Our beloved canines are prone to all kinds of relatively common, treatable conditions throughout their lives – one of the most common being digestive troubles. Whether it’s frequent bouts of constipation, soft stool, or vomiting, tummy issues have many culprits, most of which are easily fixable, and that’s why there are loads of supplements and medications on the market for dogs’ digestive systems.
Dogs typically have a sturdy digestive system – more-so than cats, because they’ve had several thousands more years to adapt to living with humans – but the reality is that many dogs, and particularly those belonging to certain breeds, end up with some frequent digestive symptom at some time in their lives.
If you are the type of dog owner who prefers a holistic, natural approach to your dog’s health, you might want to look into dog treats that contain a combination of pumpkin and CBD. Both of these plant-based ingredients have been proven to do wonders when it comes to alleviating all kinds of unwanted symptoms that can affect your dog’s digestive wellbeing. Let’s take a closer look at why dogs experience these issues to begin with, and how you can use CBD pumpkin treats to alleviate a lot of their struggles.
Does Your Dog Have Stomach Issues?
Most of us know that when we talk about “stomach issues,” what we’re really getting into is any issue affecting the digestive tract – not just the stomach, which is a very small part of the digestive tract. And, the large majority of issues pertaining to a dog’s digestive system exist within the intestines, and not the stomach.
Dogs have the reputation for being able to eat just about anything (as many dog owners are all too aware of). But at the same time, a lot of dogs struggle with eating just about anything, including commercial dog food, because of underlying problems.
If your dog does have “stomach” issues, they’ll likely exhibit at least one of the symptoms below:
- Frequent diarrhea/loose stool
- Blood in stool
- Excessive gas
- Bloating/distended abdomen
- Vomiting
- Appetite changes
- Excessive mucus in stool
Now, just about every dog will show at least one of these symptoms at one point or another in their life, from puppyhood to senior age, just like any human. The key to figuring out whether or not there may be a problem is paying attention to how often any of these symptoms occur. If they seem to be persistent, then you’ll want to start taking a closer look into what may be happening with your dog’s health.
Also, keep in mind that these symptoms may begin gradually, or come on suddenly. They may begin during puppyhood or show up later in life. Regardless, it’s always important to take your dog’s digestive health seriously, and even monitor their symptoms as well as know when it’s time to take them to the vet.
What is the Reason Behind Chronic or Severe Digestive Issues
Like we said, it’s normal for a dog to, say, have loose stools from time to time, just like it is for people. But, if a symptom is chronic or severe, it’s time to look a little closer into what may be the cause. Here are the most common reasons why your dog may chronically have digestive symptoms like the ones we listed earlier.
Genetics
Some dogs simply inherit a weaker digestive system from their parents, due to various ailments that run in the family. If you’ve ruled out major disorders and other causes, it could be that your pet just wasn’t born with the ability to robustly digest most common foods.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are a super common cause for digestive troubles. They are often tested for at the vet when a stool sample is provided. Parasites commonly affect dogs, and a parasitic infection may or may not be symptomatic. Dogs should be tested for parasites by their veterinarian regularly, especially since they can pick them up without you knowing if they’re eating something outside. Keep in mind that standard parasite testing does not necessarily include all kinds of parasitic infections, so if you suspect that a dog may have parasites, you should ask your vet for more extensive testing.
Food Allergies
Sometimes, your dog’s symptoms may be the result of a food allergy, food sensitivity, or intolerance to a particular ingredient. If you’re always feeding your dog an ingredient that their body actually can’t digest properly, they’ll have an immune response that can lead to all kinds of digestive symptoms. And, these symptoms don’t necessarily have to occur immediately after they eat that ingredient, either. Regularly being exposed to an allergen can cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract that remains symptomatic until they’ve ceased consuming that ingredient for at least a couple of weeks.
Emotional Stress
Anxiety and stress can manifest in all kinds of issues, like skin troubles, fatigue, aggression, etc., and poor digestive health is actually one of the most common. The constant flow of adrenaline hormones throughout the body, which occurs during moments of stress or anxiety, can disrupt healthy digestive function, making it harder for a dog to properly digest food.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections, like parasites, can be an underlying and surprising cause of your dog’s sensitive stomach. These infections can cause long-term, chronic symptoms if they’re never treated. And, just like with parasites, a standard stool test performed at the vet’s office won’t necessarily test for all of the known culprits behind a bacterial infection of the intestines. So, again, if you suspect that an infection may be the underlying cause, we recommend asking your vet for a more extensive degree of testing.
