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Natural Immunity - Supporting Health from the Inside Out
The immune system is an intricate biological protection system responsible for
determining what belongs to and in the body versus what does not belong and
requires elimination. It defends the body against infection, disease and foreign
substances. The immune system begins with the skin and digestive system, and
incorporates the glands, hormones, blood and organs throughout the body. Keeping
your companion’s immune system in good shape will go a long way in preventing
ill health and chronic disease.
When we talk of keeping the immune system healthy, many people think of boosting
or stimulating the immune system with herbs such as Echinacea. Boosting
immunity, however, is not always appropriate or required. In some cases the
immune system needs calming and balancing – as is the case for autoimmune
disorders and frequently for chronic allergies.
A good, natural diet is the most important component in building and supporting
a healthy immune system. Since your companion is dependent upon you to provide
the best possible diet, it is prudent for you to educate yourself about the
options available and the benefits of feeding the freshest, most wholesome diet
you can. Please see our article, "What You Need to Know About Your Pet’s Food,"
for more details.
Along with a top quality diet,
exercise, minimal exposure to toxins and a low-stress living environment are of
utmost importance to the health of your companion. If these elements are not
attended to first, then adding supplements to boost the immune system or balance
it will be far less useful or effective. Giving immune-supportive supplements to
an animal without attending to the foundations of good health is like trying to
heat a house with poor insulation and broken windows – you can turn the
thermostat up as high as you’d like but the house will still be cold.
Many factors can have an adverse effect on your pet's immune system, and
addressing the following issues can play a big part in helping your pet stay
healthy:
1. Minimizing pesticide & herbicide residue in foods: Pesticide and herbicide residues
are found on over 50% of produce and even higher percentages of grains. These
are chemicals designed to kill living organisms – not something we want our
companions consuming on a daily basis. In multiple studies, organic foods have
been shown to have higher nutrient values than their conventional counterparts. There are more and more
organic foods available for our companions, and some manufacturers make an
effort to use free-range, hormone- and/or antibiotic-free meats in their
products. While a totally organic diet can be a bit expensive for those with
larger animals or many mouths to feed, adding some organic foods – even just
25-30% can be helpful.
2. Providing fresh food versus highly processed food: Highly processed food, such as
dry kibble, loses most of its vitamins, some amino acids, and all enzymes and
probiotics during the manufacturing process. Some vitamins and minerals are
added back in – typically artificial forms of these nutrients. Fresh food
contains enzymes that aid in digestion. Fresh vegetables contain antioxidants
and vitamins in their natural, more absorbable form. As with organic foods, even
adding a portion of fresh foods such as
raw meaty bones and/or lightly steamed or ground vegetables to the diet can
be beneficial to the immune system.
3. Avoiding Chemical Insecticides & Flea Treatments: Chemical insecticides
in your home, lawn and garden should be
avoided for your companion’s sake. Our companion animals are much closer to the
ground than we are and breath in whatever chemical residues are on the floor and
furniture. They also come into contact with chemicals used on the grass in your
yard or local park. Animals groom these residues from their coat and paws by
licking their skin and fur, thereby ingesting these residues. There
are natural alternatives to the chemical products used by exterminators and used
in lawn and yard care (a simple internet search on natural pest control or weed
control is a good place to start).
Chemical flea treatments such as spot-on insecticides (like Frontline,
Advantage, and others) are a direct assault on your companion’s immune system.
The pesticides from these products are absorbed into your animal’s system, adding
stress to the liver and kidneys as well as the digestive system.
Natural flea control options are safe and effective without negatively
affecting your companion’s immune system.
4. Limiting Vaccinations: Vaccinations represent a major stress to the immune
system. They can not only cause side effects and allergic reactions, they also
contribute significantly to long term chronic disease. Many holistic
veterinarians agree that over-vaccination is a significant contributor to the
rising rates of chronic disease and cancer in cats and dogs. A limited vaccine
program is highly recommended – and is especially important if your companion
belongs to any of the breeds known to be more susceptible to cancer and chronic
diseases. If your veterinarian is not supportive, then find a veterinarian who
will agree to a limited vaccination schedule. Do not succumb to the pressures of
a professional who is not willing to look at the overwhelming evidence of the
problems of over-vaccination. For more information about limited vaccination
schedules please read our article, "The Truth About Pet Vaccinations."
