5 NATURAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOUR DOG OR CAT

Poor appetite? Digestive issues? Vitamin deficiency? Don't panic! It's not uncommon for small discomforts to arise during dietary changes, or after a little temporary stress. These are generally mild disorders that can be solved without switching to a "medicalised" diet: sometimes you just need to add the right type of natural, quality supplements to a healthy diet, and order is restored! But don't skip a visit to see your vet, who you should always keep informed of these small details, as they can give you advice on the best supplements if necessary.

Depending on the problem encountered by your pet, you may discover the miracle cure right here in the form of supplements for dogs!

Skin and coat problems? Digestive troubles? Loss of appetite?

πŸ‘‰ Try Brewer's Yeast!

Brewer's yeast is a great source of prebiotics, probiotics, and group B vitamins. It's a very easy supplement for dogs to find, and can really help facilitate the transition of food through your pet's digestive tract. It's also a valuable aid for a beautiful coat and healthy claws... just like in humans!

Because of its special taste, brewer's yeast is also very appetising to cats: sprinkling wet food or any new food with brewer's yeast can make it easier for fussy cats to ingest.

πŸ‘‰ How much?

An overdose of group B vitamins is not dangerous, so there's no risk in adding brewer's yeast to your pet's daily diet. However, pay attention to the quantity given, as it can affect the quality of their stool. In some animals, too much brewer's yeast can lead to loose bowel movements or even diarrhoea. On the contrary, this supplement can be a source of constipation for others.

A good ratio is one teaspoon of brewer's yeast per day per 10kg of bodyweight.

πŸ‘‰ Cats: Particularly Targeted

Domestic cats have an immense need for group B vitamins.

  • If you mainly feed them a raw diet or home-made rations with a vitamin and mineral supplement, it's essential to add brewer's yeast to their daily ration.

  • If you feed them comprehensive pet food, brewer's yeast will still only have benefits for your cat, whether used as a cure or continuously!

Joint problems? Think of all the resources in the sea!

πŸ‘‰ Green-Lipped Mussel Powder, THE Miracle Cure

Green-lipped mussel powder signals a veritable new lease of life for pets with joint problems, arthrosis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Moreover, many joint supplements for dogs are derived from the green-lipped mussel.

This is because this small mollusc is a gold mine of nutrients, which make for the perfect joint supplement for dogs! Green-lipped mussels contain 10 different essential fatty acids, including a high concentration of Omega-3 with EPA and DHA representing 35% of the unsaturated fatty acids contained in the green-lipped mussel, a rate which is unmatched by any other mollusc or crustacean.

And it doesn't end there! The green-lipped mussel also contains chondroitin sulphate, amino acids (glutamine), vitamins (E and C), and minerals (zinc, copper, manganese). All these nutrients work together to protect cartilage from oxidation and help regenerate damaged tissue. What more could you ask for from a joint supplement for dogs!?

This high-performance cocktail is particularly recommended for growing puppies, athletic beasts, and little old dogs who no longer dare to move too much because of their joint pain! Significant improvements were seen in dogs who were fed food supplemented with green-lipped mussel powder for at least 6 weeks. These results lead to the conclusion that the green-lipped mussel is an effective joint supplement for dogs for reducing the clinical signs of osteoarthritis.

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The Green-Lipped Mussel: A New Zealand Miracle!

The scientific name for the green-lipped mussel is Perna canaliculus. It is also known as the New Zealand green-lipped mussel or the greenshell mussel. Traditionally eaten by ancient, coast-dwelling Maori, this small mollusc has more recently drawn the attention of scientists, who noted that the Maori people suffered much less from osteoarthritis than people living inland... and that they consumed a lot of green-lipped mussels! Hence the creation of green-lipped mussel powder as a joint supplement for dogs.

Thanks to the ocean currents close to the New Zealand coast, these mussels benefit from a permanent supply of new marine nutrients, especially since they naturally filter out seawater and retain only the essential nutrients.

Loose stool, constipation, or digestive issues? Wondering how to reduce inflammation?

πŸ‘‰ Superfine Green or White Montmorillonite Clay

This supplement for dogs is the equivalent of Smecta! It acts as a great gastric bandage in the event of digestive disorders, loose stool, constipation, or simply to help regulate intestinal transit.