Their Breed
Some dog breeds just happen to be more likely to develop digestive symptoms than others. A lot of this has to do with whether or not their bodies have adapted over years of selective breeding to actually tolerate certain foods, and also has to do with how their digestive tracts are structured based on their body’s design.
The most common breeds that are prone to digestive troubles are:
- Poodles
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Irish Setters
- Great Danes
- Cocker Spaniels
- Shar Peis
Also, keep in mind that smaller dogs may exhibit signs of a sensitive stomach because their bodies are designed to actually consume fairly small amounts of food compared to bigger dogs.
Inflammatory Disorders
Certain inflammatory disorders of the digestive tract can lead to chronic digestive symptoms, and difficulty tolerating what are even considered dog-friendly foods. Canine irritable bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common of these conditions, and even means that the intestines are chronically inflamed. This inflammation can lead to sensitivities to many foods, and cause all kinds of symptoms including excessive gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. These conditions can be hereditary, but in many cases, they can be treated with simple dietary changes. Sometimes, they are a sign of a greater autoimmune disorder that requires a more holistic approach to providing care.
Poor Diet
Sometimes, a sensitive stomach is just a digestive system that’s reacting to a poor diet. While it’s true that many dogs can eat the foods we eat as well, their bodies were simply not designed to consume many of the things that we eat daily, like wheat and dairy. At the same time, low-quality ingredients in dog food, like lots of fillers and artificial additives, are not meant for a dog to eat regularly. So, your dog may just be reacting to food that’s ultimately not appropriate for their species.
Can Pumpkin Help Your Dog’s Stomach Troubles?
Pumpkin is a member of the squash family, and its earthy, sweet flavor is actually appealing to most dogs. It’s also one of the most nutrient-dense, benefit-rich ingredients in the world, making it a superfood that can provide your dog with all kinds of essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, plus iron, potassium, and high concentrations of antioxidants.
As for its effects on the digestive tract, pumpkin is known to offer some clear benefits, which is why it’s one of the first things recommended by a veterinarian when they hear of a dog struggling with digestive troubles.
Pumpkin Can Help with Diarrhea
Pumpkin can be super useful to a dog that’s struggling with diarrhea. Because pumpkin has a high concentration of soluble fiber, it absorbs water in your dog’s stool, so that it can become more solid and less liquid. If your dog is prone to an upset stomach, daily pumpkin can do wonders, especially since frequent diarrhea can lead to dehydration, forcing much-needed fluids out of the system through the digestive tract.
Pumpkin Can Remedy Constipation
Pumpkin is, again, loaded with fiber, and that’s not just good news for a dog who has diarrhea, but also constipation. The fact that it’s a completely natural, nutrient-rich ingredient makes it a fantastic alternative to prescription drugs intended for constipation. Basically, pumpkin has the ability to make stool looser by breaking it down when it’s compacted in the lower digestive tract, allowing it to pass through the bowels easily.
Pumpkin Can Support Your Dog’s Weight
While weight gain is not necessarily a digestive problem, the urge to eat lots of unhealthy foods can lead to lots of digestive ailments. Meanwhile, pumpkin is low in calories, super high in nutrients, and extremely filling because of its fiber content, which means that it can help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Giving your dog pumpkin treats daily provides them with a low-calorie snack that can keep them full for a long time, so they’re less likely to overeat and end up gaining unnecessary weight. Pumpkin is therefore a great snack or treat as an alternative to something with more calories.
What Can CBD Do for Your Dog’s Tummy?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is the dominant chemical compound in hemp, and it belongs to a unique class of compounds known as cannabinoids, which are unique to the cannabis plant. The hemp plant has over 100 individual cannabinoids, including CBD. Some cannabinoids, like THC, are psychoactive, but CBD is not remotely intoxicating, even in high doses. CBD does not interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain that trigger intoxication, which is why even high doses won’t get your dog high.
What all cannabinoids share in common with one another is their relationship with the body’s endocannabinoid system – a system in all mammals, which has the job of maintaining homeostasis throughout the entire body. The endocannabinoid system is a network of cannabinoid receptors found in each bodily system, and these cannabinoid receptors use cannabinoids like CBD to regulate physiological processes in the body such as sleep, mood, inflammation, pain tolerance, cognitive functions, digestion, immune response, and more.
