 It is well known that over 70% of the immune system is in the gut, the microbiome really is the heart and core of our health and our pets are no different. Ways for our pets to have a healthy microbiome:
So, why feed the microbiome?
What Is Peyer’s Patches? We all know that the lymphatic system is part of the immune system, but what if I told you that there is lymph tissue in the gut! Known as Peyer’s Patches, there is lymph tissue in the small intestine, also known as GALT (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue). The primary function of the small intestine is the digestion and assimilation of food and nutrients, and during this process it will also be exposed to food antigens, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens. More than 70% of the immune function in the body is in the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue a.k.a GALT. Located in the intestinal lining, GALT consists of lymphocytes, macrophages, Peyer’s Patches, and lymph nodes. Back to Peyer’s Patches, technically lymphoid follicles in the small intestine, they consist of a layer of specialized epithelial cells, called M cells, which are above follicles containing B and T lymphocytes. M cells trap antigens from the gut, similar to the action of the rest of the immune system, and present them to the lymphocytes in the follicles below, which offers an efficient immune response to invading pathogens or food antigens. Cool eh? So as we can see, our gut health is pretty important, and that is no exception to our pets! But wait, there is more… Nourishing of this special gut associated lymphoid tissue has other benefits such as;
The gut is also the largest hollow space in the body, where toxins can accumulate, fester and weigh down the immune system, which is another reason why we need to make sure our pets have a healthy microbiome. In comes Matty’s blend…  Matty’s Blend
This formula was exclusively tested and shown to improve gut barrier function and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in the gut tissue. Probiotics exert their beneficial effects through various pathways, including production of inhibitory substances and short chain fatty acids, enhancing the growth of favourable endogenous microbes, shifting the composition of gut microbiota, competition of epithelial colonization sites and stimulating host immune responses. In addition, lactic acid bacteria are known to produce a variety of antimicrobial agents, such as acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, lactic acid, and bacteriocins, which can inhibit the growth of certain spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. There are many pet probiotics on the market, and not all are created equal. Some have sugars and fillers added to them, and others have really good sounding ingredients in the blend, that actually end up canceling out the effectiveness of the species of probiotic, and some are just simply not enough of a dose for it to be effective. Matty’s blend is yeast and sugar free, no fillers, and no unnecessary ingredients that compromises the probiotic blend. Every ingredient was specifically chosen because it helps the colonization of the blend, not hindering it. Matty’s probiotic blend has been tested to exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs leading to an increase in fecal consistency. Pair it with synergistic prebiotics (that won’t compromise the species blend) and you have a winning symbiotic formula. “No matter what protocol is chosen, nourishing, supporting and stabilizing the gut is the heart of every protocol”. –L.J.
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 Just saying the word ‘Fast’ can put some people in a frenzy, especially when it comes to their pets. Fasting is very healthy and beneficial to the body, it gives our system that ‘re-boot’ it needs, a chance to get rid of dead tissues, cells, and toxic buildup, cleansing us from the inside out. The body was designed to use these sick cells and debris for fuel while we are in fast mode, which is how we can go periods of time without taking in food. The truth is that wolves and coyotes self-fast in the wild, sometimes by choice, sometimes not, but all in all, fasting is very beneficial for the immune system. There are many studies also showing that fasting promotes longevity and reduces inflammation, in fact, Mount Sinai researchers discovered that fasting reduces inflammation and other chronic inflammatory diseases without affecting the immune system’s response to acute infections. ‘ “Caloric restriction is known to improve inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, but the mechanisms by which reduced caloric intake controls inflammation have been poorly understood,” said senior author Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, Director of the Precision Immunology Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Working with human and mouse immune cells, Dr. Merad and colleagues showed that intermittent fasting reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cells called “monocytes” in blood circulation. Further investigations revealed that during periods of fasting, these cells go into “sleep mode” and are less inflammatory than monocytes found in those who were fed.’ (Dietary Intake Regulates The Circulatory Inflammatory Monocyte Pool. 2019. Merad). Not only that, fasting has been shown to regulate hepatic cells and other organs in the body, including the microbiome. Who shouldn’t fast?
