Everything revolves around the intestines. Regardless of whether your dog is big or small, young or old - the intestine is the central organ for health and the first port of call when searching for pathogenic factors in the body in the event of diarrhea or other illnesses. Due to the large number of lymph cells, the intestine performs a large part of the immune functions. The intestinal mucosa consists of an unimaginably large number of bacteria. However, this intestinal flora of the dog is only able to fight off pathogens and parasites when in a healthy balance. Only then can it build up its own microbiome from food.
Does your dog suffer from metabolic problems, allergies, autoimmune diseases or hyperacidity? Or are they susceptible to infections? An imbalance in the intestinal microorganisms may be the reason for this. Prolonged stress in homeless animals, insecurity and aggression, incorrect or inadequate nutrition often lead to damage to the intestinal mucosa. Additionaly, the intake of synthetic substances in low-quality food, chemical worming treatments or medication and antibiotics are also possible triggers of imbalance in the dog‘s intestines. In order to restore balance, beneficial intestinal rehabilitation makes a valuable contribution to the animal and improves its quality of life.
A natural intestinal cleanse in an otherwise healthy dog makes sense after:
- Vaccinations
- Antibiotics
- Cortisone
- Intestinal flora-damaging medication
- Giardia
- A chemical worming treatment
- All gastrointestinal complaints
- Puppies that were born by caesarean section
Intestinal rehabilitation for dogs with allergies
When the intestinal microflora is under attack, it needs support to restore the balance between its own and foreign microbes. If the balance is disturbed over a longer period of time, this can lead to allergic skin reactions and hypersensitivity of the dog to grasses and pollen - because allergies have their origin in a disturbed intestinal flora. Every allergy further weakens the intestines and thus reduces the dog's quality of life. Intestinal rehabilitation is therefore highly recommended.
A species-appropriate, natural diet is the essential basis for restoring a dog's intestinal flora to a healthy balance. In some cases, it is also necessary to feed the good intestinal bacteria in the form of a natural supplementary food over a period of weeks to months. Canis Extra Petflora is suitable for this, as it supports the intestinal balance of the dog with lactobacilli, vitamins and minerals as well as beta-glucans for the immune system.
How lactic acid contributes to a healthy intestinal mucosa
Fermentation with lactobacilli produces a purely natural lactic acid (pH 3.0). This improves the bioavailability of nutrients and active ingredients and supports natural gastrointestinal function. The aim: regulated digestion, a functioning immune system and a stimulated metabolism. Lactic acid improves cell regulation, acts against pathogenic bacteria in the dog's intestinal flora and prevents infections by activating the body's own defenses. The lactic acid bacteria temporarily colonize the intestine and develop their positive effect on the surface of the intestinal mucosa so that the binding sites can no longer be used by pathogenic microorganisms. The lactic acid bacteria do not become part of the body's own microflora, but can reassert themselves again and again through targeted, repeated feeding, instead of disappearing as a component in the multitude of the body's own bacterial strains.
Intestinal cleansing for dogs with fresh energy from Mineralmoor
Canis Extra Mineralmoor, a rich natural peat has been proven to support the gastrointestinal tract. It makes a positive contribution to soothing irritated mucous membranes and also provides a variety of healthy minerals. It is also known as black water or black gold. It is created through a purely natural biological decomposition process over thousands of years and contains a veritable cocktail of vital nutrients, made up of over 350 different substances such as plants, herbs, seeds, leaves and other organic substances. This unique composition of peat stimulates the dog's metabolism, boosts the intestinal flora and thus contributes to better digestibility of the food consumed.
However, a peat cure can only be as rich as its natural source. The ingredients, quality and consistency always depend on the location, the vegetation and the environmental conditions prevailing there. Our rich Canis Extra Mineralmoor comes from Leopoldskron in Salzburg (approved according to the SBG. Heilvorkommen- & Kurortgesetz 1997) and is considered one of the highest quality moors in Europe.
