Our dogs are our babies, and we don’t want them to be sick. But despite our best efforts, they, just like us humans, can feel a little out of sorts.
A dog’s immune system is important for many reasons. First, it helps to protect your dog from harmful viruses and bacteria. Second, it helps to keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy. Third, it helps to regulate your dog’s metabolism.
Finally, it helps to keep your dog’s energy levels up. All of these benefits are important for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. A healthy immune system is the key to a happy and healthy life for your furry friend.
While there are many commercial products available that claim to boost your dog’s immune system, there are also several simple and natural ways to do so. If you’re looking at some ways to give your pooch’s immune system a strong boost, here’s how!
Feed A Top-Quality Diet Rich In Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants
It’s only natural that they want to give their furry friend the best possible care – including the best food. However, many pet owners choose to feed their dogs cheap, mass-produced food instead of higher-quality options.
Unfortunately, this can have a number of consequences for the dog’s health. Cheap dog food is often made with low-quality ingredients that provide little nutrition. In addition, it is often highly processed, which can lead to digestive problems.
Finally, cheap dog food is often lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. As a result, feeding your dog cheap dog food can put their health at risk.
Top-quality dog food is made with high-quality ingredients that are designed to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. In addition to feeding your dog a nutritious diet, feeding them top-quality food can also help to prolong their life.
So, if you want your furry friend to stick around for a long time, be sure to give them the best food possible!
Get Plenty Of Exercise
As any dog owner knows, a healthy dog is a happy dog. And one of the best ways to keep your furry friend happy and healthy is to make sure they get plenty of exercise. Not only does exercise provide your dog with physical and mental stimulation, but it can also help to boost their immune system.
Just like humans, physically active dogs tend to be less susceptible to illness. Exercise boosts the immune system by increasing the circulation of white blood cells throughout the body. These cells are responsible for fighting off infections, and the more of them that are circulated the better equipped the body is to fight off illness.
In addition, exercise also helps to reduce stress levels, which can further weaken the immune system. So not only does exercise help to directly boost immunity, but it also indirectly helps by reducing stress. In other words, it’s a win-win situation for both you and your pooch!
Get Enough Rest And Sleep
Rest and sleep are essential for a strong immune system. It is after all when the body repairs itself and heals for the following day.
When our dogs don’t get enough rest, their bodies are less able to fight off infection. In fact, all bodies, whether human or canine, that don’t get enough rest are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus.
The everyday wear and tear of life can weaken their immune systems and make them more susceptible to illness. That’s why it’s so important for dog parents to make sure their furry friends get plenty of rest and sleep.
A good night’s sleep can mean the difference between a healthy animal and one that starts to show signs of illness, and that is something we all don’t want!
Avoid Excessive Stress
Some stress is normal, especially during dramatic changes like a housing move, or your dog coming home for the first time from a shelter.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important to remember that stress can have a significant impact on physical health. In fact, research has shown that chronic stress can weaken the immune system and lead to a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
Dogs that are constantly exposed to stressful situations are more likely to develop behaviour problems and health problems such as ulcers and immunodeficiency disorders.
Dogs can get stressed from a variety of things: loud noises, new environments, other animals, being left alone, etc. Here are some signs that your dog is stressed:
– Panting or heavy breathing
– Ears back or flat against their head
– Tail between their legs
– Hiding or cowering
– Trembling or shaking
– Barking excessively
If you think your dog is experiencing chronic stress, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian or a dog behavioural consultant. They can help you figure out the cause of the stress and how to best address it.
Supplements
If you feel that your dog isn’t getting the most out of his food, you can think about adding some supplements for that extra “oomph” to the immune system.
When it comes to supplements that can help boost your dog’s immune system, there are a few different options to choose from. One popular option is probiotics. Probiotics are live bacteria that help to keep the digestive system healthy and balance the levels of good and bad bacteria in the gut. This can help to improve overall digestion and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Another supplement that can be beneficial for dogs is omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids help to reduce inflammation and can also promote a healthy coat and skin.
Finally, vitamins C and E are also important for dogs, as they help to fight off infections and support the immune system.
Final Thoughts
We love our dogs and of course, don’t want them to be sick. Not only will we feel sorry for them, but a compromised immune system can also lead to more serious illnesses and heftier vet bills.
By taking a few steps and making some lifestyle changes, we can make sure our dog’s immune system is the best it can be. Best of luck!
