Your dog’s gut health is the foundation for their overall health. That’s why it’s important to try and maintain a good level of probiotics (healthy bacteria) in your dog’s gut. Doing so can improve their immune system, support a healthy weight, fight off bad bacteria, viruses, and toxins, and help prevent food allergies.
Learn how to naturally improve dog gut health with these 5 tips. And remember, your vet should always be your main source for treatment when it comes to your pup’s health. Always consult them before introducing a new diet.
What Is Dog Gut Health?
Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract, aka their gut, is responsible for moving their food from their chompers all the way to their stomach, where it’ll then help convert food into nutrients and energy.
And their gut plays a huge role in your pup’s overall health. Studies have shown that gut health in dogs is closely linked to their immune system, skin health, and mental health.
Symptoms of Poor Gut Health in Dogs
The symptoms of an unhappy gut in dogs isn’t too different from gut issues for humans. Some signs of poor digestive health in dogs that you can look out for are:
- Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 2 days
- Weight change that you can’t attribute to anything else
- A sudden lack of appetite
- A change in their poop’s consistency or color (healthy stools should be moldable and firm, but not hard, when picked up)
- Overall lack of energy that you can’t tie to anything else
5 Ways To Restore Dog Gut Health Naturally
From finding foods to improve dog gut health to ensuring their exercise regimen is doing enough, there are many things dog owners can do to help support a well-functioning microbiome.
1. Provide A Balanced, Nutrient-Dense Diet
Reach for dog food that contains lean, high-quality protein sources (a green flag: the protein should be first on the ingredient list!), and are rich in fiber and antioxidants. These ingredients might look like: lean chicken, beef, salmon, blueberries, spinach, apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, and carrots.
Jinx's nutritionist-approved kibble proudly features these real ingredients—with no corn, wheat, soy, or fillers.
2. Encourage Good Bacteria
Probiotics are a healthy bacteria that can help encourage a healthy microbiome. Studies have shown that adding probiotics to a dog’s diet can lead to higher microbial diversity, which can help with diarrhea or other gut issues.
That’s why all of our kibble recipes feature patented pre- and probiotics that maintain a balanced gut flora and promote better nutrient absorption.
3. Introduce Bone Broth
Adding bone broth to your dog’s routine can be a great way to provide collagen that is rich in antioxidants that help restore their gut lining. Just be sure to choose options that are low- to no-sodium.
You can also find meal options and tasty treats that already feature bone broth in the recipe!
4. Give Them Enough Exercise
It’s probably no surprise that getting your dog outside and active plays a crucial role in their overall gut health. Making sure they get their daily fill of physical activity does so many things for their GI health: strengthens their immune system, promotes healthy bowel movements, and supports a healthy weight.
5. Lower Stress
Did you know stress can affect your dog’s gut? When stress levels are high, cortisol levels rise which can increase your dog’s blood pressure and damage gut health. Luckily there are ways you can help reduce this, like reducing or avoiding your dog’s known triggers and finding enrichment toys to stimulate their mind and ease anxiety.
How to Improve Dog Gut Health Naturally
The healthier the gut, the happier the dog! An everyday solution for a well-functioning gastrointestinal tract is to choose a balanced, nutrient-dense food that features pro- and prebiotics
Remember that gut health is a long game: It might take some time for your dog’s gut health to improve after adding these positive changes to their routine. Be sure to rely on your vet for any guidance on your dog’s gut health!