Healthy Diet, Healthy Dog!
Distemper is one of the deadliest diseases in dogs. With a mortality rate of 50% in adult dogs and 80% in puppies, it is not something to underestimate. To top it all off, there is currently no cure for it. Supportive care is the only way for infected dogs to recover and even that may or may not be successful.
For that reason, vaccinating dogs against Distemper is crucial. However, since Distemper vaccines only protect against the most common strains of the virus, that leaves a slight chance of vaccinated dogs still becoming infected.
As upsetting as that may sound, there is no reason to panic. The key is to make sure that your pup maintains a healthy lifestyle in addition to completing their Distemper shots. It is important to remember that the main purpose of your dog’s immune system is to fend off harmful pathogens. So as long as it stays strong and healthy, your dog will, too!
To help boost your dog’s immune system and prevent Distemper, try to incorporate these 5 everyday foods into their diet:
Bone Broth
Easy to prepare and highly nutritious, bone broth is popular among dog owners as a go-to food option for sick dogs and elderly canines suffering from arthritis. Not only is it rich in cartilage and joint-repairing nutrients called glucosamine and chondroitin, but it’s also packed with immune-boosting vitamins.
This includes vitamin C, which helps keep cells healthy and free of toxins; vitamin D, which improves bone health and development; and vitamin K, which aids in proper blood clotting and triggers proteins that help the body exhibit normal immune responses.
When making bone broth for your dog, you can use both raw or cooked bones. However, since cooking bones can strip some of the nutrients away, we recommend going for the raw bones if possible.
Rosemary
Aside from its powerful antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, rosemary contains high amounts of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6—all of which play an important role in keeping the immune system running smoothly. Iron is crucial for the production of infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes, vitamin B6 helps the immune system to respond to infection properly, and calcium helps in the absorption of vitamins and nutrients that enter the body.
That’s not all! Rosemary also helps improve mood and contains anti-inflammatory properties that keep the digestive system healthy and free of foreign material. Rosemary should only be given in small quantities and to dogs that aren’t pregnant.
Yogurt
While most of us—humans and dogs alike—enjoy yogurt for its delicious taste, what makes it a great addition to your dog’s current diet are the probiotics or “good bacteria” that it contains. They’re essential to keeping the balance between good and bad bacteria inside your dog’s body, as well as keeping the body free of diseases and infections.
However, it is important to only give your dog plain, unsweetened yogurt. Any additives, such as sugar, dairy, artificial sweeteners (especially xylitol), dyes, and flavors, can make dogs feel sick or even cause health problems.
Pumpkin
Since Distemper is known to attack the digestive system, it’s important to make sure that your dog’s tummy parts are in pristine condition. A great way to do that is to feed them canned pumpkin!
Pumpkin is known for its high fiber content and its incredible ability to both treat and prevent digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation. In addition, it’s also packed with potassium, beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
Blueberries
Blueberries are often referred to as a superfood. And boy, they sure are! On top of being low in calories, they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients that help support the immune system and improve overall health. This includes copper, beta-carotene, folate, manganese, vitamin A, and vitamin E. And the best thing is, dogs love them!
