I have incorporated fermented foods into my Maxx's diet and his digestive problems have virtually disappeared! Remember to introduce slowly (teaspoon for every 20lbs of weight) increasing to Tbs or two daily. Sources for this article are listed below.

Holistic Canine Health

Our cats and dogs have the digestive system to handle bacteria, just like humans. Dogs purposely bury marrow bones in soil so that microbes decompose them and make them more digestible. Many pet owners are in such a frenzy to keep their house clean and keep their dogs' diets “clean” that they won't allow a dog to eat this bacteria rich bone when it is “ready” and rediscovered.

Lately I have seen a large increase of digestive disorders in animals from severe allergies to small intestine bacterial overgrowth (also known as SIBO) and massive yeast overgrowth issues. Could these ailments be corrected with the added use of fermented foods along with a cleanup in the nutrition by feeding whole foods and raw meats? Many of our household pets have been exposed to antibiotics as well as steroids early on in life, while they are still young for many different ailments that are treated allopathically. It would make sense to build the gut and make improvements to their overall health. Bone broth and fermented cabbage juice should be an easy task for any dog (maybe not so much for a cat).

To sum it all up, here are our top reasons to incorporate fermented foods into your and your pet's diets:

• Replenishes the gut with good bacteria.
• Keeps bad gut bacteria in check.
• Highly nutritious.
• Provides amino acids.
• High in natural enzymes and probiotics.
• Repairs and restores the gut (including leaky gut syndrome).
• Helps with severe food allergies.
• Inexpensive addition to any meal.
• Increases vitamin content.
• Improves digestion.
• Helpful for chronic conditions like allergies, diarrhea, atopic dermatitis, etc.

PRE-MADE FERMENTED PET FOODS

If you don’t have time to make your own fermented foods, we have a solution for you! Answers Pet Foods recently launched their newest item of Fermented Fish Stock. This wonderful option contains an excellent source of iodine, glycine, omega fatty acids, and gelatin. This formula also contains the amino acid arginine which is required to metabolize protein waste, making it a useful condiment for animals with kidney disease since it reduces stress on the kidneys. Arginine is also known to stimulate immune response by enhancing producing of T cells, enhances fat metabolism, and acts as a neurotransmitter to learning and memory. Glycine (also an amino acid) helps with regulating the bile salts and secretion of gastric juices, helping the liver to detox as well as helping dogs with epilepsy. This fermented fish stock is great for cats and dogs!

Sources: Wild Fermenation, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Live Foods Manual, Pickles & Relishes, Making Sauerkraut, Answers Raw Food