Gut Health
Our pets health starts, like ours, with a healthy gut. A few years ago a statement as obvious as this would have been considered “wacky” and a little bit out there on the fringe. Today it is common sense!
Our raw food is in tune with the dogs digestive system. Most of the time, for most dogs and cats, a raw food diet will be sufficient for all their nutritional and gut health needs but what happens when something interferes with their gut health. This interference may manifest itself as itching, food allergies, digestive problems, ear infections or any common health condition that comes from an inflammatory disorder. There are many causes, from over vaccination (discussed in my previous blog post here) to poor diet (e.g. kibble high in carbohydrates). Regardless of the cause the resultant symptoms are upsetting for our pets and for us as they can be hard to cure by conventional treatments. Our own search for solutions for ourselves and our customers has taken us towards homeopathic and holistic treatments with exciting results!
Supplements
From time to time I am asked the question, do you give your dogs supplements? The honest answer has always been no because I have never felt the need to but I am slowly changing my thinking on this.
Today we are inundated with advertising from various sources about the need to supplement our pets diets and while I believe strongly that a balanced, species appropriate diet is all that most of our pets need most of the time, sometimes, we need to intervene.
Only last week one of my dogs who gave birth to 13 live puppies retained puppy number 14, It had been dead for quite some time and it caused an alarming infection in my bitch. She needed to go onto antibiotics, a life saving intervention, but I was concerned about how the antibiotics would upset her microbiome, a very valid concern if you appreciate how important this is when it comes to optimal health. I immediately started Mystique on Adored Beasts probiotic, Fido's Flora. This is the only probiotic created for dogs as most people do not realise that human probiotics are destroyed by the dogs GI tract.
Leaky Gut
Over the years I have been approached by people who are in a desperate situation with their dogs.
Their dogs suffer with the most unbearable itch, sore, infected ears, hair loss and hot spots. The term “leaky gut” is increasingly used to describe the possible causes of this collection of ailments and points towards the solution. They come to me because they think raw feeding will cure this condition but it is a little more complicated than that for these pets. Raw food maybe the major part of the solution but they may require additional support through supplements.
Of course an adjustment in diet is essential to promote healing but these dogs are almost always over vaccinated, have received too many chemicals and have been on a highly processed diet. They have also been prescribed a cycle of antibiotics and steroids which are great at suppressing symptoms but get nowhere close to diagnosing the problem because what we really need to understand, is why are our pets suffering with these symptoms? They did not evolve, very successfully, over thousands of years to be seemingly allergic to chicken? or grass pollen?? or house dust?? or whatever.
I first started recommending the Leaky Gut Protocol several years ago to desperate pet owners with amazing results. So much so, that at the time, I approached Adored Beast to see if I could be a reseller of their products but at the time they were working on licensing for the USA.
Very recently, I approached them again and I am delighted to say we are now able to offer their full range of products. I urge you to listen to Julie Anne's story on this Podcast, such a remarkable woman and I feel honoured to be allowed to offer her solutions to the epidemic our pets face.
I also want to include the testimony of another incredible woman, Kristie Burnett who is the owner of two English Pointers. She flatters me incredibly and I am quite sure I was not as helpful as she supposes in her testimony but I know I was instrumental in her finding a healthier alternative treatment for her dogs ailments.
Here is her story in her own words!
“Raw food recipes from Rosemary and Mark at Kaskazini Kitchen and Adored Beast products completely healed my dog Cooper. Cooper is a 3 year old German Shorthair Pointer who suffered terribly from red spots, itchy skin and eyes. He was thirsty all of the time and at less than a year old he developed interdigital cysts and was limping and in pain. Unfortunately I trusted a local vet who over vaccinated him, gave him way too many antibiotics and steroids. Thankfully I put my foot down when the vet wanted to give Cooper Apoquel and this is exactly how I met Rosemary. After a phone consultation with Rosemary she immediately suggested Adored Beast Leaky Gut Protocol and explained how we needed to get Cooper’s gut on track so his immune system can work properly. Rosemary took the time to educate me about The Leaky Gut protocol, she answered all of my questions, concerns and fears about trying yet again something new with Cooper. But I loved everything Rosemary said and mostly just her passion for wanting to educate owners so their dogs can truly live and thrive healthy lives. So, I placed an Adored Beast order in addition to transitioning Cooper from kibble to Rosemary’s raw food recipes. Within two days of feeding Rosemary’s recipes I immediately noticed Cooper drinking less water, his coat softened and within a week it began to shine. After just a week on raw food, Cooper just seemed lighter on his feet with a spark in his eye. When it was time to begin Adored Beasts Healthy Gut Protocol Rosemary walked me through each step and the protocol proved to help Cooper.
His interdigital cysts showed up still but, in a way, popped up to say hello and then quickly left. I recall Rosemary telling me that Cooper’s immune system was starting to act like a healthy strong system. Trauma arises and his immunity kicks in and promotes healing. Exactly what should happen! Cooper will be 4 in June and hasn’t had a cyst or a red spot in two years. His skin is smooth and shiny and his eyes are bright. He has seasonal allergies which do not pose too much discomfort because we boost Cooper’s strength with Adored Beast’s pre and probiotics and of course his daily recipes from Kaskazini Kitchen! We are thrilled to know that we can order exceptional food and Adored Beast supplements from Rosemary.”
We have a whole range of Adored Beast products. More information can be found in the Adored Beast section of our website devoted to these products. If there are other products you'd like to see by them, please let us know.