How often? General guideline is once a week, either intermittent or full day fast. There are actually many different ways to fast your dogs, and there is no one size fits all. One way of fasting is to fast all meals for an entire day. Another way is to fast intermittently, which means fasting only one meal that day. Another way, which I sometimes employ is to just throw my dogs a bone that day, or fast them from meat, and only feed them vegetables.
I would say the best way to begin fasting is by beginning slowly, and see how your dog does, perhaps that’s by fasting for only one meal a week and going from there. We now know that the benefits of fasting outweigh the negative, it might be challenging in the beginning to see what works best for your dog (and you), because it can also be psychologically challenging for some pet guardians to employ it, perhaps thinking that they are starving their dogs, but dogs were made to fast, because that is how they used to survive in the wild. Food for though.  The world we currently live in is not the same as it was say, 50 years ago, or even 10 years ago! The environment around us is constantly changing, whether we see it or not, between EMFs (electromagnetic fields), lead in our water supplies, and God knows what else, it is imperative we lighten the toxin burden our pets carry, especially when they are or were not on the best diet, and are on medications. It is also important to note that there are many types of toxicity, such as; energetic toxicity to humeral toxicity, to connective tissue toxicity, and of course, lymphatic toxicity. All of these will require a different way and level of detoxification. So, here are 5 important reasons why our pets need to detox: 1. Immune system health- Did you know that your pets’ immune system will be burdened, and thus not function the way it’s supposed to if your pets’ toxin levels are high? You might notice that in certain seasons every year your pet gets inflamed again, and has ‘allergies’, this is just a hindrance of the immune system, yes there are certain things like pollen that can exasperate the immune system, but the question really should be, “Why is my pet reacting to everything, and why is it this bad?’. If the immune system in hindered by a heavy toxin load, it can’t function optimally. Picture a donkey walking uphill, and now picture a donkey walking up hill with 10 bags of rocks strapped to it. The donkey walking uphill represent a ‘task’ or a hurdle for the immune system, for example, spring. Spring is a season where everyone’s immune system takes a hit, because it is a radical change of season in Canada, the ice and snow is melting, and things are warming up. Now, if you are carrying a high toxin load, that is the donkey walking uphill with all those heavy bags, it makes its job a lot harder, and this is where some people actually get sick, or become reactive to everything. The same goes for our pets. Once the toxin load gets lighter, and organ systems are corrected, your pets’ immune system will function like that free donkey.  2. G.I. health- Your pets’ G.I. system is a hollow space, which can be a breeding and hoarding ground for undigested food wastes, toxins, bacteria, parasites and even viruses. Often times I am found saying, ‘No gut, not pet!, it really is the center of our being, and theirs also. In fact, 70% of the immune system is in the gut! Homo exogenous toxins such as heavy metals can burden the gut by eroding the gut lining, hence causing leaky gut, also scarring important detoxing organs such as the liver, kidneys and gall bladder, which can cause symptoms such as pancreatitis, dysbiosis and other conditions as well. While doing a detox regimen, or even before, I always make sure the gut is stabilized, so it can handle detoxification. 3. Organ health- There is a staggering line of evidence that shows that North Americans have one of the highest percentage of NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) in the world! And you guessed it, so do our pets! But why? What is surfacing in our environment that is causing this? What is our pet foods sprayed with? What is used here that is banned in other places in the world like Europe? One word- Pesticides! Pesticides, such as the ones routinely used on our pets (more on that later), and glyphosate that are sprayed liberally on our crops, are corrupting our metabolic system that directly affects and attacks the liver and kidneys. These types of toxins can actually get inside of the cell, hijacking the cell and destroying the mitochondria! This is one of the reasons we have more energy after a detox, and become sluggish when our bodies are burdened. If you think pesticide exposure is no big deal, let me just remind you of what your liver is responsible for: -Anti-microbial protein production -Clotting factor production -Complement protein production -Lipid metabolisms -Antigen presentation -Album production -Glycogen storage -Cholesterol metabolism -Endotoxin removal -Acute phase response -Detoxification Just to name a few! There are some doctors that actually say the liver makes up 60% of the immune system. When pesticides like glyphosate poison the liver, the immune system is dead! Now, when you pets’ bodies are so taxed that their immune systems are totally shot, to add insult to injury, everything gets labeled and diagnosed with ‘allergies’, and they are prescribed a medication that suppresses the immune system. I have found this to be very bothersome, and so, my mission to educate pet guardians continues until there is that ‘Aha’ moment. 