Calle was my first Border Collie and I lost her at a very young age of 11 from lymphangiectasia. A disease characterized by lymphatic vessel dilation of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in chronic diarrhea and loss of proteins through the intestines causing her to become thinner and thinner, weaker and weaker.
My Puli Ziggy had no appetite and frequent early morning vomiting as a puppy. Although I trained Ziggy in the same way I trained my Border Collies and my first Puli, it was very difficult to build a joy of agility or any work without a reward system even though I worked very hard to build a love of toy and tug rewards. After trying and trying, I gave up any goals I had to have Ziggy participate in agility… he just did not seem to have any interest in anything other than sniffing and exploring his environment where ever he went.
What do these 2 dogs of mine have in common – problems with their gastrointestinal system leading to early death and loss of the ability to have fun training together.
The literature on lymphangiectasia does not indicate that food of poor quality of food from animals fed with antibiotics, hormones or lased with pesticides would cause this disease. However there was no reason that Calle should have contracted this illness other than the food she was fed from the time she was a puppy. I purchase homemade food from a woman who would tell me of driving to the slaughterhouses in south Phoenix to buy chicken and beef. I also know that her food that contained vegetables most certainly was from the cheapest veggies she could find due to the quantity she made and the need to make a profit.
While I cannot prove any of this my recent knowledge of how meat from animals that live in confined spaces and are given antibiotics and hormones is not healthy for humans or our pets. When I drive to southern California I pass some of these sad confined cattle facilities where there are acres of cows in confined spaces being tied under covered enclosures. The smell passing by is so strong and horrible. How can food from these animals be safe for humans or pets?
Unfortunately when I had Calle I was not aware of the importance of using the best food possible for our dogs and to support them with digestive enhancers.
Puli Ziggy had blood work done at age one and we found he had elevated liver enzymes. Thinking about how this happened I think Ziggy who loved to go in our yard and chew on and eat plants perhaps ate a bad for dogs plant. I worked with my vet in New York and gave Ziggy treatment with Denosyl and Milk Thistle. Over a few months his liver enzymes returned to normal BUT.. he still had no appetite and did not want to eat.
Then a friend told me about the amazing digestive enhancers from Nature’s Farmacy http://abetterwaypetcare.com/ that she uses for her dogs since living on an island off the coast of Maine they were always getting into icky things that upset their GI system. I decided to try the DOGZYMES DIGESTIVE ENHANCER from Natures Farmacy. This digestive enhancer contains a high level of 5 beneficial bacteria and 6 enzymes to assist with the digestive process. The methods used to make this product make it stable at room temperature without the need to refrigerate.
Within a very short time Ziggy not only had an amazing appetite like my Border Collies but the frequency of his early morning vomiting was greatly reduced and today is a rare occurrence. Ziggy has been on this digestive enhancer for a number of years now and continues to be healthy and more importantly loves to eat looking forward and jumping with excitement for his food. Previously I had to try every trick I knew to get him to take even one bite of food.
I have had other friends whose dogs have had other types of gastrointestinal digestive problems which have been stopped when using this amazing digestive enhancer.
One of my Border Collies has trouble digesting fat as evidenced by her blood work. She is now on the Dogzymes Digestive Enhancer twice a day.
What Does the Research Say About the Use of Probiotics?
Mayo Clinic reports on their Consumer Health Page:
You don't necessarily need probiotics — a type of "good" bacteria — to be healthy. However, these microorganisms may help with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria, just as the existing "good" bacteria in your body already do.
Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt, while prebiotics are found in whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic, honey and artichokes. In addition, probiotics and prebiotics are added to some foods and available as dietary supplements.
Although more research is needed, there's encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:
· Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
· Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
· Treat irritable bowel syndrome
· Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections
· Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu
The American Gastroenterological Associate reports
Probiotics are living microscopic organisms, or microorganisms, that scientific research has shown to benefit your health. Most often they are bacteria, but they may also be other organisms such as yeasts. In some cases they are similar, or the same, as the “good” bacteria already in your body, particularly those in your gut. These good bacteria are part of the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies.
