Time honored staples can be added to your dog’s diet to deeply nourish their well being. Many pets suffer deficient constitutions as the result of modern breeding and feeding practices. Whether you have a puppy or aged furry friend, the gradual introduction of these foods to your dog’s diet will cause your hound to bloom with vigor.
Kefir
Kefir is a cultured milk product, rich in B vitamins, complete proteins and essential minerals. Kefir contains more of the beneficial cultures for the digestive tract than yogurt.
The health of the digestive tract sets the tone for the health of the individual. The prolific use of antibiotics will disturb the balance of the friendly bacteria the digestive tract needs to properly breakdown and extract nutrition from the food ingested. Mal-absorption can be present even with a healthy diet as weak digestion does not allow for full extraction of the nutrients in food or the dispersal of these nutrients throughout the body.
Any being that has been on antibiotics is well advised to take kefir daily for six months to a year to fully restore proper gut flora and function. As digestion improves, nutrient uptake strengthens the body and allows for a wide variety of healthful foods to be enjoyed without digestive upset.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s)
Essential fatty acids are not manufactured by the body and therefore must be supplied by the diet. These are also known as omega 3 oils. These oils are found in flaxseed oil, krill oil and salmon oil to name a few.
Most people will immediately note a gloss to the fur and suppleness of skin when adding EFAs to the dogs’ diet. These oils also have anti-inflammatory properties and boost overall health. Krill oil supplies some of the highest levels of omega 3 oils.
Freshly ground flaxseed can be used as well. Mucilage in the ground seeds contributes to soothe digestive function and can help to ease sluggish stools in dogs prone to constipation. Use only fresh ground seeds as once ground into meal the flax can turn rancid rather quickly.
An abundance of core matrix minerals are found in this bounty. As soils are depleted, supplementing with this will give deep, vibrant nutrition to your pet.
The mineral complex provided soothes skeletal issues, improves mental alertness, grows luxurious coats and eases brittle nails. This is a chief supplement to consider for dogs born under conditions of scarcity.
Raw Colostrum
Colostrum, the first milk and the one that imparts immune protection to the offspring is considered by many the mother of all supplements.
While it is available as a powdered supplement, its best impact will be obtained as raw colostrum straight from the farm. Obtaining the raw form without pasteurization or homogenization ensures all the life giving properties and enzymes stay intact and are not destabilized by either process.
Colostrum provides a blast of life enhancing nutrition that reconstitutes the frailest of bodies. Many with severe and debilitating illness find repose with this supplement; a truly fortifying food and a favorite to re-establish homeostasis. Wise guardians reinforce their puppy’s diet with this supplement to insure the strongest possible constitution and internal fortitude for their pet.
Putting it all Together
These are but a sampling of additions to your dog’s diet that restore and bolster health. Some prefer to feed supplements seasonally as the body is stressed by extreme heat or cold. Some like kefir can be fed for longer periods to reconnect the being with the joy of eating. There are some dogs, especially those who have been bred in puppy mills and suffered extreme abuse or neglect that will do well to stay on a combination of these healing foods to repair deep damage their tainted start has initiated. For best results consult with a trusted canine professional that will have a foundational understanding of your pet’s strengths and weaknesses to best implement these supplements.
Renate Andrasevits Reed - Working with troubled horses and knowing there was pain that conventional means did not address, Renate studied various forms of energy ...
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