4. Medications & vaccines- These are exogenous toxins your pets are exposed to yearly and even seasonally. Perhaps you are surprised I am brining this up, or perhaps not, but it is a fact that flea and tick medications are pesticides, and it is a fact that it is so toxic, in fact, that even YOU as the handler have to use gloves when handling this type of medication. If you come in direct contact with it, your next call should be poison control, and you yourself should go on an extensive cleanse/detox protocol. So, the question becomes, how is this affecting our pets? The answer- big time. Exposure to these types of toxins is very different, and can be a direct cause of auto-immune diseases, seizures, and so much more. All vaccines have mercury in it, labeled medically as Thimerosal, it is a mercury-based preservative in vaccines. Mercury is a heavy metal and classed as an exogenous toxin (meaning coming from outside-in). Limit over vaccinating, any good vet will or should tell you that, also not a terrible idea to set your pet up with success by doing a detox before and after a vaccine administration. As for the flea and tick medications, why risk your pets’ health when there are so many natural alternatives to choose from that won’t harm your pets’ metabolic system? Contact us to learn more about safe and effective flea and tick preventatives.  5. Hormone & genome health- The body is basically made up of hormones and proteins, DNA and RNA. Hormones basically tell the body what to do, and what genes to turn on and what genes to turn off. When the body is toxic, it can impair and even mimic certain hormones (such as estrogen), and when this gets uncontrollably high, it can lead to auto immune diseases. One way for the body to trap toxins is by encapsulating it, and you will find this in the form of ‘fatty lumps’ and even cysts. Recycled proteins and toxins that the body is unable to catabolize will end up being a ‘part of the body’ in this way. Faulty genetic copying of RNA and DNA can lead to cancer in the worst and extreme case. Personal experience has taught that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the sooner we can mitigate the toxic load on our pets, chances would be higher of preventing disease and adding back life to years. Where to begin? Begin by not exposing your pets to unnecessary toxins, including pesticides, heavy metals, and be mindful of the chemicals used in the home. Offer filtered (but not alkaline) water, and a fresh, whole food diet that is free of any round up like glyphosate. Offer botanicals and herbs once in a while such as milk thistle, dandelion and nettle. We love supplements like NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) because it is extremely effective in detoxing the major organ extremities, such as liver, kidneys and lungs, and is highly effective in detoxing heavy metals from the body as well, and is a precursor to glutathione, the body’s most powerful antioxidant. It is even used as a treatment in European hospitals in cases of acute poisoning! Contact us to learn more or to book a consultation for your pet(s).  Based on the title of this article, you will be quickly reminded that owning a pet is not always glamorous! Purging and the ability to purge, either through vomiting or diarrhea, is very imperative, in fact, if purging is discouraged, it may impact your pets overall health and vitality. So, why would your pet purge or want to purge? Purging is a quick way of your dog or cat getting rid of something in the body that doesn’t belong, it can either be hidden toxins or chemicals, incompatible foods, hair balls and miscellaneous objects. Purging is also a useful mechanism to discharge the body of any internal parasites, bacteria, and infections. If it is an infection, the expelled product will look like a ‘whitish’ froth. If it is a thick, mucous substance that usually indicates that it has been coating harmful chemicals that have remained undigested in the gut. The more toxic a pet is, the more will come out, and as I always say, “better out than in!”. Self-Purge Sometimes a dog or cat will want to self-purge, this is followed by them selecting specific ‘remedies’ to help utilize them to purge. This can often be seen when they eat grass when they are outside, and it may take several days for them to purge everything out, from both ends. But how about when it is winter and there is no access to grass?  You can actually offer your pet natural ‘remedies’, where if they select it (self-selection), it means they are wanting and needing to purge. You will know if your pet is selecting a remedy to purge versus simply wanting is as a snack by them taking in large amounts of whatever it is you offer. Coconut oil is a great remedy to help your pet purge, it is often selected to help detach mucous, as many toxic chemicals don’t pass through the gut, so instead the body will produce mucus to coat and to protect itself. Foreign objects like wood and even stones can pass through by purging this way. If your pet suffers from pancreatitis, I would caution against using coconut or any oils for purging purposes. Other helpful ‘remedies’ are; spirulina, wheatgrass, and barley grass.  When it comes to purging, sometimes a condition can get worse before it will get better, and be prepared when after you offer these remedies, as things will of course come out, so be prepared.
