Inflammation in cats and dogs is a common physiological response, typically triggered by injury or illness. It serves as the body’s mechanism for protection and self-healing by expanding blood vessels and dispatching white blood cells to the affected area. While this immune response is essential for survival, it can at times spiral out of control. When this happens, the healthy inflammatory response doesn’t switch off when it is meant to, which causes chronic, low-grade inflammation.
While acute inflammation helps the body heal, chronic inflammation can be harmful and is associated with various health problems and increases the risk for disease. It can be localised or more generalised and widespread affecting many areas or organs.
Diseases associated with inflammation include those ending in ‘itis’ such as arthritis, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, cystitis, dermatitis, gingivitis, uveitis, pancreatitis, otitis, colitis, etc.
However chronic inflammation in cats and dogs can lead to many health problems such as heart disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases.
We need to start by looking at what causes inflammation so that we can eliminate the triggers. These causes can be either genetic or environmental. We cannot change our pets’ genetics, but we do have control over their diet and the environment they live in. If we address these root causes, we have more chance of the body healing and improving the immune system.
Causes of chronic inflammation in cats and dogs
- Poor Diet: A diet high in processed foods, refined sugars, and poor-quality fats can contribute to chronic inflammation. Certain food components may trigger an immune response, leading to prolonged inflammation.
- Excess Weight: Pets with excess weight have indicators of inflammation stored in their fat.
- Stress: Chronic stress can stimulate the release of stress hormones, promoting inflammation. Long-term exposure to stress can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate inflammation effectively.
- Lack of Exercise: Sedentary lifestyles are associated with increased inflammation. Regular physical activity has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, promoting overall health.
- Environmental Factors: Exposure to pollutants, toxins, and environmental stressors can contribute to chronic inflammation over time.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids: While both NSAIDs and steroids can be beneficial in managing inflammation and pain they do not treat the cause and also carry potential side effects. NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal issues, kidney problems, and liver toxicity.
Steroids, especially when used long-term or in high doses, can lead to a range of side effects, including immunosuppression making the animal more susceptible to infections and other complications, increased thirst and urination, weight gain, and others.
What can you do?
Feeding an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the most important recommendations for any animal with health issues. Chronic, ongoing inflammation can also slow down the healing process.
A healthy diet should be fresh and raw and include high-quality protein, including muscle meat, organ meats and raw bones. Ideally source organic free-range meats and avoid factory farmed meats and farmed seafood.
The diet should contain appropriate amounts of good-quality raw fats that are high in Omega 3. Omega 6 in high amounts can increase inflammation whereas Omega 3 reduces inflammation. Processed food is often high in Omega 6 so another reason to feed fresh natural foods.
Other beneficial foods to include are broccoli and broccoli sprouts, turmeric, antioxidant rich foods like blueberries, colostrum, leafy greens and green-lipped mussels, and pre and probiotics can also help gut inflammation.
Avoid chlorine and fluoride in drinking water – filter if necessary or use spring or rainwater.
Other foods that increase inflammation are high glycaemic foods (starchy food) as they elevate blood glucose levels.
By removing inflammatory triggers, adding anti-inflammatory foods, and building a diverse and healthy gut microbiome you can increase the odds that your pet will live a healthy life.
Check out the following blogs on how to feed dogs and cats a natural, anti-inflammatory diet:
Natural diet for Dogs – Click here to view
Natural diet for Cats – Click here to view
