Included in this article:
- Function of the immune system
- Weak immune system
- Tips for a strong immune system
- Points to note
- Product tips
A strong immune system in dogs - the best protection against diseases
Dogs come into contact with germs, bacteria and viruses every day. It can happen on every walk: The curious noses find something supposedly edible and eat it faster than we can look. In the best case, these contacts have no consequences, as the body's own defences register and fight the harmful germs. However, our four-legged friends often react with diarrhoea or vomiting. If the symptoms last longer than 24 hours, you should definitely seek medical advice. Puppies, older or sick dogs, in particular, often have a weaker immune system and can only defend themselves against such influences with difficulty. We can actively support our pets in building up their own immune system. Even in healthy dogs, strengthening the immune system helps to prevent possible illnesses in the best possible way.
Would you like to know how your dog's immune system works, what weakens the immune system, what consequences this can have and how you can strengthen your dog's immune system? Then you should read on now.
How does the dog's immune system work?
The dog's immune system serves as a protective shield against bacteria and viruses. Two different defence systems can be distinguished from each other:
- The non-specific defence
The first level of defence is called the anatomical barrier of skin, mucosa and hair. The skin is the largest protective organ that prevents pathogens from directly entering the body. The acid mantle as well as the microflora on the skin, mucous membranes and in the digestive tract are important factors for a healthy immune system.
If a pathogen manages to penetrate the body despite the barrier (for example, via a wound), it encounters phagocytes that fight everything that is classified as foreign and threatening to the body. In doing so, they surround the intruder and break it down without distinguishing between types of pathogens (non-specific defence). - The specific defence
In contrast to the non-specific defence, the dog organism is also able to analyse pathogens. In doing so, it determines the type of pathogen and can fight it with targeted measures. Thanks to immunological memory, the organism remembers the pathogen as well as the strategy for fighting it. This principle also underlies vaccinations.
Reasons for a weakened immune system
A weakened immune system makes it easier for pathogens to enter the body. What factors can weaken your dog's defences?
Factor 1: Age
Your pet's ageing process is accompanied by an ageing immune system - not all processes run as smoothly now as they did when your dog was younger. Age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis demand all the strength from the stressed immune system, making it easy for unwanted invaders such as viruses and bacteria.
Factor 2: Illness, injury/surgery and other body reactions (e.g. to medication)
Wrong food, allergies, diarrhoea, vomiting - all physical reactions that strain the organism weaken the immune system. Please always seek medical advice in such cases! Chronic illnesses, injuries or inflammations also demand a lot from the immune system.
Factor 3: Stress
Stress puts a strain on the immune system - even positive stress can have a lasting negative effect on the body's defences. The most stressful situations for our furry noses include: Moving house, changes in the household (new flatmates), new owner, travelling, dog exams.
Factor 4: Weather
The organism regulates the body temperature, which puts a great strain on the circulation in extreme temperatures. In winter, salt is often spread on top of that. The result: the dog's paws become cracked and more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.
Factor 5: Physical strain
After heavy physical exertion (sports, long hikes, etc.), the body is generally more susceptible to pathogens due to exhaustion.
Other factors:
- Overweight / underweight
- Coat change
- Poor intestinal flora
- Too little rest/sleep
- Poor nutrition (lack of nutrients)
What are the consequences of a weak immune system?
A weakened immune system makes it easier for pathogens to enter the organism. Some dogs suffer more often from gastrointestinal problems, colds or allergies than usual. Parasites such as mites, hair lice or worms also have an easy time of it and can harm your dog. You can also tell from these symptoms that your dog may need additional support.
What is an allergy?
If your dog's body reacts with an extreme defence reaction when it comes into contact with a harmless substance, this indicates an overreaction of the immune system (allergy). Such a misinterpretation of the immune system can occur when an inflammation in an intestinal disease damages the intestinal wall. The result: insufficiently digested food components migrate from the intestine into the blood (leaky gut syndrome), which would not get there under normal circumstances. Particularly insufficiently broken down proteins are often classified as intruders and fought against. The immune system "remembers" these invaders, which means that even after the disease has been cured and the intestinal barrier is intact again, defence reactions to the corresponding proteins can occur. Now we are talking about a feed allergy.
The solution: Stabilise and retrain the intestinal flora.
Tips for a strong immune system
You can strengthen your dog's immune system with a few easy-to-implement tips:
- Regular exercise in the fresh air at an intensity adapted to your dog's needs.
- Extensive rest periods: Similar to their ancestors, the wolves (17-21 hours a day), dogs need a lot of sleep. During these rest periods they digest their food, regenerate, sort and process new stimuli (especially young dogs). Make sure your dog can retire and sleep during the day.
- Balanced diet: Adapted to breed, age and housing conditions. Rations should be calculated to cover requirements and support the natural intestinal flora so that nutrients can be broken down and made available to the body. Take medical advice to optimise the feeding of your pet.
- Avoid stress: Increased blood pressure, restlessness and heart rate are just some of the body reactions that trigger stress and weaken the immune system. Try to reduce stress factors for your dog as much as possible and provide several rest days per week to compensate for stressful days.
- Cold temperatures and humidity: Dog breeds with little undercoat (e.g. Vizsla or Dalmatian) can cool down quickly in cold weather or rain. Special winter or rain coats protect against the weather.
- Paw care: Especially in winter, road salt, snow and ice attack the sensitive spaces between the pads and make the skin cracked. Clean your dog's paws after every walk. Additional care: Beeswax balm.
- Support during the change of coat: The change of coat puts a strain on your dog's organism and can weaken the immune system. Support him with regular coat care.
- Regular intestinal cleansing: A healthy intestinal flora is essential for a strong immune system. Probiotic supplements can promote intestinal health. You can also support your dog by adding psyllium husks or cooked linseed to his food.
What does the immune system have to do with the gut?
Almost 80% of all immune cells in the body are located in the intestines. They keep the disease-causing germs and bacteria in check so that they do not multiply excessively. In this way, these bacteria keep the immune system constantly active - a regular training takes place. Many trillions of microorganisms live along the intestinal mucosa in harmony with their host - the dog. They form a natural ecosystem there, which we know as the "intestinal flora".
These "good" intestinal bacteria inform the immune cells in the intestine about intruders so that the immune system can become active immediately. Thus, the immune system is closely linked to the entire gut microflora. Only a healthy intestinal flora promotes a strong immune system.
How can you actively support your dog's immune system?
By avoiding weakening factors and "feeding" the good intestinal bacteria so that their population increases and they can fully support the immune system.
Supporting factors for the immune system include:
- Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) Effect: Dietary fibre derived from yeast cell walls that is not digested by the body. Instead, it serves as food for beneficial intestinal bacteria that can support the immune system.
- Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) Effect: Consists of several fructose molecules and is one of the carbohydrates. These are not digested by the body, but are available as a nutrient for "desired" bacteria in the rear small intestine. The growth of these bacteria is thus promoted, while the formation of "undesirable" germs is reduced.
- Yeast beta-glucans Effect: Multisugar obtained from yeast. According to numerous scientific studies, one of the most effective natural immune influencers. It influences the macrophages ("scavenger cells" that immediately eliminate and eliminate invaders in the body), which, once the yeast beta-glucans have docked, are strengthened and "armed", so to speak.
You should remember this
How the dog's immune system works
The dog's immune system serves as a protective shield against bacteria and viruses. It consists of different defence systems.
Dr.Clauder's for a strong immune system
High-quality supplements help you to support your pet's immune system.