Case study: A beautiful long haired cat named Molly, who grooms herself as a good cat should. There will be odd periods of time where it looks like she is actually coming down with something, only to severely improve after she purges all the hair balls out. If there is ever a delay in the purging process, it appears that her immune system will get temporarily compromised. That is why purging is so important, as it is the body’s’ way of making sure that the toxin load in the body stays to a minimal amount. If your pet is not in need of purging, then they will not select any of the remedies listed, or at least not in significant quantities.  Eggs are one of nature’s most wonderful little power houses of nutrition, both for us and our beloved pets. Nutrition: Whether it be chicken, quail or even duck, eggs are packed full of bioavailable nutrition, such as;
You might notice and recognize some of these nutrients as supplements, and you would be absolutely correct- that’s how nutrient dense eggs are! Source: Now that being said, not all eggs are created equal, and I would know, being a farmer myself. When you buy eggs that are from say, chickens who are kept indoors 24/7, caged and stressed, you better believe that will transfer to the egg, same goes with feed. If the chickens are fed a GMO and pesticide laden feed, then the pesticides will make its way to the egg. Similarly with us, a pregnant woman has to be very mindful the moment she finds out that she is pregnant, what products, herbs, and even essential oils she can topically use or not, because it will make its way to the baby. You’re going to want to look for eggs that came from ‘happy’ chickens, who are free to roam and range, and this is where most people I find don’t ask- but ask the farmer what they feed the birds, whether its chickens, quail, or duck and geese- it will make all the difference in the world. Everyone advertises ‘Farm Fresh Eggs’, and yes of course, every egg comes from a farm (there are no city eggs), but how the chickens are raised, and what they are raised on should be on every egg buyers’ mind.  How to feed/prepare eggs to your pets: Now, You can feed eggs to your pets a number of ways, the best way of course is raw, but if your pet can’t tolerate raw eggs, then the next method is to lightly cook it, where the egg is still a bit liquid or raw-like, not solid all the way. Poaching is also a good way to feed eggs to your dogs and cats. Make sure though, that however you do feed eggs, to keep the yolk whole, as that is the best way to keep the nutrients intact, scrambling will alter and deteriorate the nutrient profile of the egg. Also, be sure to be mindful of calories, when you do treat your pet to a fresh egg, be sure to cut back on their regular food a bit, as to not overfeed. The average range to feed your pet an egg is 1-3x/week, of course this is a guideline, and you should ultimately do what works best for your pet. Author’s tip: Don’t forget about the shells! They are packed with bioavailable minerals and other nutritious components you won’t want your pet to miss out on!    Recipe #1: No-bake Pumpkin Kefir bites There are so many wonderful benefits to feeding pumpkin to your pets! This recipe is particularly good because, not only is your pet getting some prebiotics (from the pumpkin) but they are getting probiotics as well (from the kefir), this is a symbiotic happy and healthy pet treat that your pets are just going to love! You will need: -pureed organic pumpkin 500 mL -kefir (either from coconut, goat or sheep) 500 mL -cinnamon ( a pinch) Blend all ingredients together, pour into molds or ice cube trays, freeze overnight, and viola! Probably the most nutritious and easiest recipe ever!  Recipe# 2: Pumpkin Biscuits This is a biscuit treat recipe that again, is saturated with nutrition, and is gluten free to boot! You will need: -1 cup coconut flour -1 tsp honey - 1 can of pumpkin puree -cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend wet ingredients first, then add flour, roll out with dough roller, and cut into bone shapes with mold. Bake for 10-12 min. Allow to cool before serving.  Recipe #3: Pumpkin Turmeric Muffins These hearty muffins will be sure to please any dog (even cat- yes my cats love these! No one clued them in on the ‘obligate’ carnivore part ;)). They should last 1 week in the fridge. You will need:
Pour into muffin trays or cupcake molds and bake for 15 min.   “The splitting of the atom”, said Einstein, “changed everything except man’s mode of thinking”. Before we define medicine, let us define disease; “A disorder of mind or body marked by definite symptoms; illness; sickness.”(Holt, 1970). “All disease reactions are biologically goal oriented and thus serve in the detoxification of the system and in the repair of toxin-caused damage”. –Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg 1905-1985. Whether one knows it or not, we are living in an extra ordinary time. For such a time as this, I have made it my own personal conquest to look back at time in history, and see which medicinal modalities were established when. Natural medicine works with the body’s natural healing processes, it provides the immune system with the ingredient it needs necessary to heal itself, or removes the ‘obstacle’ for the body to cure itself. It does not work as quickly as westernized pharmaceutical medications and may sometimes be hard to find. Pharmaceutical drugs: The first synthetic pharmaceutical drug was discovered in 1804, by a German scientist, Friedrich Serturner. The main active chemical in opium was extracted in his lab and was named morphine, after the Greek god of sleep.  