How can one boost immune system function in our dogs? - Page 1

Hello.  Who has ideas on the above?  I would like to know "how" you are boosting immune system function in your dogs and why it works and what quantities/cost, etc ?  ie : by feeding raw, adding probiotics, etc.

What works and what doesn't?

thanks!

The first question is how someone would demonstrate conclusively that what they had done has, in fact, boosted the immune system in any dog. We know, for example, that proper nutrition is important and that in humans, just as in dogs, malnutrition is the most common cause of immunodeficiency. Protein and carbohydrate malnutrition can significantly impair cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, concentrations of immunoglobulins and other important endogenous chemicals in the human and dog. Single nutrient deficiencies, including the micro nutrients, obesity, stress, aging and even overnutrition are known to impair immune system function. When one talks of the immune system, it is often as if it is a single system, when in fact there are two major components of an active and functional immune system. One must also specify whether one is talking about congenital immunodeficiencies or those that are acquired.

There are lab tests to measure immune system function, but when was the last time anyone you know did this with their dog? I might, for example, tell you that when feeding a certain food I noted a dramatic improvement in coat glossy or strength of the hair fibers. But even that is very subjective.

There are also specific replacement therapies for immunodeficiencies, but one must know first what that deficiency is. So what I am getting at is that this is a very subjective question and the answers will be no less so. 

So if you want to know what people THINK they do to boost the function of the immune system, ask them what proof they have and what it is they have "boosted".  Most of the time, the answers you are going to get to a question like this are nothing more than anecdotal. A healthy immune system in a canine begins with breeding canines who do not have repeated infections. Further, an immune system is challenged every second of every day and fortunately, in most cases, functions as it should.

The problem may not be "boosting" the immune system. Unfortunately, with many immune-mediated diseases, a screwed up immune system may recognize nearly everything as "foreign" ("non-self").

As always,right on the money Hodie.Everything i've ever read on the immune system functions etc say exactly what you have just said.A VERY COMPLICATED often misunderstood part of the living body.I will say though that we are so BOMBARDED with marketing tactics that we want to beleive we're doing good for our dogs when in fact as i was told by one of the only board certified veterinary nutritionist ,there is so much more to the dogs body that like for example digestive enzyme's, the pancreas makes 70.000 times the enzymes needed so as she says,why would you need to add something when the body of an adult dog is already taking care of itself.Anyway,have a nice evening.and good post kmaot

Louise,i must of been responding  at the same time as you,you also make a very good point.Is'nt that something how the immune system can do these things.

I started giving my dog gluta-DMG while he was undergoing chemo for lymphoma.  His "blood" values drastically improved within 2 weeks of taking the supplement and we never had to delay a treatment after he started taking it.    I feed my dogs a raw diet and  add an omega 3 source.  The vet is very pleased with my dogs health- we go in for a full check up every 6 weeks and his blood panels continue to look "fantastic" to quote his oncologist.  The oncologist recommends a high protein/ lo or no carb diet for the chemo patients so he was very happy with the raw diet.  Another thing they recommended is no vitamin c, e or a supplementation - only DHA  for dogs that have cancer.

Great response hodie.  And yes, most answers to questions on this Board will indeed be anecdotal.  And here I actually thought it was a less controversial subject than the `picking the best food`` types of questions.    Heck , it IS different for all dogs and I do understand that.

But say for example you take a normal, healthy human . It is recommended for example to consider something like probiotics and that MAY have a beneficial effect on our immune system.  Won`t work for all...but maybe for some. And that recommendation is not targeted toward an individual with a specific immune disorder but rather for overall immune support.  Perhaps I was looking for answers like that...but for our furfriends.

Canine Complete will boost the immune system in a dog.

kmaot,

I think that it is completely a scam to say that dogs or people need probiotics, prebiotics or other supplements. As Dominic notes, and as a recent research paper also stated, it is all about marketing things to people and to people who have pets.

These owners are well intentioned, but the truth is that most organisms, given a proper diet, have evolved to use what it needs to function. Unless the immune system is burdened with infection or is incompetent because of other disease (and which is demonstrable), immune systems function pretty well in most of us, most of the time.

As dogs or people age, or, if someone is older as I am AND a person who hates, for example, green vegetables, then my taking a multivitamin might be a reasonable idea. If the pancreas is not producing the appropriate enzymes or amounts to breakdown fat, then perhaps an enzyme replacement might be useful. But unless my GI tract or pancreas or gall bladder or intestines or stomach is ill or injured for example, there is no need for me to take anything.

But there are plenty of scam artists out there who will tell you all kinds of things. In a healthy person or dog, just feed it appropriately, and give it access to clean water and good exercise and enjoy the company of the dog or person. For those who cannot wait to spend their money on supplements, at the very least, look for some SERIOUS scientific literature which demonstrates that something other than a big con job is in the product. Just because a product has extra this or that, for example, does not mean it is necessary if the body is functioning as it should.

Statements like "X will boost the immune system in a dog" are bunk and i would bet that most of the time the people creating, manufacturing and selling the product don't have even a modest understanding of how the immune system functions.

Aye!, Glutamine be a must. Give on an empty stomach aye. The company below be running a sale with free shipping aye. Me gets all me Proteins, BCAA's, and Glutamine here.

http://www.allthewhey.com/gl100.html