If your dog or cat has a sensitive stomach, or chronic GI upset, you already know: it is frustrating beyond words. Not knowing what is behind the GI trouble in your pet is even more maddening. After changing
food over and over, and trying several medications, you may find yourself backed into a corner, with your
furry friend by your side.

The good news is, somewhere there is a solution. It will likely take some time (yes, more of that), and lots of patience. But you’ll get there. Working closely with your vet, and giving your pet’ diet lots of individualized attention, even the trickiest GI cases can be solved. You can actually create better gut health for your pet,
with a few simple steps.

Isolate and Eliminate the Culprit

Once your veterinarian has ruled out illness, the next step is to
examine your pet’s diet more closely. 

You very well may find the trouble all starts there. Lots of pets have food sensitivities or allergies that their owners are unaware of.

One reason we love The CrockPET Diet so much, is that it gives us the opportunity to personalize our pet’s food. If your pup is partial to poultry, but has itchy skin, you can choose to give them cooling turkey. But you don’t have to sacrifice her favorite food – maybe, sweet potatoes or summer squash – because you can’t find a commercial food that contains the exact ingredients you’re looking for.

Likewise, you can help your pet avoid foods that don’t agree with them(and you never have to wonder if trace amounts of those undesirableswill make it to their bowl).

By isolating each food group used in your CrockPET recipe, you can pinpoint whether certain foods are to blame for your pet’s GI upset. Use only one protein, one vegetable, one brassica vegetable and a single starch (if you use one). Then change only one ingredients at a time, per batch. It may take a little time before you’re able to nail down which food or foods are to blame, but don’t give up.

Once you find a formula that works for your pet, stick to it for a few weeks. After you’ve given their gut some time to heal, they may be ready to try a little variety. Take it slow!

One word: Probiotics!

I can’t stress enough how powerful these tiny bacteria are! The “good” bacteria in probiotics are the soldiers that fight for the gut’s health. Keeping a healthy balance of flora in the gut is important for gut health, but also overall health.

Whether your pet has chronic GI inflammation, or no current health issues, a probiotic can benefit it the long run. Physical and mental well-being lean on the healthy functioning of the gut. Prevention is the best treatment for any illness or disease. Keeping the balance of good bacteria now will help keep your pet strong and ready to fight off anything.

Don’t forget about fiber

All those positive probiotic bacteria are no help if they’re not properly fed. Good bacteria need digestible fiber to fuel up on. Again, the wonder of The CrockPET Diet shows itself here.

Great sources of easily digestible fiber for pets include barley, peas, apples or citrus. You can even offer some of these foods as treats for your pet. Not only will you be giving them the good fiber their gut needs, but you’re providing a very healthful snack. Psyllium husk is another wonderful source of digestible fiber, and can easily be added to your pet’s food (often without their noticing).

Some foods that are high in fiber can cause gas or other GI symptoms, so be wary if you’re tossing your pup too many extra beans between meals. Each pet is different, so stick to what your furball tolerates best.

Be patient and persistent

Taking the many steps necessary to revitalize your pet’s diet and health can take some time. Anytime you’re changing an animal’s diet, you should always do so gradually, slowly and with patience. Some pets take longer than others. Cats can be trickier to persuade than dogs. But remember that there is truly no “quick fix” for good health. Even the best diet possible can sometimes take weeks to start really working its magic.

The sooner you start taking care of your pet’s gut health, the easier managing their overall health will be. It has never been more true, than with GI Health, that their best health starts in the bowl.

And, after all, your pet deserves the best!

To learn even more, check out my Gut Health Bundles or Gut Instincts Course. I’ll help arm you (and your pet) with the tools that will help you create better gut health for your pet. I also talk more about all of this during this Ask The Vet Live episode – give it a go!

Always work closely with your veterinarian when it comes to your pet’s health. Keeping them in the
loop with any diet changes or additions will help them give your pet the best care.