Supporting your pet's gut microbiome will help them live healthy and happy lives. The microbiome of dogs and cats are home to vast colonies of microorganisms - or microbes - trillions of bacteria and fungi all of which have a big impact on their wellbeing. Factors like diet, age, pollution and intestinal illness can throw off the delicate balance of the gut microbiome, impacting digestion, immunity, weight, and behaviour.
Just like humans, your pet encounters emotional and physiological stresses every day that can potentially affect their microbiome. Even a change in the weather can have an impact. As the hot weather rolls in and the temperature goes up so does the number of summer insects like fleas and ticks. Bugs can carry diseases and cause irritations to pets and when there is a lack of diversity within the gut, your pet is at higher risk of catching infections.
Boosting their immune system is essential to help them ward off any pathogens - the bad bugs. As the largest immune organ, the gastrointestinal tract is responsible for preventing toxins and pathogenic bacteria from entering the bloodstream as well as making sure your pet digests and absorbs nutrients from food and supplements. The gut houses 80% of their immune system, so it's no surprise that the vast ecosystem of trillions of microbes living there has an impact on your pet's immune function.
A healthy balanced microbiome supports your pet's overall health as well as: supporting bone and joint health, maintaining energy levels, easing stress and stomach issues, supporting immune function and managing a healthy weight. According to a recent study from Finland, urban living, small family size, and disconnection from nature and other animals were linked to a higher risk of allergies in humans and their dogs. Dogs get canine atopic dermatitis, which is a kind of doggy eczema when they are stressed. Whereas dogs and their owners who spent more time outside or in a household with many animals and children, or regularly visited a forest, were protected from allergies.
From birth onward, the combinations of microbes found in rural and natural environments appear to train the immune systems of animals and kids and make them less hyper-reactive. Reinforcing this idea is the discovery that the skin microbiome on dogs and humans who suffer from allergies differs from their healthy counterparts. Diet also has a major impact. In studies of animals, high-intensity sweeteners and food additives like the emulsifiers used in food Overweight dogs also face reduced life expectancy their lifespan is up to two and a half years shorter compared to dogs with a healthy body weight.
You can help your pet's gut microbiome by supplementing his diet with probiotics that flood their system with the correct beneficial bacteria, supporting his digestion, nutrient absorption and overall health. The more beneficial strains you have in your probiotic, the better the microbes are able to respond to the wide variety of stresses that can affect your pet's microbiome. microbz fermentation broth (previously Microbz NutritionBooster) has 10 families of beneficial microbes including Bifidobacterium bifidum, which helps promote a healthy balance of flora in your pet's intestine and is especially helpful for enhancing immune response, Bifidobacterium longum which keeps your pet's digestive system running smoothly by supporting digestion and bowel health, and Lactobacillus casei which works with other organisms and helps encourage the growth of good bacteria. Simply add NutritionBooster to your pet's breakfast meal to give them a daily probiotic boost or add a splash to their water bowl. Help your pet stay as healthy and happy as possible.
