The Importance of Balancing the Gastrointestinal Tract (GI)

The Intestinal tract is responsible for 70 percent of an animal’s immune response. This important link to strengthening the body will be the key to returning an animal to health and balance.
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The overuse of antibiotics and other medications, prevalent in treating pets along with poor quality foods, and toxic chemicals in the environment can cause problems. With the ease of prescribing antibiotics they are often overused and cause a disbiosis of the intestinal flora and a cascade of issues can occur. With this weakening of the gut the body also becomes weakened as it cannot retrieve the nutrients from the intestines. An animal’s gastrointestinal tract (GI) can become compromised. It is key to rebalance the gut before you can expect the animal’s body to start extracting nutrients, and to start the healing process.

Irritable Bowel Disease has become a common diagnosis in both dogs and cats these days. It’s important to learn How can you start rebalancing the GUT.

First you must add prebiotics and probiotics. These compounds will help the present intestinal flora to widen their species and add needed bacteria to the gut. We have over 400 species of bacteria that live in harmony in our body and many of those species are in the intestinal tract. When antibiotics are used what happens is that many of those species have been destroyed or damaged. We need balance throughout the body, so attempting to heal while destroying these bacteria causes an unbalance.

Two of the products I use a lot are RX Vitamins Biotics and Nutrigest. These products contain a combination of probiotic, digestive enzymes and herbs. By using these, the gut is supported and enhanced so it can start becoming more absorptive. Adding digestive enzymes allows the the gut to more easily break down the food. Compounds like amylase, lipase, papain, and fructosaccharides are a some of the ingredients that broaden the absorption.
There is discussion about a “leaky gut” lining that prevents the absorption of nutrients. Feeding with these added nutriceuticals the gut can start becoming normal again.

Another product to add is colostrum. This is the first milk from the new mother that adds high amounts of Immune globulins like IGG IGA IGM and other nutrients to the gut. I use New Zealand Colostrum. I have a concern about Bovine Leukemia Virus BLV and New Zealand has been free of BLV for many years. In the US 95% of Dairy Herds test positive for BLV. This topic that will need to be discussed in depth.

We also add our MASH mix which has antioxidants, DMG, glucosamine, alfalfa, prozyme and organic spirulina. For balanced health one also needs to have a high quality fish oil like RX Ultra FA. Once we have re-booted the gut with these digestive aids the diet is important. Bringing live raw foods that are gluten free may be one of the way to add more digestive support.

Blending and grinding green leafy vegetables and limiting the grains brings a wider range of nutrients. One can use some quinoa, brown rice, and millet in small amounts. Sweet Potatoes are good source of beta-carotene and give both some starch and fiber. You can also use some cooked pumpkin or winter squash.
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Giving a protein source that has never been used before can help decrease an allergic reaction. For cats it could be commercial rabbit and for dogs free range venison would be my choice. I am not a supporter of hunting but in New England it is a way to reduce the deer population. If an animal is going to be killed for food, it should be done as humanely as possible. Care should be done to prevent suffering and every part of its body should be used so to make that animals life was not a waste.

By introducing the raw protein with the vegetables we have live food in a gut that needs foods which are more natural choices, that are closer to returning to the evolution of that species. The result being the immune system will improve.
I also will prescribe a homeopathic remedy and the one I will frequently use is LM 1 Thuja as daily or as needed. Working with a veterinary homeopath can really help one guide the client through the case. We also need to support the gut with glandulars. I usually use Standard Process  Canine Enteric Support. I will also recommend Green Tripe to be used as a natural way to reintroduce  a small amount of the actual raw gut content.