed broccoli in small amounts because large portions of the little green florets will cause diarrhea and possible vomiting. To make vegetables more appetizing to your dog, boil them without losing the crunchiness and sprinkle them on your dog’s food.
4. Invest in a Good Dog Food
There’s no doubt that what you feed your dog will affect their overall health and well-being. Most of us feed our dogs a kibble diet because it’s convenient. Unfortunately, not all dog foods are made equal, and some contain non-nutritional fillers such as corn and soy. For pets with allergies, corn and soy trigger sensitivities ranging from itchy and flaky skin to digestive problems.
To ensure you’re feeding your pup high-quality dog food, the product should contain at least 18% protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, including calcium and phosphorous. Avoid food that is high in fillers because it does nothing to support their immune systems. Additional ingredients to look out for are salmon oil, chondroitin, and glucosamine. These elements protect aging joints and reduce the possibility of injuries, such as a luxating patella.
5. Add Probiotics to Their Diet
Probiotics are actually microorganisms that are known to help your gut. They’re usually prescribed to pets that experience ongoing stomach problems, including those with illnesses such as parvo and severe diarrhea. Probiotic supplements offer a simple and natural way to boost the immune system because they restore the normal functioning of the gut.
These helpful yeasts and bacteria protect against the proliferation of bad bacteria that cause imbalances, including compromised immunity. You can also find probiotics and prebiotics in plain yogurt, but avoid feeding too much dairy, as this could lead to abdominal cramps, runny stools, and a very unhappy pooch!
6. Get Plenty of Exercise
Your dog would agree that spending time in the fresh air is a simple way to stay happy and healthy. A daily walk, playing with toys, or running with your dog are all activities you can enjoy together to get fit and strong.
Regular exercise boosts immunity by getting the lymphatic system working. Toxins are moved out of the body to support cell recovery and protect against inflammation, which is also responsible for joint damage. Furthermore, exercise can prevent pet obesity, especially in low-to-the-ground dogs like Dachshunds and Corgis.
Healthy dogs have strong immune systems that will protect them from diseases, whether a stomach bug or inflammation causing arthritis. Paying attention to your pup’s condition, and what you’re feeding them can help you determine how to naturally improve their immunity. Stick to a weekly schedule, from incorporating supplements to regular exercise, and you’ll notice the difference in your dog’s well-being.
