Your dog's immune system springs into action every time his body recognizes something that threatens his health. If his immune system is strong, the defending cells fight back and counteract any potential infection being carried by parasites, bacteria, virus or fungi, before any symptoms manifest. If his immune system is weak, infections and illness occur. To strengthen your dog's immune system naturally, you must establish a diet consisting of natural foods and other elements. Providing this type of diet to your dog boosts his immune system and improves his health overall.
Things You'll Need
- - Raw meat (chicken, fish, lamb)
- - Vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli)
- - Fruits (apples, oranges, pears)
- - Garlic
- - Herbs: Echinacea, olive leaves, astragalus (in tablets or liquid form)
Instructions
Begin a raw food diet of the type of raw foods your dog would find in the wild, including raw meats (chicken, lamb, pork, fish, rabbit and quail), raw bones, raw vegetables (carrots, spinach, broccoli), raw fruits (apples, oranges, pears) and raw eggs. See the resources ''Vet Info - Raw Food Diet for Dogs'' for more information about this.
Note: Not all dogs might be in the condition to jump into this natural diet, due to possible compromised immune systems. Also, the raw food you give your dog should be in good hygienic and eatable conditions. Consult your veterinarian if in doubt.
Your dog's stomach is naturally designed to digest raw foods. Do not feed your dog unnatural, processed and chemical carrying canned or dry food. These are generally the causes of allergies and other deficiencies.
Add garlic to his food two to three times per week. It strengthens his immune system, since garlic acts as a natural antiviral and antibacterial agent. Dice a garlic clove into small pieces and add it to his meal. Be sure to mix it well with the rest of the food to hide the strong smell of garlic a bit.
Add some of the following types of herbs to your dog's diet periodically ( one or two times a week or as your herbal vet considers appropriate): echinacea, olive leaves or astragalus. These herbs in general, and especially the astragalus, help bring balance to your dog's adrenal glands, blood pressure and sugar levels.
Astragalus membranaceus, also known as Huang Qi in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for thousands of years to fortify the immune system and fight diseases. It provides antioxidants for the body, fights respiratory infections, protects the liver, and it often treats diabetes and high blood pressure.
These herbs are available in tablets or in liquid form. Find them by consulting an herbalist or herbal veterinarian. See www.good-dog-care.com/immune-system.html for more about the advantages of these and how to obtain them.
Add herbs like dandelion periodically (once a month). It cleans your dog's blood-stream, helps his liver detoxify itself from artificial foods and chemicals, sustains the potassium levels in his body and provides important vitamins and minerals for healthy hair growth.