How Ayurveda & Herbal Remedies Help Your Pet Gut Health?

ABSTRACT

Maintaining gut health in our pets is essential. The digestive system of our furry friends is very similar to the digestive system in humans. Hence, they also experience a similar discomfort, if not more, in case of gut problems. The kibble that we feed our pets is loaded with chemicals and pesticides, and has little nutritional value. Sometimes, our pets can eat something wrong without our knowledge. All this can lead to an unhealthy gut and as a result, cause issues. Certain home remedies can be used to treat gut problems in pets. Several home-cooked foods are good for dogs and cats and are even preferred by them. To ensure that a healthy gut is maintained in our pets, Ayurveda offers natural and pure products which can be administered on a regular basis for happy and healthy pets!

INTRODUCTION

Our gut includes all the organs of our digestive system, including our mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and more. When we feel any stomach issues coming on, we feel weaker, want to rest, and we just want to get better. Hence, gut health is very important. As humans, we have the ability to communicate and express ourselves when our gut health is not at 100%. However, our furry friends do not have the means to let us know that they are facing issues. They may exhibit different behaviors which give us a clue that something is wrong, but it is still very difficult when they themselves don’t understand what is happening. Hence, maintaining our pet dog or cat’s gut health is essential to a happy, healthy, and playful pet.

GUT SYSTEM IN ANIMALS

The gut system in animals is very similar to ours. In dogs and cats, the gastrointestinal tract i.e. their gut starts at the mouth. From the moment they chew their food, the process of digestion begins. The esophagus then helps pass the chewed food down to the stomach. Further breakdown happens in the stomach before the food enters the small intestine. Here, food is broken down into small molecules which allow absorption of essential proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins into the body in the broken-down form. Once the essential matter has been absorbed, the rest goes into the large intestine. This is mainly material that is indigestible or even waste material. Some more digestion may take place here and water and salt may be absorbed by the body depending upon requirements. This process is essential in maintaining electrolyte balance. The rest is fecal matter and is excreted out of the body when we take our furry friends out for a walk.

CAUSES OF GUT ISSUES

There can be a number of reasons why our pets may experience gut issues. Sometimes they eat something wrong when we aren’t looking, and other times they may eat too fast and become bloated. However, more often than not, we ourselves cause issues in the digestive tracts of our little buddies. Pet food, usually known as kibble, contains genetically modified ingredients used for producing the kibble. These Genetically Modified ingredients are often grown using pesticides and herbicides which are toxic for consumption. If the pesticides are not used, the grains may become bug-infested and that is something we would not want our pets to eat. The overall nutrient and protein content in readymade kibble is also lower than what our pets require. There are more carbohydrates than necessary as well. Moreover, the preservatives used in kibble are being proven to be toxic to pets if ingested over a period of time. Some of these preservatives are butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Over time, accumulation of these chemicals and lack of nutrition can really affect our four-legged pals in the long run. It affects their overall health while causing acute issues here and there. This is some bad food that we are feeding our fuzzy companions.

SYMPTOMS OF GUT ISSUES

Some symptoms of gut issues are

1. Constipation
2. Loose Motions
3. Tummy ache
4. Vomiting
5. Flatulence
6. Loss of Appetite
7. Noticeable difference in pet stool

When our pets do not receive adequate nutrition, their gut microbiome is disturbed. This means that the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria is now upset. This can cause our pets to display some behaviors that they may not normally exhibit. For example

1. Chasing tail in dogs
2. Chasing light or shadows in dogs
3. Grass eating
4. Out of character behavior
5. Aggressive behavior
6. Weight loss and lethargy in cats
7. Cats biting when picked up
8. Cats biting when touched on the tummy

HOME REMEDIES FOR GUT ISSUES

With an upset gut microbiome, our furry family members would appreciate some natural probiotics. Food such as live plain and unsweetened yogurt, broccoli, banana, sweet potato, and cottage cheese are full of nutrition and safe for pets. Although in the case of cats and kittens, banana and cottage cheese should be given carefully and in moderation. For flushing out toxins, plenty of water is required. Sometimes cats don’t drink enough water as they don’t realize that still water is something they can drink. Cat water fountains can encourage more water consumption. For an upset stomach, bland food must be given until recovery, such as boiled chicken with plain white rice. A cumin coriander fennel tea (CCF Tea) does wonders when it comes to gut health. It can be mixed in with food or simply mix a teaspoon of cumin or fennel in water. For constipation, increasing fiber intake and water consumption is the way to go. Pumpkin puree is a great food for pet constipation, and it tastes like a treat too!

GOOD FOOD FOR OUR PETS

We can absolutely feed safe home-cooked food to our little pets, as long as all their nutritional needs are met. While they need meat in their diet, cats will benefit more from a protein-rich diet and dogs will prefer protein and fats in their food. Peanut butter is another favorite among pets. Watermelon, cucumber, and carrot can serve as little treats. Salmon, eggs, and oatmeal can be pretty safe and even preferred. However, there are some foods that are toxic and should not be given to animals. For example, cherries, raisins, grapes, onion, chocolate, and avocado must not be given.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR MAINTAINING GUT HEALTH OF FURRY FRIENDS BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda offers a range of pure and natural products which help restore pet gut health. The products are 100% natural and free from additives and fillers, so they are completely safe and effective for your fur-babies. Here are some such formulations

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

1.Gut Vet Syrup

Gut Vet Syrup is an herbal formulation by Planet Ayurveda which contains essential herbs such as Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), Pudina (Mentha piperita), and more, the Gut Vet Syrup is designed to maintain healthy gut in pets and to eliminate gut issues. This is not only a cure but can also be used as a preventative measure. To prevent gut problems, regular use of this wonderful syrup is a must.

Dosage: 10 ml twice daily with meals.

2. Gut Vet Tablet

Gut Vet Tablet by Planet Ayurveda contains Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), and Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) which work together to detoxify and sustain a healthy gut in dogs.

Dosage: Three tablets to be taken twice a day with meals.

3. Vara Vet Powder

Vara Vet Powder is another natural formulation by Planet Ayurveda which harnesses the power of Pathya/Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Dhatri/Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), and Bhibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica) to help with constipation, improve digestion, and facilitate gut detoxification. If your furry friend has eaten something wrong, and is suffering from indigestion or gut problems, this powder will come to your rescue.

Dosage: For dogs, cats, and small animals, 5 mg of the Vara Vet Powder must be given twice a day with meals.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining a healthy gut is vital not only for us, but also for our pets. In fact, it might be even more important since the innocent creatures neither understand why they are suffering, nor are they able to communicate that they are facing issues. Planet Ayurveda offers certain healing and detoxifying formulations which can prevent and treat gut issues in animals. Using a combination of the Gut Vet Syrup, the Gut Vet Tablet, and the Vara Vet Powder is guaranteed to make the little ones feel better. A happy pet equals a happy household!