Your Petâ€™s Defenses Against Bacteria and Disease

By: Rob parker

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.

Article Source: EZINEPRIME - FREE WEB CONTENT and ARTICLES

For more articles by Jennifer Lennon and to find information about healthy dog food visit TryHealthyPaws.com.

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