Scientists are still sorting out exactly how probiotics work. They may:
· Boost your immune system by enhancing the production of antibodies to certain vaccines.
· Produce substances that prevent infection.
· Prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to the gut lining and growing there.
· Send signals to your cells to strengthen the mucus in your intestine and help it act as a barrier against infection.
· Inhibit or destroy toxins released by certain “bad” bacteria that can make you sick.
· Produce B vitamins necessary for metabolizing the food you eat, warding off anemia caused by deficiencies in B6 and B12, and maintaining healthy skin and a healthy nervous system.
Common uses are for irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea, and antibiotic use
8 Reasons Why Your Dog May Need or Benefit from Digestive Enhancers:
Reported by a Place for Paws
Digestive enzymes break down the molecules of food and essentially allow the body to more fully digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This helps the dog assimilate the nutrients more efficiently and aids in digestion.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. These bacteria help to keep the unfriendly bacteria in check and restore the normal micro-flora in gastrointestinal tract.
Both digestive enzymes and probiotics enhance your dog’s natural digestion but each of them works differently to support the digestive system. Both digestive enzymes and probiotics are naturally occurring in whole foods.
So, why does your dog need to be supplemented with digestive enzymes and probiotics? There are a variety of conditions which will be helped by the use of these supplements.
AND.. THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. If you are going to change anything with your dog to support their health read about and consider the use of digestive enhancers.
My Puli Ziggy had no appetite and frequent early morning vomiting as a puppy. Although I trained Ziggy in the same way I trained my Border Collies and my first Puli, it was very difficult to build a joy of agility or any work without a reward system even though I worked very hard to build a love of toy and tug rewards. After trying and trying, I gave up any goals I had to have Ziggy participate in agility… he just did not seem to have any interest in anything other than sniffing and exploring his environment where ever he went.
What do these 2 dogs of mine have in common – problems with their gastrointestinal system leading to early death and loss of the ability to have fun training together.
The literature on lymphangiectasia does not indicate that food of poor quality of food from animals fed with antibiotics, hormones or lased with pesticides would cause this disease. However there was no reason that Calle should have contracted this illness other than the food she was fed from the time she was a puppy. I purchase homemade food from a woman who would tell me of driving to the slaughterhouses in south Phoenix to buy chicken and beef. I also know that her food that contained vegetables most certainly was from the cheapest veggies she could find due to the quantity she made and the need to make a profit.
While I cannot prove any of this my recent knowledge of how meat from animals that live in confined spaces and are given antibiotics and hormones is not healthy for humans or our pets. When I drive to southern California I pass some of these sad confined cattle facilities where there are acres of cows in confined spaces being tied under covered enclosures. The smell passing by is so strong and horrible. How can food from these animals be safe for humans or pets?
Unfortunately when I had Calle I was not aware of the importance of using the best food possible for our dogs and to support them with digestive enhancers.
Puli Ziggy had blood work done at age one and we found he had elevated liver enzymes. Thinking about how this happened I think Ziggy who loved to go in our yard and chew on and eat plants perhaps ate a bad for dogs plant. I worked with my vet in New York and gave Ziggy treatment with Denosyl and Milk Thistle. Over a few months his liver enzymes returned to normal BUT.. he still had no appetite and did not want to eat.
Then a friend told me about the amazing digestive enhancers from Nature’s Farmacy http://abetterwaypetcare.com/ that she uses for her dogs since living on an island off the coast of Maine they were always getting into icky things that upset their GI system. I decided to try the DOGZYMES DIGESTIVE ENHANCER from Natures Farmacy. This digestive enhancer contains a high level of 5 beneficial bacteria and 6 enzymes to assist with the digestive process. The methods used to make this product make it stable at room temperature without the need to refrigerate.
Within a very short time Ziggy not only had an amazing appetite like my Border Collies but the frequency of his early morning vomiting was greatly reduced and today is a rare occurrence. Ziggy has been on this digestive enhancer for a number of years now and continues to be healthy and more importantly loves to eat looking forward and jumping with excitement for his food. Previously I had to try every trick I knew to get him to take even one bite of food.