Chemo and Radiation therapy: First developed and began to be used in the 1940’s with the first use of nitrogen mustards and folic acid antagonist medications. Nutraceuticals: The technical definition for nutraceuticals would be natural substances that have a physiological effect on the body, and may be used to improve health, slow down aging, prevent chronic diseases, increase life span, and support the structure and function of the body. Dr. Stephen DeFelice coined the term ‘nutraceutical’ from ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceutical’ in 1989. The history of the modern vitamin officially began in 1916, it began with the development of Mastin’s Yeast Vitamon Tablet. Perhaps the most prominent of diseases in disease history was that of scurvy, a simple vitamin C deficiency, supposedly began when the process of milk sterilization came into play, the heat from the sterilization destroyed the vitamin C content in the milk.  Homeopathy: Discovered in 1796 by the medical doctor Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) from Germany, the longest established medicine to come out of Europe. Hahnemann’s definition of disease is, “A blockage of some sort between the Spirit and the Form”, and ‘Obstacles to Cure”. Homeopathy belongs to the field of quantum physics and not chemistry, as it is made of super diluted ingredients (either plant, animal or mineral source), where it is diluted to the point (beyond the 12th dilution) where no chemist will find a single molecule of the active substance in the preparation, it has disappeared leaving only a white luminous hole of brilliant white light. This white light is a dematerialization of the substance, which was once only physical. Gemmotherapy: Falling under the umbrella of phytoembryotherapy, gemmotherapy utilizes the extracts of the young developing buds of plants and the young shoots, where the life essence is at its peak. Primary studies were first done in the 1950’s by Belgian homeopath Dr. Pol Henry, the first research and clinical trials were published in 1970, and was called ‘Phytembryotherapy’, but it was then further developed by Max Tetau, who coined it ‘Gemmotherapy’. This highly therapeutic form of medicine is made by using the freshly harvested buds of plants that contains constituents rich in embryonic ingredients rich in Gibberelins (plant hormone). Gemmotherapy provides drainage on the cellular level to remove toxins from the body and to allow the body to then heal itself. Herbology: The oldest and most common form of medicine, archeological studies have shown the practise of plant herbal medicine as far back as 60,000 years ago and from all around the world, from Iraq to China. Under this umbrella we have;  Ayurveda: Indian based medicine more than 5000 years old, Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that divides the body into 5 classical elements termed ‘dosha’, which are; earth, water, fire, air and earth. The medicinal herbs and components are picked based on which ‘dosha’ one is. “Each dosha has particular attributes and roles within the body and mind; the natural predominance of one or more doshas thus explains a person's physical constitution (prakriti) and personality”. (Alternative Theories in Health and Medicine, 2001). Predominantly plant based remedies (about 90%), plant treatments may be derived from roots, leaves, bark, fruit, or seeds, such as cardamom, turmeric root, cinnamon and ashwagandha. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Another ancient medicinal modality, TCM like Ayurveda uses specific herbal practices and specific herbs for its use, along with other healing modalities in and of itself, such as acupuncture. “TCM is said to be based on Compendium of Materia Medica and Huangdi Neijing and includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, gua sha, massage (tui na), bonesetter (die-da), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. TCM is widely used in the Sinosphere. One of the basic tenets is that the body's vital energy (ch'i or qi) is circulating through channels called meridians having branches connected to bodily organs and functions.”(Barrett S, January 2011). As you can see, all these different medicinal modalities work very differently in the body, from the physical level to the energetic level.  There is more than one path to Rome. Each modality of medicine has its place in our hectic world and lifestyle. I also would like to point out that we are in a very different time than our ancestors ever were, including our pets, with more than 250,000 chemicals lurking in our environment, seeping into our water supplies and even the air we breathe, we are practically becoming radioactive specimens!