5. Avoiding Overuse of Medications: Antibiotics and steroids are necessary tools in
any veterinarian’s trade, but they are quite often overused. Repeated rounds of
antibiotics to address chronic UTI issues or steroids to treat itchy skin and
allergies tax the immune system – sometimes leaving the animal susceptible to
greater health problems than it started with. A natural approach to chronic
health issues involves supporting the animal’s system in its healing process
without the use of strong medications. Please see our
Holistic Healthcare Library for articles about natural treatments for
specific conditions.
6. Helping Your Pet Get Exercise: Moderate exercise has been shown to improve immune factors in
humans and animals. Proper exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy immune
system. Natural light is also important, so walks in the great outdoors are the
best option for dogs. Indoor cats should be provided with plenty of toys and
climbing structures. Open the windows on nice days so your cat(s) can breath
some fresh air - this is helpful in preventing and treating respiratory problems.
Weight control is also key – overweight animals are much more susceptible to
chronic and acute diseases and infections. Proper diet AND exercise are needed
to help with weight control.
7. Giving
Nutritional Supplements: In addition to the best diet you can provide, there are
some essential supplements that should be part of every animal’s daily diet.
Essential fatty acids support healthy skin and coat as well as the digestive
tract – which are the first line of defense for the immune system.
Digestive Enzymes and
Probiotics are vital for good digestion, optimal nutrition and in
maintaining a proper balance of balance of disease-fighting bacteria in the
digestive tract.
8. Supplying Clean, Fresh Water: Depending on where you live, the tap water can be
anywhere from almost acceptable to fairly toxic. The fluoride and chlorine added
stress your companion’s elimination system. Filtered water is best, followed by
bottled water and spring water. Flowing water will often encourage animals to
drink more. (See the
fountain style waterers we offer). Cats that eat a diet consisting mainly of dry food
are chronically dehydrated. In the wild cats get most, if not all, of their
hydration from the raw prey they consume.
9. Keeping A Healthy House: Household cleaners and other products are another source
of toxins your companion may have to deal with. Many cleaners, air fresheners
and laundry detergents contain bleach, ammonia and other chemicals that our
companions breathe in and lick from their paws. Keeping the floors clean is
important since the dirt tracked in from outside likely contains heavy metals
and other toxins, but using more natural cleaning products will keep the
household healthier. Plug-in air fresheners are another source of indoor
pollution - they may smell nice, but the petrochemicals that carry that scent
offer a constant dose of toxins to you and your companion. (See
Cleaning & Odor Removal products)
10. Minimizing Stress: Stress affects animals the same way it affects us – it
weakens the immune system. Dogs and cats with anxiety issues of any kind need
assistance in moderating their fears. Flower Essences, Homeopathic Remedies and
Herbal Remedies can be highly beneficial for animals with anxiety problems or
that are under stress. (See
Anxiety & Stress Remedies). Behavioral modification training is essential
for dogs with anxiety. Changing the environment in your home, for example,
providing separate
territories for cats that do not get along well, or additional litter boxes and
cat trees or safe resting areas can make a big difference for anxious cats.
Remember to keep your companion’s emotional well-being in mind whenever there
will be a change of routine. The holidays frequently involve many changes in
environment and schedules, so think ahead about supporting their needs. (See
Holiday Stress Relief and Safety Tips)
Enhancing or Balancing Natural Immunity
Once all of these aspects of the foundation of health have been addressed, many
chronic illnesses such as allergies, respiratory illness, urinary tract problems
and digestive issues may resolve themselves naturally. Every holistic
veterinarian has hundreds of patients whose problems have gone away without
further intervention once the foundations of diet, exercise, minimal exposure to
toxins and stress have been addressed. Some animals, however, have been battling
ill health for too long, or may have inherited susceptibilities to certain
diseases, and their immune systems will likely need additional assistance. Determining the
nature of that assistance is the first step. For some illnesses it is necessary
to boost the immune system – giving supplements that can increase the disease
fighting mechanisms of the immune system. For other illnesses – mainly
autoimmune disorders, it is necessary to balance or calm the immune system.
