By Joanne Carr
Detoxification for Pets
How do toxins affect your pet?
Toxicity is an underrated problem when it comes to our companion animals. Our pets are exposed to toxins every day in the form of vehicle exhaust, industry emissions, exposure to second hand smoke and food contaminants, and through additives in the form of dyes, aflatoxins and preservatives. Pesticides in the environment, flea, tick and heartworm preparations and common drugs such as anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) are also culprits.
Toxins enter their body via a number of pathways: through the lungs when breathing, through the skin by contact and through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from the food and drink consumed by your pet. The toxins are then metabolically processed by the three major organs of detoxification – the liver, the lungs and the kidneys – so that they can be excreted from the body with other waste material. Unfortunately many toxins are stored in the cells of the animal’s body due to toxic overload and can compromise their immune system function. Toxins can interfere with the normal biochemical pathways necessary for healthy bodily functions. Symptoms of a "toxic state" may include skin disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, arthritis, intestinal disease, neurological disease and behavioural problems.
The importance of the liver and kidneys
The liver is the primary organ of detoxification in both humans and animals. It is responsible for filtering and cleansing toxins, herbs and drugs from the body. In addition, the liver produces bile, which helps your cat or dog digest its food; supports healthy hormone and neurological functions; and affects skin and coat health.
The primary function of the kidneys is to filter and remove toxic waste products from the body via the blood and then return the cleaned blood back through the body. Kidneys that are compromised due to toxic overload or illness will certainly have reduced function and will not be able to filter waste products and toxins as efficiently. Over time, or as in the case of the contaminated pet food incident in early 2007, the kidneys and liver can become severely damaged, leading to serious illness or even death.
The importance of detoxification
Have you ever washed greasy dishes without hot water or dish soap? The dishes don't get clean, do they? When toxic metals and chemical food additives get inside the body, they have to be cleansed from the inside out. A combination of herbs and antioxidants gently remove toxins from body tissues, organs, water stores, fat deposits, and the bloodstream. When toxins are present within the body, oxygen and the body's "food supply" cannot get inside the cells to supply needed nutrients, nor can the cells' waste products get out. In this context, diseases such as cancer now have an environment in which to form. When these toxins are removed, the animal’s body can then restore a healthy balance.
Benefits of a cleanse or detoxification
In the same way that most humans will benefit from organ detoxification at least twice a year, your cat or dog may also benefit from a detoxifying their kidneys and liver. A gentle but thorough natural approach is easy on the body and stimulates the organs of elimination to improve their efficiency, and help rid the body of a build-up of toxins. Cleansing is very effective in restoring optimum health by improving thyroid and liver function, assisting digestive processes, boosting metabolism and improving energy levels. Subsequently, your pet will look and feel healthier.
Look for cleanses that include a combination of herbs used in Western and traditional Chinese medicine to help loosen and expel trapped pollutants. Be sure to use products that have been proven safe for animals to prevent unwanted side effects. Herbs such as milk thistle, burdock and dandelion, commonly used by people for thousands of years to detoxify and tone the liver, can also be safely ingested by your pets. Herbs such as uva ursi, corn silk and horsetail will help improve kidney function and work synergistically to provide a kidney cleanse.
Diet and exercise
When helping your pet eliminate toxins, it is imperative to examine lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. Many people feed their pets commercially produced foods, which typically contain chemical substances that can negatively affect your pet’s health, particularly in the long-term. The growing trend today is to feed human-grade foods that are fresh and organic. If this is not an option, there are a growing number of manufacturers that are advertising organic foods in a bag. As a general rule, the more expensive the food, the better quality you will get. Just as we need to eat a wide range of foods to ensure optimum health, so do our pets. Raw foods contain many essential nutrients and minerals required by your pet that may be destroyed by cooking and processing. Furthermore, a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to a sluggish metabolism, which will adversely affect toxin removal from the body. With the right nutrition, environment and supplementation, we can give our pets the benefits of a healthy, happy life.
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Joanne Carr
With over 10 years experience in the holistic health field, Joanne Carr RHN, BA, is a registered holistic nutritionist who has lectured at natural health seminars for retailers and consumers across Canada. She contributes to various natural health publications including VISTA.
