Studies Show These Natural Dog Food Ingredients Can Aid in Better Digestion

Digestive issues are one of the most common health concerns for dogs, ranging from diarrhea and constipation to colitis and gastritis to digestive cancers. With all digestive issues, there comes some degree of intestinal inflammation. 

Diet is one of the largest drivers of inflammation, and thus a great place to begin making changes that will benefit your dog’s digestive health.

A few key natural ingredients have been recently studied regarding improved digestion, and addition of these ingredients to your dog’s food can significantly reduce their symptoms, improve comfortability, and increase longevity.

In this article, we've outlined two science-backed ingredients (with links to the research) that that can aid in better digestion.

Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus)

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) has been shown to reduce inflammation [*] by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice with induced colitis [*]. This same study also indicated chaga mushroom has the ability to suppress gastrointestinal mucosal damage, which has a direct link to immune health.

The gut-immune system connection is becoming more widely studied and its importance is increasingly evident. 

Additionally, chaga mushroom has been deemed therapeutic for diseases affecting the bones and bone marrow[*].

With bone cancer being common in dogs, this newfound information provides a promising natural approach. Cancerous tumors were also suppressed using chaga mushroom in this study on metastatic mice. 

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Many studies have investigated herbal medicine as a tool for improving the gut microbiome in humans[*].

Slippery elm, specifically, has been used for centuries to improve gastrointestinal function in Ayurvedic medicine. This is historically due to its mucilaginous properties which protects the mucosal barrier of the gut and prevents dryness, irritation, and inflammation.

These studies support the longstanding use of slippery elm for digestive issues and shine light on additional benefits it can have for improving the gut microbiome.

How to incorporate these ingredients in your dog’s diet 

This research led us to the formulation of our new product, Perfect Digestion, a dog food topper with both chaga mushroom and slippery elm as well as additional fiber from ingredients like psyllium husk and oat bran.

Perfect Digestion also includes a digestive enzyme blend to ensure proper breakdown and absorption of the proteins, fats and carbohydrates in your dog’s food.

If your dog suffers from digestive issues, learn more about Perfect Digestion and order the non-GMO topper here.

If you have any questions as to whether this topper might be right for your dog, please email our team at woof@yumwoof.com