Detoxify Your Furry Friend

Our animals are exposed to over 85,000 chemicals present in our environment by Jotvinder Singh (Jojo).

It is estimated that there are 85,000 chemicals in our environment out of which ninety percent have never been tested for safety. According to studies, our animals are exposed to hundreds more toxins and at higher rates than humans. The list of chemical toxins are never-ending; hence, the need is now more than ever to learn how to detox your pet. Also, if you have a dog who is overweight and has hypothyroid, giving a dose of thyroid supplement alone may not help in improving the health, detoxing can substantially help. The four systems of body that actively help in detoxing are:

Support your pet’s liver

Although a healthy liver is known to detoxify many toxins, it may require support considering the volume and variety of toxins in the current times. Adding a ‘liver formula’ to your pet’s diet comprising nutrients like silymarin, garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables can aid in facilitating liver function. The liver detoxifies toxins in two phases and without sufficient nutrients, the detox can be blocked, leading to toxic buildup. Hence, it is imperative to maintain a balance of Phase 1 and 2 nutrients for efficient detoxification. Vitamin C is the most important antioxidant for the liver. Whole food vitamin C from plant sources like camucamu and acerola berries can be very absorbable. Glutathione is important for both phases of liver detox. The B-complex vitamins are essential to produce energy for the detox process.

The Gastrointestinal System

Like the liver, the gastrointestinal system (GI) is involved in a multitude of critical functions such as: the storage and breakdown of foods, the production of hormones and bile for digestion and the absorption of nutrients and vitamins. The GI system provides immune protection against bacteria with antibodies and against parasite invasion with cid production. In addition, it’s the primary producer of serotonin, helping to maintain psycho/emotional well-being.

The Skin

The environment is full of toxins like weed killers that are generally present in neighbor’s yards or public parks. By washing your pets or just wiping down their paws and fur with a wet washcloth can reduce the number of toxins that stay on their fur. You can also do stimulating detox baths by making an apple cider vinegar rinse. Always remember that pets only perspire through the soles of their feet and they can detox through their pores even without sweat. While too frequent bathing can destroy the natural oils, too infrequent can put stress on the skin and body.

The Kidneys

The Kidneys filter out toxins in the pet’s body around 70 times a day. The organ is very efficient at keeping everything that needs to stay in the body like red blood cells, platelets, amino acids, glucose, minerals and some water. If your animal has kidney dysfunction, a detox bath is a requirement, not an option. When the kidneys cannot filter out protein waste products, but filter out too much water, dehydration combined with toxic waste build up make for a very ill animal. Hence, make sure your pet is drinking plenty of water but don’t go overboard adding a lot of water to the raw food diet. Adding small amounts of water to the food during the driest time of the year and detox will ensure kidneys are flushing out toxins.

Add Organic Green Lentils

Dogs are mostly allergic to wheat and don’t really require all grains to be healthy. A great and rich source of protein is green lentils. Lentils are one of the most nutritious and valuable leguminous plants and are also rich in fibre, and minerals, especially iron and magnesium. They’re rich in lysine, an essential amino acid that can help boost the immune system.        

Add raw coconut oil as a source of fat

Raw coconut oil is a healthy saturated fat that contains medium-chain fatty acids that the body doesn’t store. Coconut oil can help you manage your dog’s weight.

Raw coconut oil goes straight to the liver where it gets converted into energy. Energy is important to keep your pets physically active and curb the chances of obesity-related diseases. You will still need to add a source of Omega-3 fatty acids to your dog’s diet. Consider sources like chia seed, flaxseed or hemp seed.