In addition to its beneficial effect on the digestive system and immune system, our Canis Extra Mineralmoor also has excellent results in breeding, fertility problems, pregnancy problems and unwillingness to eat and ensures a shiny coat and healthy skin. Thanks to the variety of nutrients, the mineral balance is boosted and it can also successfully stop dog seating dirt (you can find more information on the subject of dirt-eating in dogs here in our guide article “My Dog Eats Faeces – What Can I Do?”).
Canis Extra Mineralmoor is suitable for all breeds and ages and is accepted without any problems. Mineralmoor can be used as a health-promoting support for various diets. Our team of experts will be happy to help and advise you with individual inquiries.
For dogs that consume little liquid during the day, it has proven useful to mix 5-10ml of Canis Extra Mineralmoor into the drinking water. This motivates many dogs to drink and provides them with additional valuable minerals. Even if Canis Extra Mineralmoor is fed at the same time, 5-10ml can be added to the water - this does not change the feeding recommendation. Dogs that are conspicuous for eating more dirt or excrement also benefit from feeding Canis Extra Mineralmoor for several days.
Natural food is the basis for successful intestinal cleansing
For all allergies, infections, gastrointestinal complaints, following antibiotic therapy and chemical worming, after malnutrition and especially when switching to species-appropriate food or BARF, intestinal cleansing is always a good idea!
Intestinal cleansing only makes sense if the dog is given natural food without synthetic additives, as synthetic substances from food and from medication, worming or antibiotics can have an unfavorable effect on the “good” intestinal bacteria and, in the worst case, even displace them.
In addition to the natural and species-appropriate Canis Plus® dog food, plenty of fresh air and exercise, ventilation in the home and regular rest periods round off the program for a successful intestinal rehabilitation for all dogs.
How to carry out an intestinal cleanse in dogs?
Intestinal cleansing in dogs does not describe a fixed procedure that is always the same, but something that can be individually adapted to the dog's needs and requirements. Every dog has its own history. Constant flatulence in puppies and adult dogs, gastrointestinal complaints with recurring diarrhea, prolonged antibiotics and chemical dewormers or even after a giardia infestation (you can find out more about giardia in dogs here) can make intestinal cleansing necessary. In the following, we would like to show you what a comprehensive intestinal cleanse can look like. However, if you would like to have this individually tailored to your dog, please contact our team of experts for a telephone consultation.
How can I cleanse the intestines, what is beneficial for the intestinal flora in dogs?
Before you start an intestinal cleanse and build up the intestinal flora, you should always have your dog's feces examined - are there worms, giardia or other parasites that are burdening the digestive tract? Try to get these problems under control first before starting an intestinal build-up. (You can find more information on worm infestations in dogs here).
It is also very important to consider beforehand whether a change of food is necessary. If your dog is allergic or has a very sensitive stomach and does not tolerate or utilise their previous food well, it makes sense to change their diet to a natural food such as Canis Plus® before starting the intestinal rehabilitation so that the old food does not further irritate the organism and interfere with the intestinal rehabilitation as a whole. In addition, following an intestinal rehabilitation it can help the dog to tolerate the change of food better.
Naturavetal® Info
Preservatives can affect the intestinal flora
Even if your dog is not allergic and does not have a sensitive stomach, we recommend that you switch to a natural food such as Canis Plus® before starting the intestinal rehabilitation. Many conventional dog foods contain preservatives as well as synthetic vitamins, which can put a strain on the metabolism. The extent to which these can affect the digestive tract, the intestinal mucosa or intestinal cells and the intestinal bacteria is still unclear. What is clear is that preservatives are added to food to prevent spoilage by molds or bacteria - what can this mean for the intestinal flora?
From a holistic point of view, it makes little sense to comence an extensive and time-consuming rehabilitation of the intestines while feeding substances such as preservatives or artificial vitamins that could disrupt their positive development.
How do I start intestinal cleansing in dogs?
At the beginning of your dog's intestinal cleanse, you should encourage your dog's intestinal cleansing and in this way support the body's own detoxification. At the same time, start building up the intestines.