Montmorillonite clay is a natural mineral, which, when used as a supplement for dogs, will remineralise and detoxify the gut thanks to its richness in mineral salts. It soothes inflammation, limits bacterial and microbial proliferation, and promotes the formation of compact stools by absorbing excess water.

πŸ‘‰ Blond Psyllium

This seed may not look like much at first glance, especially since it looks a lot like... a flea! But it contains large quantities of soluble fibres and mucilage, which can hold several times their weight in water. Much like flax seeds, when wet, psyllium seeds turn into a viscous gel, which slows down stomach emptying. Once passed through the intestine, this gel facilitates transit and therefore prevents both constipation and diarrhoea. As such, this supplement for dogs is a great regulator for quality bowel transit.

Psyllium is particularly useful for greedy animals: by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, the seeds retain the feeling of satiety, so your pet will feel full for much longer!

Since psyllium is also good for lowering blood sugar, it is recommended for overweight cats and dogs who are at risk of diabetes. By delaying the release of glucose into the blood, psyllium helps to prevent blood sugar spikes.

However, be careful: foods that are too rich in fibre can have unwanted side effects in our domestic pets (more frequent bowel movements and a larger volume).

Psyllium, a Lilliputian Seed

The name "psyllium" comes from the Greek psulla, meaning "flea", and is named for the size of its tiny seeds (1000 seeds weigh less than 2 grams!). The plants that produce psyllium seeds are commonly called "fleaworts".

There are nearly 200 different species of psyllium. Black psyllium (Plantago psyllium) is found throughout the Mediterranean basin and in the Middle East. Blond psyllium (Plantago ovata) comes from further afield, India and Iran.

Because it's not very demanding, this is a plant that can be grown at home. It grows year-round, tolerates cold, heat, and poor soil well, and does not need a lot of water to flourish.

It has been used in human medicine since ancient times: it was used as a laxative in Egypt, 1000 years BC. These days, it is also widely used as a supplement for dogs, to combat diarrhoea, inflammation of the colon, and transit problems. Last but not least, psyllium helps lower blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the case of diabetes.

Intoxication, digestive disorders, bad breath?

πŸ‘‰ One Remedy Fits All: Activated Charcoal!

Useful for detoxifying poison substances, to combat bloating, gas, diarrhoea, aerophagia, and even bad breath: activated charcoal, or activated carbon, is the Swiss army knife of supplements for dogs! It is the natural material with the highest absorption power known to date, thanks to its microporous structure. A sort of deep-cleaning sponge! This supplement for dogs absorbs everything from toxic chemicals to bacterial toxins, spreading across the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines and acting as a gastric and intestinal bandage.

Besides its use for gastric disorders (gastroenteritis, heartburn, gastralgia, etc.), activated charcoal as a supplement for dogs is particularly indicated in cases of intestinal infection with constipation or intestinal fermentation.

Activated charcoal exists in many forms: powder, gel capsules, granules, or soft capsules. Powders or capsules are easier to use with small animals since you can open the capsules and sprinkle the powder onto your pet's food ration.

We recommend that, whatever the condition being treated, you administer an average of 1 capsule per mealtime, once or twice a day for 2 weeks. However, avoid using activated charcoal as a supplement for dogs if your pet is currently on medication because the absorbent power of charcoal can prevent the medication from working properly.

How is activated charcoal produced?

Once again, the use of this natural remedy goes back centuries. The Egyptians, the Chinese during the Ming Dynasty... It has always been a part of traditional pharmacopoeia thanks to its remarkable absorption power.

Activated charcoal is created in two phases: First, white non-resinous woods, such as willow or poplar, are carbonised and smothered at a high temperature; then they undergo a second calcination in the presence of water vapour or carbon dioxide, which truly "activates" the charcoal by creating a network of micropores. Subsequently, when activated charcoal is used as a supplement for dogs, these micropores absorb all the undesirable elements in the digestive system.

PUBLISHED 04.12.2020 - HECTOR KITCHEN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

By the Hector Kitchen medical and scientific team

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