Chronic Inflammation: What It Means and What To Do About It

Dog owners usually only start looking look for ways to reduce inflammation when an issue arises, such as arthritis. However, chronic inflammation is at the root of most diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, disorders of the central nervous system, allergies, arthritis, and pancreatitis.

Most of the time, chronic inflammation isn’t easily visible or detectable from the outside, but telling indicators include skin issues, digestive problems, arthritis, and recurring infections.

Common causes

Poor diet

Even the most premium brands of kibble cause inflammation because it’s heavily processed and contains starches and sugars. It also causes a fleeting state of dehydration, as it takes moisture from the intestines in order for the body to process the food (this is why kibble-fed dogs drink so much more water compared to those on a raw or cooked diet).

Stress/Anxiety

Dogs who are consistently stressed or anxious have chronic inflammation due to the constant release of cortisol (stress hormone), which causes the adrenals to become overworked.

Interestingly, a similar effect takes place in dogs who are accustomed to long games of fetch.

Poor gut health

The gut is the hub of the immune system and where chronic inflammation begins in the body. Without a healthy gut, you cannot have a healthy host.

What to do

In addition to eliminating the causes and triggers, it’s important to help your dog mount a strong defence. This means feeding sources of natural anti-inflammatories on a daily basis to help fight chronic inflammation. This will improve your dog’s quality of life, longevity, and help fight pain and infection.

Here are some of our favourite inflammation-fighting and immune-boosting foods:

• turmeric/Golden Paste
• omega-3 fatty acids
• ginger
• wheatgrass
• probiotics
• fermented foods
• reishi extract

Want to learn more about using diet and supplements to fight disease and promote longevity? Book a nutrition consultation with our certified nutritionist, Christine.

You can also make Golden Paste yourself: download the recipe here.