- Canis Extra Chlorella - supports the detoxification of the body in a natural way
- Canis Extra Mineralmoor - supports healthy gastrointestinal function, promotes the regeneration of the mucous membranes and provides a variety of important minerals
How long does detoxification take in dogs?
Canis Extra Chlorella and Canis Extra Mineralmoor are fed daily in separate meals for 2-3 weeks. This promotes detoxification of the body, while the mucous membranes in the digestive tract are supported during regeneration.
Naturavetal® Info
Intestinal cleansing for special needs such as flatulence
If your dog constantly has flatulence for unknown reasons, does not digest their food optimally or repeatedly ingests garbage outside, which then hits their stomach, Canis Extra Healthy Bowel can promote rapid intestinal cleansing and can also be used to initiate intestinal cleansing in your dog.
Canis Extra Healthy Bowel contains apple cider vinegar. Canis Extra Healthy Bowel should therefore not be supplemented in the case of illnesses associated with irritation of the mucous membranes in the digestive tract. If your dog is very sensitive to gastric irritation or has inflammation in the digestive tract, it is best to start the intestinal cleanse with mineral moor and chlorella only, as described above. If your dog has a stable stomach but still shows the problems mentioned above, you can combine Healthy Bowel with Chlorella and Mineralmoor for 10 days at the beginning of the intestinal cleanse, following the feeding recommendation. After 10 days, discontinue Healthy Bowel and continue to supplement Chlorella and Mineralmoor as described above.
How can you rebuild your dog's intestinal flora?
After feeding Canis Extra Chlorella and Canis Extra Mineralmoor for 2-3 weeks, omit Chlorella and start supplementing Canis Extra Petflora according to the feeding recommendation. Canis Extra Petflora can be fed in one meal or split into two meals. If you wish to split it, feed Canis Extra Mineralmoor and half of the Canis Extra Petflora feeding recommendation in one meal and the other half of Canis Extra Petflora in the second meal. Canis Extra Petflora and Canis Extra Mineralmoor are supplemented in this way for at least 6-8 weeks.
For sensitive dogs, it is advisable to introduce Petflora slowly and divide the feeding recommendation into 2 meals. There is no problem if Mineralmoor and Petflora are then fed together in one meal. In a 2-3 day rhythm, increase the amount of Petflora for small dogs (up to 5kg body weight) by 1ml, for medium-sized dogs (5-25kg body weight) by 2-3ml and for large dogs (from 25kg body weight) by 5ml.
For a small dog with a body weight of 3.5kg, for example, this would mean that you would feed:
- Feed 1ml for the first 2-3 days
- From day 4-6 feed 2ml
- From day 7-9 feed 3ml
- From day 10-12 feed 4ml
- From day 13, feed 5.25ml (you then keep feeding this amount until you start to phase out Petflora at the end of the intestinal rehabilitation).
If your dog tolerates Petflora without any problems, you can increase the amount more quickly - every dog reacts differently, depending on its sensitivity.
How long does a gut cleanse take in dogs?
A comprehensive intestinal cleanse for dogs can take time. The intestinal flora needs time to regenerate after serious irritations. Only when it has recovered and a healthy balance has been restored does the actual build-up begin, which helps to establish and maintain the intestinal flora in the long term. Allow at least 2 months for this.
In the event of problems lasting for months with constant antibiotics, after multiple treatments for giardia or after prolonged gastrointestinal infections, it makes sense to supplement Canis Extra Petflora and Canis Extra Mineralmoor for up to 3 months.
How do I stop intestinal rehabilitation in dogs?
After you have been feeding Canis Extra Mineralmoor and Canis Extra Petflora for at least 6-8 weeks, or 3 months for more serious problems, and your dog is feeling better, you can stop supplementing Canis Extra Mineralmoor and start phasing out Canis Extra Petflora. To do this, reduce the actual feeding recommendation of Petflora by 25% every 3 days.
