As seems to be the pattern, trends in pet health closely follow those in the human world. Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised by this, because when a topic concerning health becomes important enough to grab our attention, it makes sense that we will consider if there are also any implications for our beloved pets. In fact, Google Trends data shows a steady increase in searches for “gut health” since 2020. With this rush of interest in our own gut health, here at RAWZ we wanted to celebrate National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day by providing some info about pets’ often forgotten organs: Their guts…
The Holiday
National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day only recently became recognized after being initiated by AnimalBiome. Founded through a grassroots funding initiative in 2015, AnimalBiome have labeled themselves as the “leader in microbiome science for companion animals.” After studying the microbiomes of more than 30,000 cats and dogs and discovering the health problems that can occur from gut microbiome imbalance, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or itchy skin, the AnimalBiome team initiated National Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day in 2022.
What Exactly Is the Gut Microbiome?
Referring to the trillions of microscopic organisms living in a dog or cat’s intestinal tract, the animals’ microbiome spans from its mouth to the end of the large intestine. The amazingly complex metabolic function — transforming food into energy — that occurs in the microbiome is important to overall health. And don’t worry; although the microorganisms comprising the gut microbiome are bacteria, in a healthy microbiome, the beneficial bacteria rule the roost!
As important to a pets’ health and well-being as the metabolic function aided by the gut, are the immune cells that are contained within the gut wall barrier. An astounding 70% of immune cells reside in the gut microbiome, actively protecting against infection and disease This is why it’s imperative to keep your pet’s gut health in check!
Fostering a Healthy Gut for Your Dog or Cat
Now that we’ve highlighted the importance of a pets’ gut health to their wellbeing, let’s outline some steps you can take to keep your dog or cat’s gut in tip top shape:
Whole Foods: Feed your pet quality food.
Provide Proper Hydration: Ensure your pet is hydrated so their digestion and overall health is optimized. A water fountain can provide fresh, flowing water to prevent contamination and entice your furry friend to hydrate.
Encourage Exercise: Exercise helps move waste through the digestive tract, supporting proper digestion, bowel health, and is great for total body composition.
Use Prebiotics and Probiotics: Prebiotics can help maintain a dog's gut health by encouraging the growth of bacteria, while Probiotics can be added to ensure the presence of positive bacteria and inhibit the growth of the harmful type.
Feed Fermented Foods: Fermentation is a natural preservation process that also creates foods with a good source of healthy microbes containing live bacteria.
Add Dietary Fiber: Fiber is an essential part of canine and feline diets that help keep the digestive process moving.
Gradually Introduce New Foods: Slowly introducing new foods can help minimize the risk of digestive upset to a pet’s GI process.
Check for Food Intolerances/Allergies: Eliminate common trigger foods to see if your pet's symptoms improve with an elimination diet or have your veterinarian run allergy testing.
Make Sure Your Pet Gets Quality Sleep: A strained digestion process or uncomfortable gut can certainly disrupt sleep and a balanced gut will improve sleep quality.
RAWZ for Gut Health
While the complete and balanced RAWZ recipes are formulated to optimize your pets’ total health, many of our offerings can also help address specific issues:
- A variety of moisture-rich wet recipes for cats and for dogs
- 4 Digestive Support Solutions Recipes for felines and 3 for canines
- 3 delicious Stews for dogs featuring pre/probiotic boosts, lower lactose levels, and varied nutrient boost of Goat Milk for your canine
To join us in improving the lives of those living with disability through the RAWZ Fund while also enhancing your pets gut health, use our Retail Locator to find your nearest trusted RAWZ retail partner!
