Made with Fennel, Papain and Papaya Leaf help to combat gas; Pumpkin Seed, Plantain and Pectin to facilitate regularity and firm up loose stools; and Slippery Elm, which is valued for its soothing and emollient properties. Perfect Form may be mixed with a little warm water and added to the food or soaked directly with Verve or Force, The Honest Kitchen's dehydrated raw diets, which require hydration in warm water for 10 minutes prior to serving.

Growling, Gurgling Belly?

These are many types of GI Tract upsets for dogs, and though the conditions may be different the terms used to describe them are the similar to those used for human conditions.  The causes of these GI upsets are also similar to humans, the most common being poor diet, genetics, environmental pollutants & stress. 

A few examples of the more common, and uncomfortable GI upsets that we see in dog are: Colitis- an inflammation of the colon that causes alternating bouts of diarrhea, and constipation; Gastritis- an inflammation of the stomach’s lining creating short term discomfort; Irritable Bowel Syndrome- (IBS) - this is a syndrome that many humans suffer from and is becoming increasingly more abundant for both dogs and cats.  “Leaky gut syndrome” is a chronic disorder in the lower colon where the muscles create exaggerated contractions which can cause symptoms of pain, gas, bloating and alternating diarrhea/ constipation. Additionally a condition that those of you with large breed, barrel chested dogs should be aware of, is Bloat- Gastric dilation, and commercial kibble is the culprit for this serious condition.  Once a dog has had a bout of bloat, there are great chances that he will suffer from this life threatening condition again.

All of these conditions can create or exacerbate allergies.  This is a result of incomplete digestion of food which can accumulate in the body’s GI tract.  The small particles of undigested food may be absorbed into the blood system and become unrecognizable particles, ‘foreign bodies’, which create an allergic and immune reaction.  How many dogs do you know with skin allergies related to food?  We hear of LOTS, and LOTS.  It is not necessarily an allergic reaction to certain protein, or grain, but rather a digestion, and absorption problem. 

Here are some ways to help alleviate GI upsets and improve nutrient absorption.  Any of the above conditions can be exacerbated by commercial pet foods, which are preserved with chemicals and extruded or cooked, which alters the composition of many delicate nutrients. Feeding a wholesome- quality diet that is raw or minimally processed, is essential for dogs with food allergies.  Digestive enzymes may be necessary when improving your dogs’ diet, and can help to normalize the dogs’ GI tract, enabling him to digest and absorb nutrients properly.

For stools that contain undigested food adding in Apple cider vinegar to their food may helpful, ½ tsp for up to 15lb dog, up to 1 tablespoon for 50 lb dog. 

The addition of emulsifying, mucilaginous herbs, such as Plantain, and Slippery Elm bark will relieve intestinal irritation and sooth a growling belly.  To alleviate gas some of the following herbs could be added to your dogs food bowl, brewed as a tea and added to drinking water/ or given as tincture (glycerol base is best): fennel seed, ginger, lemon balm, licorice root, peppermint, chamomile.  Pectin, a compound found in apples is another useful agent in improving your dogs GI Tract; in fact this is the active ingredient in Kaopectate.  Pectin binds to irritated surfaces in the intestine, helping to heal and remove toxins. 

We have heard great success stories from customers whose dogs are using Perfect Form, as this product contains herb for healing, improving, and soothing the GI Tract. For serious GI Tract conditions or repeated GI tract upsets consult with a holistic veterinarian for a diagnosis.