KEEPING YOUR PET’S IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG Part One

Your dogs and cat’s immune system starts with their diet and environment. There are supplements and herbs that can support their immune system, but diet should be looked at first.
Is your pet eating a biological appropriate food? If you are only feeding a dry food, even of the highest quality, this is not a good diet for your pet. Dry food is cooked at 460 degrees. It keeps your pet in a constant state of dehydration and has two known carcinogens that can cause cancer.  
So, I understand that there are situations when you need to feed a dry food.

1.  Cost of Feeding. You either have very large dogs or multiple animals and it would not be cost effective to feed a fresh food diet only.
2.  Cats are picky and hard to change. The first 16 weeks of your cat’s life will determine what type of diet your cat will eat for the rest of their life. So if you only feed dry food during that time, it can be difficult to change later in life. 

So if you have a small animal that will eat a fresh food diet, you should eliminate dry kibble from their diet. If you can’t feed a fresh-food only diet, if you get your pet’s to at least a 50% fresher food diet, that would be ideal.
If dry food is the only option, here are a few things you can do to help your pet’s diet:

1. Add probiotics – This can either be done with a supplement or Answers fermented raw goat’s milk or fermented kefir. 
2. Add Enzymes. This can either be done with a supplement or Answers fermented raw goat’s milk or fermented kefir. 
3. Add Omega 3’s to the diet. This is best done with a Phytoplankton supplement.
4. You can also add raw or poached eggs, vegetables for dogs (lightly cooked or chopped up finely). ¼ teaspoon per 20 pounds. Small amounts of leftover lean meats can be added to their food. 

As for your pet’s environment, be careful of the cleaners you use around the house. Even certain candles that you burn have toxins in them. When taking your pet for a walk, be mindful of fertilizers put on grass, salts on the ground for ice, etc. This all affects their immune system.
Over vaccination and the use of other drugs like Apoquel and steroids can affect the immune system. Vaccinations can cause paralysis and even death. Many holistic veterinarians believe vaccinations create a large percentage of the chronic disease we see in domestic animals, if not most. It is also one of the few things we can really control; whether and how much to vaccinate.
An Autoimmune Link To Chronic Disease 
The well-known Purdue Study found that dogs develop autoimmunity to most key proteins in their bodies after a single vaccine, including their own DNA.
This explains why most chronic diseases of dogs are believed to have an autoimmune basis. Because of this fact, many chronic problems due to vaccinosis will not respond to any treatment unless we address this condition first.
It can be a very persistent obstacle to cure in many animals as it can cause very deep disruption of the life force. But we have to vaccinate, right?
Many people are conditioned to think this way (as are many veterinarians) after decades of automatic yearly shots, which are taken for granted without questioning.
Ronald D Schultz PhD, who has been studying the effectiveness of canine vaccines since the 1970s, pointed out the lack of evidence for this approach back in the early 1990s in the veterinary textbook, Current Veterinary Therapy XI. 
The only vaccine that is required by law is the rabies vaccination. If you have an unhealthy pet, you should get a waiver and not get the vaccination. 
Other vaccinations are required for boarding, grooming etc. I would look for alternatives Look for in-home sitters and groomers that don’t require your pet to be vaccinated every time they come in.  
In the upcoming issues, I will talk about supplements that can aid in building your pet’s immune system. You are always welcome to come in and chat with us as well. 
As you may know at Beastie Boutique, we are actively continuing our education in pet health and nutrition. Here is an update: 
Kristina and Deana are both certified as Advanced Canine Nutrition Specialist.Mary is working on her Advanced Canine Nutrition CourseJamie and Morgan are currently taking Pet Food Nutrition Specialist Courses. 
If there is anything we can assist you with, please let us know. 
Disclaimer –  Kristina McLeskey is not a Veterinarian. These are just general guidelines. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, please see your veterinarian.