What to Add to Your Dog’s Diet to Boost Gut Health

There are many foods you can add to your dog's diet to boost their gut health, from leafy greens to lean meats. You can also add probiotic powders, capsules, and kibble. These often contain different probiotic strains that reinforce different aspects of your dog's mental and physical well-being. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting any supplements to your dog's diet.

Vegetables Are Packed With Vitamins and Nutrients

Of the foods that dogs and foods can both eat, superfoods are a great choice. This refers to nutrient-packed foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which support the healthy bacteria in your dog's gut.
 

These veggies include:
 

• Dandelion greens: Called the 'perfect plant medicine,' these so-called weeds are a natural source of vitamins A, C, K, D, and B. They also contain inulin, a prebiotic on which probiotics feed and gain nourishment.
   
  
  

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• Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower: In small amounts, these foods are a strong source of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins, all of which work together to support your dog's bodily functions. A tip: run these veggies through a food processor to break down the cell walls to ease digestion.
   
• Spinach (with your veterinarian's approval): Feeding dogs spinach is a controversial topic for several reasons, mainly because it contains high amounts of oxalic acid, which can block calcium absorption and cause kidney damage. However, spinach also contains roughage â€' fibrous, non-digestible material that helps move food through the GI tract.

Fermented Food Can Nourish Probiotics

Think of your dog's gut like a city, with bacteria as its residents. The more diverse the population of probiotic bacteria, the more equipped your dog is to ward off infections and maintain a healthy immune system.
 

Fermented foods can add diversity to the helpful probiotics in your dog's gut. While sauerkraut may be too salty for your dog's taste, low-sodium sauerkraut could be a better alternative. If your dog isn't lactose intolerant, these other fermented foods could offer a rich source of probiotics:
 

• Raw goat milk
• Unsweetened yogurt
• Low-sodium cottage cheese
• Unsweetened buttermilk
• Kefir (a fermented milk drink)
   

The live cultures in these products support healthy gut flora, which can work to aid digestion and the immune system's response to infection. If your dog is sensitive to dairy, there are other foods (such as fermented beets) that can nourish the healthy bacteria in their gut.

Pumpkin: A Superpowered Superfood

If you want to pump up your dog's gut health, consider incorporating pumpkin into their diet. The gourd is rich in fiber and a great source of prebiotics, which remember, feed probiotics.
 

Rich in vitamins and minerals, pumpkin aids digestion by adding bulk to your dog's stool, helping with mild constipation or diarrhea. Additionally, as your dog's intestines break down pumpkin, fermentation releases fatty acids that offer energy to cells, lower the large intestine's pH level, and promote water and sodium absorption.
 

Depending on your dog's size, the ideal serving is one to four tablespoons of pumpkin per meal. You can mix cooked, peeled, and unsalted pumpkin into your dog's food or offer it separately as a treat. Unseasoned canned pumpkin is also convenient, but don't give your dog pumpkin pie filling, as it may contain spices and seasonings that they shouldn't consume as well as xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

Lean Meats and Fish Support Healthy Gut Bacteria

Adding fish to your dog's diet is also a great way to boost gut health. Many commercial dog foods have fish-infused formulations rich in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. If your veterinarian approves of feeding your dog a homemade diet with fish, they'll likely suggest using fish free of heavy metals. These include herring, salmon, and ocean and lake whitefish, to name a few. Tuna and swordfish may carry high levels of mercury and disrupt your dog's gut microbiome.
 

Adding lean meats like turkey and chicken to your dog's diet can benefit their gut health in many ways. They don't contain live bacterial cultures like yogurt or kefir, but for dogs with sensitive stomachs, these bland, easily digestible foods provide adequate nutrition without irritating the stomach.
 

When preparing lean meats for your dog, avoid seasonings like salt, herbs, and cooking oil. Never use onion or garlic powder, as these concentrated spices can prove toxic to dogs. Be sure to cook the meat thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria. Steaming, grilling, or boiling the meat is preferable. Processed deli meats contain a lot of sodium and preservatives, and therefore, aren't ideal.

Introducing New Foods to Your Dog's Diet

Many dogs leap at the chance to try something new in their food bowl. However, before adding anything to your dog's dinner, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Start slow. Gradually adding new foods to your dog's diet allows you to gauge their response and prioritize their comfort. For example, you may add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin to their kibble on Monday and work up to 4 tablespoons by Sunday.
    
2. Monitor their stool quality. To see how your dog reacts to new foods, check their poop. The perfect poop should be log-shaped, brown, and reflect how much they ate. Runny stool, diarrhea, or constipation could suggest switching to another supplement.
    
3. Talk to your vet for case-specific recommendations. Your veterinarian may suggest gut-boosting foods and probiotic bacterial strains tailored to your dog's age, breed, and any pre-existing health conditions they may have.

Probiotic Supplements Aim to Boost Multiple Bodily Systems

Probiotic supplements take a proactive approach to enhancing your dog's quality of life. They work to improve nutrient absorption, bolster your dog's immune system, and balance their gut microbiome. The ideal probiotic strain and supplement depend on your pet's health goals, such as whether you're attempting to improve your dog's digestion or offer additional support as they age.
 

Regardless, probiotics are safe, backed by research, and allow you to prioritize your dog's health from the inside out.
 

By Colt Dodd
Source: American Kennel Club