How do I Improve My Dog’s Digestion?

August 09, 2021By Ashleigh Smith

When it comes to our beloved pet’s welfare, we’d want to feed the best. However, what is the universal understanding of the best food for dogs? Your dog might thrive off dog food Brand A but the neighbour’s dog might not. The result differs in their ability to absorb the necessary nutrients in the food that is consumed. Thus, the question isn’t “which brand of pet food is better?”, but “can my pet digest this?”

In order to understand “better digestion”, we must first understand how our pets digest their food. Carnivores have shorter digestion tracts compared to omnivores and herbivores. Being mainly carnivores, dogs and cats digest general food in 4-8hours, omnivores in 12hours and herbivores up to 48hours or more. Our gastrointestinal tracts (GI Tracts) have a complex concoction of microbes and (healthy) bacteria. A healthy GI Tract plays an important role in overall health, from absorption of nutrients to mental health. When there’s an imbalance of bacteria, disorders may arise such as digestive issues, yeast infections, auto-immune disease, pancreatitis and even depression.

When we think of digestion, the general idea that cooking makes food easier to digest is true, but is it suitable for our pets? The short answer: it isn’t. When food is placed under high heat, it results in cooking toxins such as acrylamide, nitrosamides and polycyclic aromatic amines, which are also labelled Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). We may recognise these in the form of burnt food, deep-fried food or the packet snacks we may sometimes consume. The kibble we feed our dogs are not obviously burnt, but the high heat it undergoes to form that convenient shape removes essential vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. If we look at the biochemistry of proteins being broken down via heat, two essential amino acids – lysine and methionine – are lost when it reaches over 110 degrees Celsius. The result is a harder to digest food for our pets, and less being absorbed by their bodies, which could contribute to the large amount of poo they sometimes pass out.

In other words, our dog’s stomach acid levels are so low that when in contact with food that has been overcooked, their body has little to no nutrients to absorb. Without the necessary minerals and vitamins for the bloodstream, the long-term effects are detrimental to all organs, including the digestive tract.

If you do a Google search, there is a common trend between the rise of gut-associated disorders and the modern urban dog. This is usually the cause of typical pet food diets, excessive medications (usually antibiotics) and lifestyle choices. So what can we do to help our furry friends? Provide food that is not only tasty for them but also healthy for their gut!

Benyfit Natural has made it easier for you to help your dog‘s digestion. With the Animotics Probiotic Paste that eases the gut during gastric upset and our Digestion Topper powder which contains natural ingredients that promote a healthy gut, you wouldn’t have to worry if your furry best friend is healthy.

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