Many dog caretakers know about the benefits of fermented foods for their personal digestive health, but did you know that there are a variety of fermented foods we can feed our canine companions to help improve their gut and overall health? In this post, we’ll talk about how you can Have Fun with Fermented Foods – and help improve your dog’s digestion!
Despite their recent popularity, fermented foods have been around for thousands of years. Many different cultures used them as a way to preserve food, but also to support intestinal and overall health, which is what they are best known for today.
What are Fermented Foods?
Fermentation involves using a microorganism, such as yeast or bacteria, to break down a food substance and in effect “pre-digest” it in an anaerobic environment (without air). For example, when yeast “eats” sugar and gasses off sugar alcohols in bread dough, that’s fermentation. Fermentation also results from using lactic acid-based bacteria, such as lactobacillus, to ferment foods such as dairy and vegetables.
Dog-friendly fermented foods include:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Kimchi
- Kefir
- Pickled vegetables
- Sauerkraut
- Tempeh
- Yogurt (non-dairy included!)
Why are Fermented Foods for Dogs Important?
Fermented foods are important because, quite simply, they support optimum gut health and, as Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.”
They also offer many benefits to the gut, including:
- Increased bioavailability of nutrients.
- Increased digestibility.
- Alkalizing to the body (anti-cancer).
- Supply beneficial bacteria to the GI tract that are essential to immune and overall health.
Studies have shown that in dogs experiencing acute diarrhea, significant changes in fecal microbial composition were noted. An increase in harmful bacteria was observed, while the beneficial gut bacteria were reduced.
In dogs diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), gut bacterial changes were similar to those of humans who have been diagnosed with IBD. Fecal samples showed that dogs with IBD also suffered from dysbiosis, an imbalance of the bacteria in the gut.
What’s very clear is that alterations in gut bacteria are prominent in cases of gastrointestinal disease in both humans and animals.
Gut bacteria is also closely tied to immune health. A large majority of the immune system resides in the gut, so when gut health is imbalanced, it’s hard for the body’s immune system to function properly. There are also a number of factors common in modern life that can throw your dog or cat’s gut bacteria off, such as processed pet foods and antibiotics.
Dog-Friendly Fermented Foods
So, which fermented foods are appropriate for dogs? Here are a few of my favorites:
- Kefir: Kefir is an excellent probiotic-rich fermented food option that can easily be added to your dog’s diet. Kefir contains live and active cultures to feed the healthy bacteria in the gut. You can make your own kefir by purchasing kefir grains and fermenting them yourself. Water kefir grains offer a great way to make a dairy-free kefir option while still giving your dog all the wonderful benefits kefir has to offer.
- Fermented Vegetables: Fermented vegetables are excellent for the health of the digestive tract. Just be sure to start out giving your dog just a little bit to avoid digestive upset.
- Cabbage Juice: If your dog is fussy about eating fermented vegetables, you can mix a little cabbage juice into his food for a probiotic boost. Again, begin with just a little, such as a teaspoon of cabbage juice mixed with a teaspoon of water added to the meal.
If you want to get adventurous and try making your own fermented foods recipes, I recommend starting with fermented vegetables, which are great for dogs. I came across this cool Web site about fermentation called Phickle, that I have been having a great time exploring!
If fermenting your own foods isn’t your thing, you can of course purchase fermented products at the grocery store. Just be sure they have not been cooked, which would destroy the beneficial bacteria.
Conclusion
Dog-friendly fermented foods are an excellent addition to your canine companion’s diet. A question that often comes up when talking about gut health and fermented foods is probiotic supplements. I always recommend a high-quality, live probiotic supplement as it is not always convenient to feed fermented foods, however they are a wonderful “whole food” addition to probiotics supplements.
When incorporating fermented foods for dog’s diet, begin with a small amount over the course of a week or two to avoid any potential stomach upset. Too much at one time is not a good idea as it can actually cause digestive upset, including diarrhea.
I hope you have found this post informative and that you – and your dog – start having fun with fermented foods!