Good For 'Em

There’s an expression in Ayurvedic medicine which says, “Good health begins in the gut.” In other words, if good food is eaten and digestion is optimal, then health is sure to follow. We now know, of course, that others factors affect health profoundly as well, including genetics, toxins, chronic stress, inactivity, and so forth. But never-the-less, diet and digestion are certainly real biggies.

Throughout the years, I’ve seen the following items lead to profound and positive changes in many pets, including livelier personalities, more overall energy, brighter eyes, shinier coats, and even weight loss. So, let’s have a look.

Digestive enzymes             When Fido eats, or even when he smells food, his salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestines begin to produce molecules which chemically break down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These are known as digestive enzymes. Most pets should produce enough of these. However, I have seen the addition of digestives enzymes to the diet make a rapid, tremendous difference in the health of many pets. This is especially true in the older or unwell pet whose digestion may be a bit sluggish. But the younger, healthier ones seem to benefit as well.

Digestive enzymes are readily available with many specifically marketed for pets. One that I’ve had good results with is called Prozyme, and it’s good for dogs and cats. It’s available over the counter or through your veterinarian. There are others of course.

Essential Fatty Acids          When something is referred to as “essential”, it means the body can’t produce it. In other words, it has to be obtained via the diet. So EFA’s are just that - Fatty Acids that must be consumed for optimal health. Much research has been done on EFA’s to support their possible links to improvement in mental and behavior health, immunity, heart function, arthritis, inflammation, allergies, and skin issues to name a few. I have seen them help tremendously on many pets, including those that are older, those with general debility, arthritis, allergies, and skin and coat conditions.

In my experience, most people that have supplemented their pets’ diet with EFA’s have done it with fish oil. Again, there are products available marketed specifically for cats and dogs. I prefer these as they usually let you know how much to give. I like a brand called Iceland Pure. It comes unscented, so finicky cats don’t seem to mind it! Many dogs seem to like the regular stuff but not all, so the unscented kind may work well for them too.

Conclusion  I generally recommend both digestive enzymes and fish oil for optimal pet health. Over-and-over again, I’ve seen that most pets really seem to thrive on them. And clients are usually delighted as well. However, there are cases when these might be inappropriate or don’t work so well. This might be especially true if an animal is already on a medically prescribed diet or has a pre-existing medical condition. If this is the case, or if you are uncertain, consult with your veterinarian first.

Stay well. Love your animals. And see ya next time.

© 2021 Eugene Aversa, DVM