Our pets not only have to deal with environmental toxins, but are also exposed to toxins via flea and tick medications, vaccines, and other concentrated forms of toxins. I will conclude by stating that it is up to the individual and their trusted physician/ practitioner/ holistic vet to decide which medicinal modality is right for them and their pet, the more open minded we are with the right discernment, the more opportunities we give ourselves and our beloved pets to discover health in new ways.  With the big ‘C’ being the disease that diagnosis one out of every two pets, we as pet guardians must be seeing the trend. The interrelationships between elements of the immune system, the environment and other biological processes is something to note. Of course, epigenetics and nutrigenomics play a major key role, but something that I feel is extremely overlooked in the pet industry is how well our pets actually detoxify toxins. Prescription and flea/tick medications, as well as vaccines are prescribed without even so much as any kind of liver or lymphatic support. These are all VERY taxing on the immune system. Pair that with a processed diet, and of course cancer rates are 1 in 2! Case in point: “This case study was on a 6 year old, mixed breed, spayed female dog with suspected acute liver toxicity secondary to Trazodone administration. Trazodone had been prescribed to this particular dog intermittently previously for separation anxiety, but the dog had an event of raisin ingestion and needed ongoing medical care. Due to the anxiety of ongoing care, they were administering Trazodone at least 5 out of 7 days. Initial treatment for the raisin ingestion included induced vomiting, fluids, and charcoal. Bloodwork was done 48 hours later and the ALT (a liver enzyme) was elevated. Four doses of Trazodone were given during that 48 hour period. The dog was then hospitalized for fluid therapy and monitoring. They rechecked the bloodwork after another 48 hours passed and the dog's ALT was even higher. Since the dog wasn't exhibiting signs of liver failure, they discharged the dog and sent her home on liver support supplements. The next day, they checked bloodwork again and the ALT was still climbing higher. 3 weeks after initial admission, the ALT was still elevated, the GGT (another liver enzyme) mildly increased, and the dog tested negative for leptospirosis. 4 weeks after the raisin ingestion, the ALT went up to 996 (normal is up to 125) and the other liver enzymes (GGT, ALP, and AST) were all elevated. 6 weeks after presentation, the ALT was 1177, and an ultrasound guided biopsy of the liver was performed which was non-specific. The Trazodone was discontinued due to concern of possible liver toxicity. 2 weeks after stopping the Trazodone, the liver enzymes returned to normal. Though the probability of liver toxicity from sporadic use of Trazodone (during fireworks, thunderstorms, a long journey) is low, this is an important lesson that consistent monitoring for pets on medications is important. Thankfully, they were doing bloodwork on this dog regularly, otherwise continued use of Trazodone could've resulted in a much worse outcome. I recommend all pets that are on long term medications get lab work every 3 months, but talk to your veterinarian about potential side effects of medications and how to best monitor your pet.” Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM. The way in which our pets detox is extremely overlooked even in the holistic health community, and sure, detoxification happens daily, and our detoxification organs are equipped to do that, but how well they detox on a much deeper level is another story, with ‘obstacles to cure’, such as mycotoxins, homotoxins, mycoplasmas, etc. The Lymphatic system is a very imperative detoxifying organ, it is the only way out for most homotoxins, has interactions with the ECM (Extra-cellular matrix), gut, liver and kidney, and is the only way out for most toxins. Remember, the body is a flow-system, so making sure the lymphatic drainage is working properly is key to always getting the root of a problem. Diseases have a very distinct progression, and the right lymphatic drainage protocol for the right stage of the disease must be ensured. Yeast overgrowth is so common it’s scary, a sure tale sign that there is toxin overload in the body. There have been medical links to cancer and candida, the book ‘Cancer is a Fungus’, by oncologist Dr. Tulilo Simonoini MD, states that cancer can only develop when there is a candida or fungal pattern. To me, that basically once again boils down to the bodys’ ability, or rather inability, to detox well.  