When you decide to adopt a dog, you are committing yourself to important responsibilities. One of the top priorities you have as a dog owner is boosting your dog’s natural defenses. This helps to prolong your dog’s lifespan so that you can spend many long years together. In this Letsgetpet article, discover simple and useful solutions to boost your dog’s protection against pathogens.
What is the immune system?
The immune system is a set of functions that enable the body to fight pathogens. It functions like a shield, defending the body against external threats. In other words, it is a network of antibodies, blood cells, and other specific substances that work together to ensure your dog’s well-being.
In addition, the immune system prevents bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, and toxins from attacking your dog’s health. When the system functions well, it is able to eliminate threats from your dog’s body. This internal defense can distinguish the good elements from the bad elements.
There are three different types of defenses that protect your dog. The physical barriers are made up of the skin, coat, secretions, and mucus that prevent harmful agents from entering your dog’s body. This first line of defense is strengthened by a second barrier capable of absorbing and digesting foreign particles that infiltrate the body: the innate immune system. This reacts quickly to combat infections and promote healing.
Acquired or adaptive immunity is different from the other two levels of defense by their nature. This is because they are not present in your dog’s body at birth. Instead, this immunity develops when your dog is exposed to pathogens. The body remembers the properties of the foreign body from their first contact with it. This mechanism allows them to react rapidly when they are then faced with the same threat. Vaccines help to raise the capacities of this acquired protection to combat more efficiently diseases.
Why is it important to boost my dog’s immune system?
Even if your canine friend does not present any apparent issues like a loss of appetite, chronic pain, anemia, or significant fatigue, taking measures to improve your dog’s immune system is necessary to preserve their health. The functioning of the natural defenses can be affected by several factors that weaken the capacities of the body to fight against infectious agents that your pet is permanently exposed to. By boosting your dog’s immune system, you are guaranteeing that they can have a good quality of life. It is a preventive measure that helps your dog maintain their ability to cope with everyday illnesses. Here are a few examples of contexts that act on the efficiency of your dog’s defenses.
Diseases and stress
Some viral origin diseases can destroy the cells that organize the response when faced with infectious agents. This leads to the weakening of the immune system and increases the risk of your dog getting sick often. Other germs succeed in infiltrating the natural defenses and reduces their efficiency. In addition, a dog that suffers from prolonged stress can become more vulnerable. The deterioration of their protective mechanisms significantly raises their sensitivity to the diseases.
Antibiotics, vaccines and corticosteroids
Giving your dog antibiotics can have serious consequences on their immune system. These treatments, which are useful for destroying pathogenic bacteria, can also cause the degradation of certain bodies essential for maintaining the proper functioning of protective mechanisms. The same phenomenon can occur if the use of corticosteroids is not controlled. These can inhibit the action of the defense mechanism when administered over a prolonged period.
Vaccines are designed to boost the acquired immune system and their efficiency when faced with a specific disease. However, their effect can impact the natural covering of the body if the stimulation is too much. This is often the origin of a rare hypersensitive reaction called anaphylaxis.
Aging, climate conditions, or poor diet
With age, the immune system naturally starts to lose its efficiency. As a result, your dog’s body becomes less robust, exposing them to diseases. If your dog has a poor and unbalanced diet, it can cause their defensive shield to become more fragile. It deprives your dog of the essential nutrients it needs to fight off threats. In addition, at certain times of the year, the protective mechanism is less functional. As extreme temperatures weaken the immune system, adjustments to your pet’s diet should be considered.
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How do I boost the immune system of my dog?
To optimize your dog’s ability to combat diseases, you need to put in place a multidimensional strategy. This implies their diet, weight, physical exercise, and the use of probiotics and supplements.
The role of your dog’s diet in boosting immunity
Like humans, dogs need high-quality food to stay healthy. It brings necessary nutrients to the body to create anti-bodies and defend the body against threats. As a result, an unbalanced or unsuitable diet has a direct impact on the well-being of your canine friend. Feeding them poor-quality meals containing potentially harmful ingredients weakens their immunity and leaves them vulnerable.
Prioritize meals that are high in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and antioxidants. If you feed your dog kibble, choose products that are made with trustable ingredients. You can also prepare simple, well-balanced dishes following the advice of specialists. By providing your pet with a custom diet, you ensure the normal functioning of the organs and tissues.
Keep an eye on your dog’s body weight
One of the most important measures that you can take to boost the natural defenses of your pet is maintaining their weight at their ideal body weight. This is very important to guarantee a satisfactory quality of life and to reduce the risks associated with obesity or weight loss. Consult your vet to have precise indications of what goes well with your pet’s properties (breed, age). Maintain good eating habits. Feed them at specific times and avoid snacking.
Integrate nutritional supplements into their diet
Good quality nutritional supplements boost your dog’s shield. These supplements contain vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and fatty acids beneficial to the animal’s body. Formulas that are rich in omega-3 intervene in the regulation of the immune response. On their side, products that are high in vitamin c boost the defense system. Probiotic supplements maintain the equilibrium of the microbiome, which is necessary to support and expand the system.
Exercise with your dog
You need to regularly train your canine friend to keep their global condition and boost their immune defenses of your dog. Sports help to burn fat and maintain the ideal body weight and it improves mental health. This allows you to reduce your dog’s stress, which is one of the factors that promotes immunodeficiency. To do this, take a walk with your dog. The intensity and the length of the physical exercise need to be in accordance with the needs of your dog’s breed.
Ask for advice from your vet to boost your dog’s immune system
To take care of your pet and improve their natural immunity, it is important to regularly consult a vet. Every dog has particularities that we need to take into account to provide them help when they need it without disturbing their immune system. The vet can verify your dog’s general condition. In addition, vets know which vaccines to recommend to preserve your dog’s health and ensure the defense system has a quick and efficient response when faced with certain diseases. These professional know how to avoid damaging overdoses. You’ll also benefit from their advice regarding feeding and exercise for your dog.
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