Many argue that dogs and cats can process grains just fine. However, just because they can digest them, does that mean they should? There are lots of studies showing that grains cause inflammation throughout the body affecting gut health.

But don’t cut out grains just by switching to grain-free kibble. Grain-free kibbles just use different starches like legumes or potatoes, which also harm gut health. The best diet for your dog’s gut health is a fresh, whole-food raw diet.

Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our bodies, keeping our guts healthy. Inflammation kills these bacteria and leads to problems such as diarrhea and constipation.

Gut health problems lead to skin & coat health problems. These bacteria are responsible for so much more than good poop. Dog gut health affects many other aspects of your dog’s body.

Probiotics in general are becoming more well known and used, and they’re the best dog gut health supplement you can give.

Inflammation creates gaps between the individual cells lining the walls. This is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome. These gaps allow toxins and pathogens to leak and escape the intestines and get into the blood stream. Along with helping boost fur and nail strength, gelatin can help heal some of those gaps. You can use bone broth to give your dog gelatin, and it’s easy to make.

You can add variety in several ways. Feeding real food to dogs, instead of kibble. You can add variety by feeding vegetables and fruit … and by regularly switching up the protein sources. And don’t forget to add in different organ meats to ensure that your dog is getting an even wider variety of nutrients.

Remember: an animal has to be exposed to something to be allergic to it. Allergies usually come from something they’ve been eating for a long time. So just because you haven’t changed their food doesn’t mean they don’t have a food allergy! In fact, they may be more likely to have one!

Stress also affects the gut, no matter the source. Try to minimize stressful situations for your dog as much as possible … and that includes reducing your own stress, since your dog picks up on that.
 

Restoring Dog Gut Health Takes Time

You need to be patient as you take steps to restore gut health in dogs.

First, remember, these problems have usually been going on for a while .. so they take time to improve. The longer your dog has had gut health symptoms, the longer he will take to heal … weeks to months, sometimes more.  These tips work, but you can’t expect overnight results.
 

If your dog has long-term gut health problems, it might be time to speak to a holistic vet. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website has a directory at ahvma.org.

Dog gut health is something you need to focus on to keep your pup as healthy as possible throughout the course of his hopefully very long life. The healthier you can keep his gut, the healthier you can keep his entire body. Healthy pups start with healthy guts!