Having a high toxin load will also interfere with your pets’ anti-aging pathways, the activation of key anti-aging molecules known as silent information regulators (SIR) act across multiple cellular pathways that regulate gene expression, aging, DNA repair, metabolism and apoptosis (damaged cell death). Which makes it a lot harder for the body to do when it is laden with a heavy toxin load. Which begs the question, do pets with a lighter toxin load live much longer? So, here are a few of my tips to help insure your pets’ toxin overload is minimal and is also backed my recent clinical research:
 What we personally love:
If you want a more tailored approach to your pet’s detox regimen, to remove toxins effectively without causing further inflammation and damage then contact us for more information and to book a consultation, we all metabolize and process toxins differently and no two dogs or cats are alike.  One of the dreaded parts of pet ownership is dealing with pesky ecto and endo parasites that can rage war on our pets’ health- and yes, they are very real! Although treatment of parasites is quite a different topic and story, I’m going to give you a few ways to incorporate taking a parasitic load off your pets, and even deter a heavy load in the first place. It is true that germs are attracted to their terrain, so the real question should be on every pet guardians’ mind- ‘How can I get my pets health to the point and place where they don’t attract parasites?’
There is also a reason why in commercially prepared raw pet food you won’t find any intestines of the animal, most but not all parasites are found there. Make sure the raw pet food you buy is from a reputable source, and preferably not sold in bulk format. Carnivores such as felines and canines have (or supposed to have) a very acidic digestive tract, this will ensure that whatever raw food they eat, will be broken down properly, and to rid of any unwanted bacteria or parasites. In fact, feeding a diet that is high in starches and carbohydrates actually buffer the acidity in the digestive tract, thus changing the pH to making it less acidic, where more bacteria and parasites can be present and flourish. In fact, parasites love sugar, and that is what the body converts carbohydrates into, sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream! Most kibble is made up of anywhere between 40-55% carbohydrates, which is very high in sugar content, making everything you don’t want to grow, grow.  2. The gut: Probiotics & enzymes: Surprised that I bring up the gut again? It really is central to whole body health, both for them and for us. 80% of the immune system is in the gut. Supplementing with these is a must to ensure your pet is equipped to deal with and handle parasites, we always want the good bacteria to outweigh the bad, and the enzymes are a catalyst for so many important functions in the body, including making the digestive tract functioning properly, and even potentially killing and properly eliminating worms. 3. Herbs & botanicals: a) Black Cumin Seed oil (nigella sativa) This miraculous and highly therapeutic oil is great for literally dozens of ailments, but why it made its way in this blog post is because of its evident anti-parasitic properties. Below is the finding evidence based on a 2019 study; “Nigella sativa seeds have shown schistosomicidal properties against Schistosoma mansoni (in vitro), through a strong biocidal effect against all stages of the parasite and an inhibitory effect on egg-laying of adult female worms [119, 120]. An ointment of N. sativa seed significantly contracted and inhibited the inflammatory reactions to cutaneous leishmaniasis produced experimentally in mice by a subcutaneous inoculation of Leishmania major at the abaxial base of the tail [121]. N. sativa extract at a dose of 1.25 g/kg prominently lowered Plasmodium yoelii infection in mice by 94%; however, the effect of chloroquine was only 86% as compared to the untreated group. In addition, methanolic extract of N. sativa revealed higher parasite clearance and restoration of altered biochemical indicators by P. yoelii infection than chloroquine [122]. Thus, considering N. sativa for future antiparasitic agents will have a very important input after conduction of further investigation of its curative, prophylactic and chemopreventive activity particularly in the era of emerging antimalarial