Your Pet's Defenses Against Bacteria and Disease
The Skin and Coat System
The skin and coat system is your pet's first line of defense to protect against harmful external bacteria and the elements.
Skin:
Smooth, supple skin is essential as a barrier against invaders. Healthy skin can heal more quickly from scratches and cuts. Skin is also the largest organ of the body and will help eliminate toxins when or if the liver becomes overworked and unable to keep up with demand. Healthy skin also holds the coat in better.
Coat:
The coat offers protection from the elements. Since hairs are often shed, there needs to be continuous replacement. The coat may thicken and shed seasonally to help regulate your pet's body temperature.
Hair Follicles:
Hair follicles, the ‘root' of the hair, are constantly working. The cells divide every one to three days, with the protein-based cells pushed upward to form the hair itself. With this rapid growth, the hair needs a constant supply of protein to grow.
Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids are among the nutrients that are very important to your pet's skin and coat. The right amount of high-quality fats and other balanced nutrients help keep skin smooth and supple so it moves with your pet, helps avoid dry skin and promotes a thick, lustrous coat. Protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals are also key nutrients in promoting healthy skin and coat condition.
The Immune System
The immune system is designed to fight illness, harmful bacteria or other invaders that may attack your pet. It can learn to recognize specific invaders and fight them whenever they are encountered. Natural, raw foods set up and maintain healthy, natural biochemical reactions. These biochemical reactions set up a natural line of defense - a healthy immune system - that fights off bacteria, viruses, and parasites many times a day.
Mucosal:
The lining of the intestine defends against absorbed or ingested invaders. The mucosal lining not only absorbs the nutrients in the food your pet eats, but also filters out harmful bacteria and other invaders, as well as producing antibodies that attack certain disease-causing organisms.
Lymph Nodes:
The lymph nodes filter invading organisms, bacteria and other dangers from the body. They contain lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that attacks infection, and play a role in developing the antibodies that help give your pet immunity from certain illnesses. There are lymph nodes clustered throughout your pet's body.
Bone Marrow:
The bone marrow, contained in the center of bones, produces white blood cells, one of the body's primary defenses against infection. These cells travel in the bloodstream and attack and destroy invaders. When there is an infection underway, more white blood cells are produced. Antibodies are made of protein, and the amino acids in protein are the raw material used to build white blood cells and components of the immune system. One of the keys to supporting a healthy immune system is an adequate supply of good quality animal protein.
The Digestive System
In addition to delivering nutrients from food to your pet, the digestive system serves as a barrier to internal invaders, like skin does for external invaders. It also produces antibodies and is home to helpful bacteria that perform a variety of crucial roles.
Stomach:
This is the first stop for food and ingested material. The stomach is where food begins to be broken down in preparation for absorption. It is a mixing place for various enzymes and digestive juices.
Intestines:
The intestines are where nutrients, minerals and water are absorbed for use by the body. An effective digestive system also will destroy invading organisms and other undesirable substances.
Liver:
The main function of the liver is to aid in the metabolism of food and to produce important chemicals, such as bile acids that help digest fats. In this way, it helps turn food into usable building blocks and energy for your pet. It also protects the body by acting as a filter of absorbed or ingested toxins, and produces substances that help blood clot.
By restoring your pet to his natural, health-giving diet, you can restore the myriad natural biochemical reactions that give strength to his immune system. This is the "magic" that keeps pets who are fed natural diets free of disease.
Related Tags: cat food, dog food, pet food, barf diet
Jennifer Lennon has written many articles at TryHealthyPaws.com where you can also find out about a BARF Diet (Bones and Raw Food Diet) for your pet.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Time I Had a Pet Blue Wasp
A lot of people have pets such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, turtles and some even have snakes and - Why Should You Buy Barking Collars For Dogs?
You love your dog but he always barks and misbehaves. It is very upsetting for owners to have dogs t - What to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
There may be plenty of occasions in your life when a puppy crosses your path and desperately needs a - What Do Pet Insurance Policies Cover?
The most basic pet insurance policies simply cover vet bills. More advanced policies can cover every - Dog Walkers Are They For You
If you own a dog then you will know how important it is to ensure that it is walked often to keep th - Creating the Right First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Most of us have some type of first aid kit in our homes. They are necessary for those small bumps an - Deciding to Crate Your Dog For Training
There are several different ways that you may decide to use to train your new dog and they are all v - What to Know About Diets For Dogs
Weight seems to be a struggle for just about anyone, and that is true in the world of dogs. In fact, - Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember
Training your dog is important. It's important for his safety, your safety, the safety of your prope - Don't Go Raising Sheep For Wool Without Reading This!
There are many possible reasons why people choose to raise sheep. Some do it as a means of livelihoo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Puppy And Dog Information
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and havin - How To Choose The Right Dog Trainer
Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and - Can Greenies Dog Treats Recover From Death?
A Makeover For Greenies(r) Treats Months after a series of lawsuits and media attention alleged the - Dog Treats - How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items - How to Choose A Good Dog Trainer
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the - Dog Breeds and Asthma Sufferers: Are Hypoallergenic Breeds Always Best?
The first important consideration is to understand exactly what hypoallergenic dog breeds are. In sh - Audubon Bird Feeders
Bird watching is an enjoyable hobby for many of us. We love the antics of the different birds as - Must Have Accessories For Your Fish Tank
When many individuals think of fish tank accessories, decorations are often the first thing that com - The Beautifull Hummingbirds
The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy and for their protein source small insec - Clumber Spaniel Puppy And Dog Information
The Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent, calm dog great for apartments as they do not need a great dea