For example, if your dog weighs 25kg and you actually feed him 37.5ml Petflora, then feed him approx. 28ml for 3 days, approx. 19ml for the next 3 days, then 10ml until you stop Petflora completely after 10 days. In this way, the intestinal flora can get used to the fact that it no longer receives external support for its internal balance and learn to regulate itself again.
If you notice that your dog has benefited greatly from feeding Canis Extra Petflora, for example their stools have become a little softer again after completing the intestinal rehabilitation or you notice other abnormalities, then you can also supplement Petflora for longer than the 6-8 weeks or 3 months for more severe cases. For example, it is possible to offer Canis Extra Petflora 2-3 times a week according to the feeding recommendation or the amount of food that was well tolerated and to feed a “maintenance amount” on a permanent basis, so to speak. Please contact our team of experts if you have any questions.
For successful intestinal rehabilitation in dogs, it is important that the organism can focus on its regeneration. For this reason, you should also clarify in advance whether your dog is suffering from parasites and treat them if necessary. You should avoid an excess of chews, food changes or other treats that your dog is not used to. This includes new, previously unknown ingredients as well as chews from protein sources that the dog is not yet familiar with.
How do I round off the intestinal cleanse in dogs?
Following the intestinal cleanse, it has proven useful to supplement Canis Extra Vermprevet® to promote an environment in the cleansed intestine that makes it difficult for worms to colonise through their diet. Canis Extra Vermprevet® can develop its positive properties particularly well in a cleansed and strengthened intestine. It should be fed 4 times a year for 14 days, every other day. During a cleansing period you should not supplement Vermprevet® so that the digestive tract can concentrate fully on its regeneration. After 3 months is a perfect time to start is following intestinal cleansing.
After an extensive intestinal cleanse, which includes cleansing, promoting the regeneration of mucous membranes and building up the intestinal flora, the digestive tract can generally perform its task of utilising food better than before the intestinal cleanse. This is why supplements designed to boost the supply of nutrients are now particularly effective. These include Canis Extra Aktiv, Canis Extra Spirulina, Canis Extra Berry Power or Canis Extra Tausendgrün Organic Herbs for BARF. So if your dog has a history of nutrient deficiencies in the past or if you still have these supplements in the house and would like to supplement them regularly, now is the perfect time to start
Further information and frequently asked questions (FAQ) about intestinal rehabilitation in dogs
The dog's intestines are made up of different sections, each of which can develop different diseases. Various parasites such as worms or giardia can cause diseases, diarrhea and flatulence are common, as well as intestinal inflammations such as IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). If your dog needs to recover after an illness, they are dependent on your special support. You can find out more in our guide “Get Well Soon – How You can Support Your Dog in Recovery”.
As described in this guide, intestinal cleansing involves using various products to cleanse the intestines and support the body's overall detoxification process. You can then build up the gut with a probiotic.
You can find our intestinal care products here.
If your dog has an allergy, you should find out what they are allergic to by following an exclusion diet so that you can avoid this substance when feeding in future. You can also support the immune system and intestines, as this is often the cause of an allergy. You can find out more about this topic in our guide “My Dog is Allergic - What Now?”
If your dog has abdominal pain, you should see a vet. They will examine the dog and find out why they have abdominal pain. You can find out more in our guide “When to visit a veterinarian?”.
Yes, dogs can also suffer from heartburn and acidosis. The causes can be very different. For example, if a dog is particularly susceptible to stress, this can be a reason for acidosis. However, it may just as well be that they are reacting to ingredients in the food or the food composition as a whole. Organ weaknesses or problems with the musculoskeletal system can also be the trigger for constant heartburn and acidosis. Sometimes dogs also develop this problem when their metabolism is overloaded by an excess of chemical substances, for example through daily feeding. You can find out more about this topic in our guide "All natural - Which synthetic substances can be avoided in everyday life?”.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone. We are here to help you with comprehensive advice. You can reach us Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by phone at 0208 - 531 7804 or mail info@naturavetal.co.uk.
