Digestive Aids for Dogs

Dogs can suffer from a range of digestive problems.

Canine digestive problems range from mildly annoying to life-threatening, depending on the cause. After making sure digestive issues are not due to a serious health condition, adding digestive supplements to the dog's diet can help.

Raw Food as an Aid

Adding raw food to a dog's diet--particularly if the current diet is primarily processed or cooked--may benefit digestion, as raw foods contain important digestive enzymes.

Enzymes

If insufficient enzymes are available for digestion, you can add them to a dog's diet. Natural Dog Health Remedies recommends Prozyme 200g powder as an enzyme supplement, which contains the enzymes protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase.

Relieving Gas

Flatulence, or trapped gas, can be a result of, or lead to, improper digestion. Chamomile, fennel, dill, ginger, thyme and peppermint help relieve gas.

Relieving Inflammation

Inflammation in the intestines can lead to improper digestion. Slippery elm, marshmallow root and plantain act as anti-inflammatories or lubricating barriers against irritants in the digestive tract.

Probiotics

Probiotics are the "good" bacteria in the intestinal tract. If a dog lacks sufficient quantities of these, or has too much harmful bacteria, it can lead to digestive issues. A quality probiotic may help relieve this problem.

References

• Natural Dog Health Remedies: Enzymes for Dogs
• Natural Dog Health Remedies: Dog Colic
• Natural Dog Health Remedies: Probiotics for Dogs