I have had other friends whose dogs have had other types of gastrointestinal digestive problems which have been stopped when using this amazing digestive enhancer.
One of my Border Collies has trouble digesting fat as evidenced by her blood work. She is now on the Dogzymes Digestive Enhancer twice a day.
What Does the Research Say About the Use of Probiotics?
Mayo Clinic reports on their Consumer Health Page:
You don't necessarily need probiotics — a type of "good" bacteria — to be healthy. However, these microorganisms may help with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria, just as the existing "good" bacteria in your body already do.
Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt, while prebiotics are found in whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic, honey and artichokes. In addition, probiotics and prebiotics are added to some foods and available as dietary supplements.
Although more research is needed, there's encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:
· Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
· Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
· Treat irritable bowel syndrome
· Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections
· Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu
The American Gastroenterological Associate reports
Probiotics are living microscopic organisms, or microorganisms, that scientific research has shown to benefit your health. Most often they are bacteria, but they may also be other organisms such as yeasts. In some cases they are similar, or the same, as the “good” bacteria already in your body, particularly those in your gut. These good bacteria are part of the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies.
Scientists are still sorting out exactly how probiotics work. They may:
· Boost your immune system by enhancing the production of antibodies to certain vaccines.
· Produce substances that prevent infection.
· Prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to the gut lining and growing there.
· Send signals to your cells to strengthen the mucus in your intestine and help it act as a barrier against infection.
· Inhibit or destroy toxins released by certain “bad” bacteria that can make you sick.
· Produce B vitamins necessary for metabolizing the food you eat, warding off anemia caused by deficiencies in B6 and B12, and maintaining healthy skin and a healthy nervous system.
Common uses are for irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea, and antibiotic use
8 Reasons Why Your Dog May Need or Benefit from Digestive Enhancers:
Reported by a Place for Paws
Digestive enzymes break down the molecules of food and essentially allow the body to more fully digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This helps the dog assimilate the nutrients more efficiently and aids in digestion.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. These bacteria help to keep the unfriendly bacteria in check and restore the normal micro-flora in gastrointestinal tract.
Both digestive enzymes and probiotics enhance your dog’s natural digestion but each of them works differently to support the digestive system. Both digestive enzymes and probiotics are naturally occurring in whole foods.
So, why does your dog need to be supplemented with digestive enzymes and probiotics? There are a variety of conditions which will be helped by the use of these supplements.
- Your dog suffers from allergies. Digestive enzymes can help break down the proteins that cause the allergic reactions helping the dog to digest those proteins with fewer consequences.
- Your dog has been on antibiotics. Antibiotics strip the stomach and intestines of all bacteria, unfriendly and friendly. Probiotics restore the good bacteria to a healthy level. Digestive enzymes enhance digestion that is inhibited by the antibiotics.
- Your dog vomits, has gas or burps. Each of these can be a sign of inhibited or partial digestion. Both digestive enzymes and probiotics can decrease these symptoms by enabling the digestive system to work more efficiently.
- Your dog has diarrhea. Probiotics can quickly replenish the good bacteria in the gut which can help firm the stool and reduce their frequency.
- Your dog has liver disease. The digestive enzyme, Lipase, breaks down and digests fat. This means there is less fat for the liver to deal with and therefore less stress on the liver.
- Your dog is an active performance dog. Active dogs definitely need to utilize the food they consume to fullest to support their endurance and muscular strength. Digestive enzymes help make every bite they take count.
- Your dog has Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Digestive enzymes help break down the proteins, fats and starches to create better digestion and increase the absorption of nutrients which will help alleviate the symptoms of IBD.
- Your dog is traveling, being boarded or in training. Stress of any kind often creates a reduction in friendly bacteria in the gut sometimes resulting in diarrhea or upset tummy. Digestive enzymes reduce the stress from the gut level and probiotics repopulation the healthy flora.
AND.. THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. If you are going to change anything with your dog to support their health read about and consider the use of digestive enhancers.
RSS Feed