As you recall, the immune system’s job is to eliminate foreign substances from
the body. In autoimmune disorders the animal’s system has lost some of its
ability to distinguish what belongs and what does not belong, and begins to
attack the cells of its own bodily tissues. Autoimmune diseases can affect a
single system or can involve multiple areas of the body. The symptoms of
autoimmune diseases are often the same as those for non-autoimmune diseases, so
proper diagnosis is crucial.
A partial list of autoimmune diseases (in people and pets) includes:
• Juvenile diabetes
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (reduction of red blood cells)
• Autoimmune diseases of the skin such as Pemphigus Vulgaris
• Myasthenia gravis (a nerve condition)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Polymyositis (a muscle condition)
• Allergies (a hypersensitive immune system)
In the case of autoimmune disease, the immune system needs assistance in
modulating its response. One of the most useful supplements in this case are
the plant sterols and sterolins found in
Only Natural Pet Immune Balance. Plant sterols and sterolins are natural
substances found in all fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These plant
nutrients have many unique health benefits including promoting balance of the
immune system - enhancing an under-active immune system and/or modulating an
overactive one. Immune Balance provides support for the immune system to
regulate itself and restore balance.
Antioxidants are also frequently helpful in treating autoimmune disorders as
they assist the immune system in eliminating free radicals and reducing
oxidative stress without directly stimulating an immune response. Antioxidants
used to counter the effects of some autoimmune diseases include alpha lipoic
acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, carnosine, coenzyme Q10, systemic enzymes, and
rhodiola.
Antioxidant products:
Only Natural Pet Whole Food Antioxidant Blend,
DogVitals Paws de Leon Antioxidants,
Vetri-Science Cell Advance, Genesis Resources
Canine &
Feline Antioxidant Formulas,
Seven Forests Quercenol, Pet Naturals of Vermont Antiox for
Dogs and
Cats, Vetri-Science
CoQ10 and
CoQsol.
Systemic Enzyme products:
Inflamzyme,
Prozyme
Boosting or stimulating the immune system is at times necessary for animals with
acute or chronic illnesses or for those exposed to contagious disease. Viral
diseases, infections and cancer are some of the disorders in which stimulating
the immune system with herbs and supplements is called for. Many
immune support supplements will include a combination of medicinal
mushrooms, antioxidants, herbs that boost immunity such as astragalus, cat's
claw, pau d’arco,
echinacea or green tea. Other supplements to consider include
colostrum,
DMG,
olive leaf, and
Chinese herbal formulas. Using antioxidant supplements in combination with
immune stimulating herbs and supplements supports the immune system to an even
greater extent.
Puppies and kittens can benefit from
colostrum to help boost their developing immune system for their first 3 to
4 months. Older companions may benefit from an immune support tonic formula such
as
Health Concerns Astra Essence,
Nature’s Herbs for Pets Rejuvenation Tonic,
Pet Alive Herbal Energy Tonic or
Only Natural Pet Senior Herbal Formula. Tonic herbs are generally gentle,
nutritive herbs used to stimulate and increase immune and organ function. They
are commonly used for longer periods than stronger more specific herbal remedies
and help the animal’s system handle the effects of stress maintain a healthier
balance.
If you feel your companion is in need of immune system support, a consultation
with a holistically trained veterinarian is the best place to start. Different
conditions and disease presentations require different types of herbs or
supplements. Diagnosis is also crucial so that an overactive immune system is
not further stimulated with inappropriate remedies. For a qualified holistic
veterinarian in your area check the
American Holistic Veterinary Medical
Association Referral List.
Related Articles:
Overview of the Immune System
Building a Healthy Immune System
The Truth About Pet Vaccinations
Holistic Cancer Prevention and Care
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