What this means is that each time a dog consumes CBD, their endocannabinoid system is getting support, which in turn helps their body reach a state of equilibrium. So, how does this apply to a dog who is prone to digestive issues? Like we said earlier, studies have shown that the cannabinoids in cannabis can offer numerous regulatory effects to digestive processes. CBD does play a general role in supporting digestive function, as cannabinoid receptors exist in the digestive tract (CB2 receptors) in order to regulate all digestive functions. At the same time, cannabidiol is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that have been shown to address common inflammatory conditions of the intestines.
What to Know About CBD Pumpkin Treats
Now, let’s talk about CBD pumpkin treats, which contain both CBD extract and pumpkin, to offer 2 natural ingredients that can both aid in your dog’s digestive wellbeing. If you do come across CBD pumpkin treats, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind before you buy them, to make sure you’re getting the best formula possible. Let’s elaborate.
Choose Your Brand Wisely
The brand that you end up choosing can have everything to do with whether or not your dog actually gets the support they need. You might find CBD pet products in a gas station or convenience store, which should be avoided, as you should only seek out these products from a reputable retailer. CBD products for dogs can drastically vary in quality, from the amount of CBD in the product to the ingredients used to flavor the product.
Ultimately, it’s best to find a trusted online brand that specializes in pet-friendly CBD products, and has lots of positive reviews, along with the ability to reach out to customer service. Also, look for third-party lab reports on their website, which indicate that the company has their products tested by a third-party laboratory for quality, purity, and safety.
Read the List of Ingredients
Never buy a CBD product for your dog without looking carefully through the list of ingredients, especially if your dog is prone to digestive issues. Make sure that your dog can tolerate every ingredient in the product, and aim for a formula that contains as many natural ingredients as possible, to avoid artificial fillers and additives.
Choose an Appealing Flavor and Texture
A dog isn’t going to eat a pumpkin CBD treat that doesn’t smell good to them, so make sure your dog likes the taste of pumpkin, and if they don’t, find a treat that contains other flavoring ingredients as well. Also, if your dog has sensitive teeth, stick to a formula that’s soft and chewy rather than hard and crunchy.
Look at the Dosage/Strength
For your dog to get the maximum benefits out of their CBD pumpkin treat, you’ll need to know that the product contains an ample amount of both ingredients – but not so much that it might upset their stomach from too much fiber, or make them sleepy from too much CBD. Look at the milligram strength of the CBD, and the amount of pumpkin in the formula. Since dogs can vary so much in weight, companies usually offer weight-based dosing directions on the back of the label to help guide you.
Daily is Best
We recommend giving your dog CBD pumpkin treats daily for the best results. Besides the fact that they offer benefits that accumulate over time, CBD and other cannabinoids become more effective with regular use, to really help the endocannabinoid system fulfill its important role of keeping the entire bodily system in a state of equilibrium.
The CBD Pumpkin Treats at Chill Paws
At Chill Paws, we’ve made it easy for you to supply your precious pup with a daily serving of CBD along with fresh pumpkin. Our CBD Pumpkin Treats are all-natural, and contain ingredients known to be easy on your canine’s digestive system. They’re also delicious, appealing to your pet’s senses, while coming in a chewy n’ soft texture that’s great for dogs with sensitive teeth.
Our products are third-party tested, and even come in milligram strengths appropriate for all dog breeds, along with clear dosing directions to take out any guesswork. Pet owners from across the country come to us with all kinds of complaints and concerns but are then pleased to find that our CBD products offer the relief that their canines deserve.
CBD + Pumpkin: The Best Natural Way to Ease Your Dog’s Tummy
If your dog struggles with frequent digestive issues, the best thing you can do is look for a natural way to support their digestive tract. And, both pumpkin and CBD can provide your beloved canine with the support they need, all while being gentle and safe enough for daily use. These two ingredients have been researched extensively for their value to the digestive system, while providing loads of support in other ways as well, such as essential nutrients, and regulating effects that pertain to the nervous system, brain health, immune function, and much more.
At Chill Paws, we recognize the importance of giving your dog the very best there is when it comes to treats, which is why we’re happy to use only the cleanest, safest natural ingredients we can find. At the same time, we formulate our treats with a dog’s needs in mind, to ensure that they taste delicious, making them irresistible to your canine so that you can easily incorporate them into your dog’s daily routine. Try our CBD Pumpkin Treats today!
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