Anti Inflammatory Foods For Dogs: What You Need To Know
As dog parents, we want the best for our furry friends and that means providing them with the best possible nutrition. This isn’t just about providing calories, however, because the correct diet can alleviate an abundance of common health problems and, ultimately, extend your dog’s life. If your dog is struggling with joint pain, stiffness, decreased appetite or skin issues, anti inflammatory foods for dogs can address these issues and more.
Common Signs Of Inflammation In Dogs
At Chi Dog, we have several holistic dog food varieties that can reduce inflammation and support optimum health. But first, let’s take a look at some of the common signs of inflammation in dogs and how diet can exacerbate these problems.
- Swelling
Swelling is a visible sign of inflammation and can occur in any part of the body, such as joints, the skin, or internal organs. Swollen areas may be warm to the touch and can cause discomfort or pain to the dog.
- Redness
In areas where the skin is visible, you might notice redness as a result of increased blood flow to the inflamed area. This is commonly seen in skin infections, allergic reactions, or inflamed joints.
- Heat
The inflamed area may feel warmer than the surrounding tissue due to increased blood flow. This is often noticeable in swollen joints or areas of skin inflammation.
- Pain or Sensitivity
Dogs may show signs of pain or discomfort in the inflamed area. They might whine, yelp, or become irritable when the area is touched. You might also notice the dog licking, chewing, or scratching the painful area.
- Loss of Function or Lameness
Inflammation can cause stiffness, limping, or reluctance to move, especially if it affects the joints or muscles. Dogs may be less active, avoid using the affected limb, or have difficulty getting up or lying down.
- Lethargy
Dogs with inflammation may become less active, show less interest in playing, and spend more time resting or sleeping.
- Decreased Appetite
Inflammation, particularly if it involves the digestive system or is associated with a systemic illness, can lead to a reduced appetite or refusal to eat.
- Weight Loss
Chronic inflammation can cause weight loss, particularly if the dog’s appetite is reduced or if they are using more energy to fight the inflammation.
- Digestive Issues
Inflammation in the digestive tract can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. These signs may indicate conditions such as gastritis, enteritis, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Changes in Behavior
Inflammation can cause behavioral changes, such as irritability, depression, or withdrawal. The dog may be less social or less interested in interacting with people or other animals.
- Respiratory Signs
Inflammation of the respiratory system, such as in the lungs or airways, can lead to coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, or nasal discharge.
- Skin Lesions or Rashes
Inflammatory skin conditions can cause rashes, bumps, or open sores. The dog may scratch or lick these areas excessively, leading to further irritation or secondary infections.
- Stiffness or Difficulty Moving
Dogs with joint inflammation, such as arthritis, may show stiffness, difficulty getting up or climbing stairs, and may be less willing to go for walks.
Inflammation & The Dangers Of Traditional Dog Food
For years, dog parents had two basic options – kibble and canned food, and while both were convenient, they have never been the most nutritious option for dogs. Scientific studies have shown us that a whole food diet in humans can reduce inflammation as well as support immune health, and it’s just the same for dogs.
For instance, an exploratory study in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science showed that offering dogs a diet consisting of lightly cooked whole foods provided positive immunomodulatory effects for the dogs in the study. This means that the whole food diet was shown to enhance the immune system in response to fighting infections and illness and helped to reduce overactive immune responses which can lead to chronic inflammation and the development of autoimmune diseases.
Why is this the result? Let’s simply compare the ingredients of a traditional kibble diet with a carefully selected diet of whole foods.
Kibble typically contains cheap ingredients including fillers such as wheat, soy and corn. None of these provide any real nutritional value, they simply provide dog food manufacturers with a cheap way to increase the calorie count. Even worse, the sources of protein are typically the cheapest cuts and scraps of meat. In many cases, these “meats” come from diseased animals.
Kibble is also shelf stable, but to ensure shelf stability, a plethora of artificial preservatives are added, and these often are chemicals that may cause more harm than good. Additionally, kibble is often high in sodium and sugars, as well as artificial flavors and colors.
Essentially, feeding your dog kibble is a bit like a human existing on a diet of cheap hot dogs, lunch meat, white bread, potato chips, soda and other heavily processed foods. There are countless studies showing what “junk food” does to our health, often leading to poor immunity, inflammation, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.
Keep in mind, that human junk contains human-grade ingredients, which is still a step up from the ingredients in kibble. The idea that human-grade junk foods have superior ingredients to dog kibble may seem shocking, but let’s not forget how many dogs have died from contaminated kibble and even the best dry dog food brands contain cheap fillers and chemicals.
What Are The Best Anti Inflammatory Foods For Dogs?
While it’s important to note that every dog is unique, as veterinarians, we recommend opting for a whole food, anti-inflammatory diet for dogs. We also recommend that you opt for a fresh dog food with lightly cooked ingredients.
While a raw diet can be excellent for younger dogs, lightly cooked ingredients are the best option for older dogs as well as dogs with digestive issues. At Chi Dog, every ingredient is lightly cooked to make digestion easier while still preserving the nutrients in the food.
For instance, gently cooked whole foods such as carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, pumpkin and leafy greens are safe for dogs and have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. We recommend mixing these with human-grade protein sources, such as lean turkey, eggs or even tofu.
For carbohydrate sources, easily digestible options such as millet or pearled barley can be a good option. In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties, these ingredients offer a host of other health benefits for your dog.
Chi Dog: A Holistic Approach To Dog Food
At Chi Dog, our goal isn’t simply to turn a profit and sell a bunch of dog food. As holistic veterinarians, our main goal is to educate dog parents and help them find a diet that matches their health needs and improves their lives. We encourage you to do some research and talk with your veterinarian and determine which foods offer your dog the best nutrition for their specific needs.
In some cases, that might mean making up batches of homemade dog food and including the specific ingredients that will reduce inflammation, soothe the pancreas, support kidney health or manage a sensitive stomach. We invite you to use our menu plans as a guide and, if you do choose to make your own food, consider sprinkling on a bit of our home cooking supplements, which will ensure that your dog takes in all of the vitamins and minerals they need for optimum health.
Of course, making homemade dog food can be time-consuming, and Chi Dog provides a convenient alternative for dog parents, and we ship complete, wholesome meals right to your door. For dogs that struggle with some of the symptoms of inflammation listed above our Fire Diet and Earth Diet, both were designed to help dogs with inflammation.
The Fire Diet also is a good option for dog parents looking for a low fat dog food for pancreatitis as well as dogs with Cushing’s disease, heart disease, skin allergies, chronic urinary tract infections and even for dogs struggling with anxiety.
The Earth Diet also can help reduce inflammation and we recommend it for dogs in cancer remission as well as those with lipomas. Additionally, the Earth Diet is one of the best weight loss foods for dogs. Obesity is a huge problem with dogs in the United States, and the Earth Diet is a tasty option that will satisfy your dog’s hunger while still helping to manage their weight.
Whether you are searching for anti inflammatory foods for dogs, a low sodium dog food, a kidney diet for dogs or perhaps a sensitive stomach dog food, Chi Dog offers a diet plan that can help improve your dog’s health and meets all of their nutritional needs. Our low-carb foods contain only real human-grade ingredients, and each diet option is designed to serve as integrated food therapy for your sweet dog. To learn more about each option, head to our Diet Plan tab or click on the Get Started tab to determine which plan is the best fit for your dog.