drug resistance.” Along with having anti-parasitic properties, Black Cumin Seed oil also has strong anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-cancerous properties, and there are countless studies proving its benefits for overall health, including but not limited to; digestive health, respiratory health (great for allergies), hepatoprotective, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and so much more.  b) Garlic: Another very old remedy for parasites, garlic is a great staple to incorporate once in a while in your pets’ cuisines, to help ward of any unwanted bugs, and to keep their internal environment inhospitable to worms and parasites. A natural anti-biotic, the active component in garlic is allicin. Allicin has been very extensively studied over the years, proving to treat various kinds of drug resistant bacterial infections, as well as treating fungal and viral infections. Due to its antihelminthic properties, garlic has shown to evoke a significant amount of worm load reduction. It also works great from the inside out to ward off any pesky fleas and ticks!  4. Diatomaceous Earth- D.E: D.E is a white powder you can sprinkle in your pets’ food, and this works in a mechanical way to help rid of internal and external parasites. What it actually is is fossilized remains of diatoms, which are very tiny aquatic organisms, their skeletons are made up of silica. How it works is that once insects come into contact with it (both externally and internally) they literally dry out and die. The sharp edges of the microscopic silica speed up the process. Incorporating D.E in your pets’ diet once or twice a season is one way to keep unwanted parasites at bay and keeping from thriving.
Feel free to contact us for more information on any of the mentioned above! Dosing will vary per pet and situation. Always consult with your vet prior to introducing anything new to your pet.
 Probably the most influential system for the whole entire body, our microbiome (including our pets’ microbiome) is such a critical component for whole body health and here is why: What it does:
 Areas of microbial concentration in the body:
There is an exogenous and an endogenous microbiome, and the exogenous (external) affects the endogenous (internal) microbiome. What affects the microbiome? There are several key factors that affect the microbiome, such as;
Once we understand how and what exactly the microbiome affects, I feel we all would be paying a lot more attention to our pets’ microbiomes and even ours, here are some benefits of a healthy gut microbiome:
Whenever our beloved pets suffer from any kind of issues, you can be sure that there is an imbalance between the good anti-inflammatory bacteria and the bad pro-inflammatory bacteria. Did you know there are anti-tumoral and pro-tumoral strains of bacteria? That’s right, there are strains that discourage tumor proliferation and there are bacteria strains that encourage it. Some anti-tumoral strains are; lactobacillus casei, propionibacteria, gut bacteria spp. Some pro-tumoral strains are; esherichia coli, shigella flexneri, fusobacterium nucleatrum, etc. What To Do It is so important to feed the gut in many ways, not just to diversify it, but to get the effects of ‘post-biotics’, which is the aftermath after a probiotic strain has colonized in the gut, and the wonderful after effects it has in the gut. There are ways to help feed the gut, and there are also ways to diversify it. We at Thrive4life Holistic Pet will help you choose the best route to take to help feed, nourish and balance your pet’s gut to further gain the benefits of proper immune function and health. Healing the gut can help with allergies, food sensitivities, detoxification and so much more! We carry the best pre- and probiotics in the entire market that we proudly offer to our loyal customers, and make suggestions along the way based on the dog or cats’ individual needs. Click here for out gut reset recipe that is a hit with our customers!  Photo courtesy of animal biome.
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AuthorLucy is an avid pet mom; with dogs, cats, goats and horses to keep her busy! All of her pet 'kids' are fed a species appropriate diet with proper supplementation so she can watch them thrive. Her expertise and experience lie in nutraceutical supplementation and is a health advocate for proper diet and nutrition. Her other passions in life are schutzhund and equestrian riding. 
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