Gut health in dogs: Fermented herbs & prebiotics
Tanja WeinandGood ingredients are considered the benchmark for high-quality dog food today. But whether these ingredients actually benefit the dog depends largely on gut health. This article highlights the importance of a balanced gut environment, explains the principle of bioavailability, and shows how fermented herbs with prebiotic effects can help make nutrients more readily available to the dog.
Anyone who delves deeper into canine nutrition today quickly realizes that good ingredients alone are not enough. Sugar- and grain-free, natural herbs, or functional plant compounds sound convincing, but the crucial question is whether the body can actually utilize these substances. This is precisely where an often underestimated aspect comes into play: bioavailability.
But what does bioavailability actually mean?
Bioavailability describes how well a nutrient can be absorbed, utilized, and used by the body for biological processes. A snack can contain many valuable nutrients – but if the gut cannot efficiently utilize them, some of their potential remains untapped.
Just like in humans, the gut plays a central role in dogs:
• Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut.
• The gut influences digestion, metabolism, skin & coat, as well as general well-being.
• A stable gut flora is a prerequisite for good nutrient absorption.
The intestines therefore play a key role in the long-term health of the dog.
The gut – the center of canine health
The gut is far more than just a digestive organ. It influences the immune system, metabolism, and nutrient supply, thus contributing significantly to the dog's overall well-being. A large part of the body's defense system resides in the gut, as do the microorganisms necessary for smooth digestion.
If this delicate balance is disrupted, even high-quality ingredients can only be utilized to a limited extent. Therefore, the principle is: effectiveness begins in the gut.
A healthy gut flora, together with well-digested ingredients, forms the basis for vitamins, minerals and plant-based active ingredients to be used effectively and reach where they are needed.
In this context, fermented feeds are of particular importance, as they are traditionally considered especially digestible due to natural conversion processes and can functionally support the intestines.
Fermentation is a traditional process that has been used for centuries to make food more digestible. Plant-based raw materials are gently altered and partially broken down biologically. This allows their valuable components to become more readily available in the gut and exert a prebiotic effect.
This process is particularly useful for herbs, as it makes their ingredients more accessible to the intestines and supports nutrient absorption:
• Plant-based ingredients are more readily available to the intestines
• The absorption of valuable plant substances can be improved
• The intestines are functionally prepared
The result is a fermented herbal macerate, the ingredients of which are more easily accessible to the intestines than those of untreated plants.
NaturDrops' functional snacks are based on this principle: all drops contain a fermented herbal macerate as a base to support intestinal function and specifically improve the absorption of the additional active ingredients. This approach considers not only the composition of a snack but also its actual bioavailability in the body.
Prebiotic effect of fermented herbs
A particular advantage of fermented herbs lies in their prebiotic effect. Prebiotic components serve as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, thus supporting a stable balance in the intestines. This has a positive impact on various aspects of canine health:
1) More efficient digestion
A healthy gut ensures that food components are digested evenly and gently. This can help,
• To reduce flatulence and loose stools
• to improve feed conversion
• to relieve the digestive tract as a whole
2) Improved nutrient absorption (bioavailability)
A healthy intestinal environment is a prerequisite for vitamins, minerals and plant-based active ingredients to actually be absorbed and used by the body.
Beneficial ingredients only become effective when the intestines can utilize them.
3) Supporting the immune system
A large part of the immune system resides in the gut. A balanced gut environment can
• support the natural defense function
• to make the body more resistant to external stresses
4) Influence on well-being & behavior
The gut is closely connected to the nervous system. A stable gut flora can have a positive effect on...
• inner balance
• Stress management
• general well-being
5) Positive effects on skin & coat
When nutrient absorption is stable, important building blocks for skin health, coat structure, and shine can be better supplied. Skin and coat problems are often indirectly related to gut health.
6) Stability in sensitive dogs
Especially in dogs that are sensitive to changes in diet, stress or environmental factors, a balanced intestinal environment can help to stabilize the internal balance.
This isn't about quick results or promises of cures, but about supporting natural processes in the body. Fermented herbs can play a supportive role here by functionally supporting the gut and creating an environment in which other valuable nutrients can be better utilized.
In this context, dietary supplements are not considered a substitute for a balanced diet, but rather a useful addition within a holistic concept.
Conclusion: True quality is revealed in its use.
High-quality dog food – as well as nutritional supplements for dogs – doesn't end with the selection of good individual ingredients. The crucial factor is whether these ingredients can be absorbed and effectively utilized by the body.
Because in the end, it's not just what's in the snack that counts, but what benefit the body can derive from it.
Sources:
1) Suchodolski, J.S. (2016). Diagnosis and interpretation of intestinal dysbiosis in dogs and cats. The Veterinary Journal, 215, 30-37.
2) Gibson, G. R. et al. (2017). The concept of prebiotics revisited . Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 14, 491–502.
3) Marco, M.L. et al. (2017). Health benefits of fermented foods: microbiota and beyond.
Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 44, 94–102.
4) Swanson, K.S. et al. (2011). Dietary modulation of the intestinal microbiota of dogs.
Journal of Animal Science, 89(5), 1520-1530.
Quellen:
