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All diseases start in the gut.
Sound familiar? It’s a pretty common phrase on the farm. And it’s usually the truth. But these livestock owners are usually talking about swine and poultry, not dogs.
For years, the agricultural community has made gut health a priority for chickens and pigs, inspiring standards and best practices. Why not dogs? Perhaps because there’s a lag in research and application. Maybe because kibble marketing is very strategic. It could be because production animals are considered a revenue-generating commodity while dogs. . .not so much.
What it Takes To Raise Healthy, High-performance Dogs
But whether your dogs are on the ranch, in the ring, out in the field, or at the foot of your bed— and whether yours suffer from frequent vet visits or allergies--it’s time to ask some hard questions. To learn more about them from the inside out. To re-educate ourselves on what it takes to raise healthy, high-performance dogs.
General Health For Dogs
A dog’s stomach can be a pretty hostile environment and food is the number one factor. But we're not talking about a tummy ache. Poor gut health can impact a dog’s skin, coat, immune system, physical development, and even reproduction system.
CCL Research, a credible source in the agro-food industry, showed that when young piglets were challenged with E.coli K88 strain bacteria, better gut health:
- Increased recovery rates from clinical diarrhea symptoms
- Prevented excess weight loss due to decreased nutrient absorption
- Decreased reproduction of the E. coli bacteria source inside the gut
Reproduction in Dogs: Increasing Semen Quality & Pregnancy Rates
Dr. Milo Wiltbank, professor of reproduction physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducted novel research, demonstrating a significant link between gut health (in this case, methionine availability) and reproduction rates. His study showed a 13.5% increase in dairy cow pregnancy rates via artificial insemination. The improvement aided in both embryo size and implantation development.
In addition, consider a poor semen quality scenario in your dog. This might include low volume and low motility. Did the vet suggest vitamins? Maybe indoor quarters? Deworming? These are all attacking symptoms that result from poor nutrient absorption, which is a consequence of poor gut health.
Energy Levels & Immunity
Although not often discussed, the power of digestive enzymes is paramount. Here’s how it works. Dogs, like humans, make digestive enzymes on demand. These aid in the breakdown of food sources, which release nutrients that your dog needs to thrive. But dogs make only two types: protease and lipase. And since dogs were designed to eat prey-type animals, neither of these enzymes break down the plant-based ingredients common in all dry kibble.
Without this breakdown, nutrients are not reduced or absorbed, and the impact is big. Energy recovery lags. The immune system slows—and that impacts not only fighting disease but every aspect of the animal, even the brain activity changes. This leaves dogs vulnerable to bad bacteria, sluggish behavior, illness, accident, and poor performance.
Bottom line? Digestive enzymes play a big role in the battle for good gut health.
Dogs & Allergies
Various allergies allegedly impact a quarter of all dogs in the United States. But allergies are also the scapegoat answer to explain hot spots, secondary staph infections, hair loss, skin conditions, yeast infections (ears and feet), intestinal issues, and much more! Unfortunately, suggested solutions—food changes, bathing, oatmeal shampoo, medication—attack a system-level problem with a pointed single-symptom approach. How are veterinary professionals changing their views to address the root cause? You guessed it, gut health.
What's A Dog Owner To Do?
Our Best Advice is to start by buying dog food that includes probiotics (microbial diversity) and multiple types of protein. “Crude protein level is a parameter that blinds our eyes,” says Dr. Charles Schwab, Professor Emeritus at the University of New Hampshire.
He insists that although nutritionists have long understood this, it hasn’t yet been applied to other animals, let alone canines. “We must consider not only the protein requirement of the animal but also the nutritional requirement load of the microbes (gut bacteria).”
To move beyond “survive” and get to “thrive”, a raw element is essential. We at Rogue Pet Science are changing the game with our concept of precision nutrition. Our functional protein is highly digestible with the support of pre-biotics, pro-biotics, and a complete panel of digestive enzymes with butyric acid. Plus, it’s conveniently designed to work efficiently with your current feeding program.
When it comes to your dogs, nutrition is more than just a strategy. It’s a mindset. The more you learn about what’s good for the gut, the better dog-food decision-maker you can be.
Origins Canine 5 in 1 Is A Solution
Here at Rogue Pet Science, our entire goal has been to fix the problems that the commercial pet food industry won't solve. We invite you to try Origins Canine 5 in 1 to improve your dog's gut health and overall health. Our products are, as always, 100% Guaranteed.