Secrets to a long-lived pet. (Part III)
Environment
In this installment on the series of G.E.N, we look into Environment.
This heavier topic is perhaps an exceptionally crucial one as it encompasses our health and well-being.
Our health and well-being is linked to our pets. Their health can sometimes be an indicator of our own.
This concept maybe seem abstract but this has been established since the 1980s! It is not new information or some bogus claim. (Study)
Your pet, lives and breathes the same air and surfaces that you are in contact with. It is not a stretch to understand they share a similar microbiome to you.
Microbiomes are microorganisms in our environment (including the body or a part of our body). We depend on a vast army of microbes to stay alive: a robust microbiome protects us against harmful germs, breaks down our food to release energy, and produces vitamins and have even been linked to our mental well being.
Our pets being smaller and in constant contact with all surfaces experiences a greater exposure to any substances that we have been in contact with. Our environment has a more pronounced effect on them. They are usually the first to manifest signs of being exposed to the toxicity or any imbalance.
If you consistently have short lived pets, despite the right nutrition and selection, it is crucial to relook into your environment as it maybe a crystal ball predicting your future.
When the microbiome experiences an imbalance, autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, depression, atopic dermatitis, and fibromyalgia may develop. How do we prevent this?
Ever wonder why pets mirror their owners ? It is not just humans opting for pets that resemble them. They seek out pets that have a similar lifestyle or subject them to a similar lifestyle and nutrition awareness as themselves. This impacts the pet’s looks as well as behavior . With both human and pet living in the same environment and sharing a similar lifestyle and nutrition understanding, such diseases are being experienced by both the pet and eventually their human.
We should always seek to address our living environment. If not for them, then for us. This is especially crucial for cats as they spend a good part of their day grooming themselves and ingesting substances, affecting their gut and inevitably their health. As a population, we are becoming more disconnected from natural living and this is one of the causes that affects our microbiome and environment.
For a diverse microbiome to take root, the pet must be exposed to a wide variety of microbes. This is severely lacking in a highly urbanized environment and compounded by certain diets.
Your pet’s exposure comes largely from its living situation . Exposure to its parents and relatives at the cattery, followed by exposure to you and your family. Each time it is touched, matter is transferred and takes root. One organism feeds another. In our pursuit to kill all harmful substances, we sometimes take out the good ones as well. This is probably why our homes are more toxic then a naturally maintained park.
When your pet has a lack of diversity, it will reflect your own. It’s first defense against disease, inflammation and mental health crumbles due to this lack of exposure.
Households with cats or dogs benefit their human members, not just from all the cuddles and head butts that bring down your blood pressure but these touch sessions facilitate the sharing of microbiomes, allowing their human family to have a richer microbiome make up. Pets unsurprisingly have a similar microbiome make up as their human companions, simply by spending a considerable amount of time with each member of their family. They serve as a host and facilitates the exchange, transferring the gift of immunity, diversity and strength to and from every family member.
This is why certain homes have pets live longer than other homes and behave in a certain manner. The exposure these pets have are similar and thus giving them a similar microbial make up and the ability to withstand certain stressors.
An interesting article on how dogs make you healthier by the New York Times can be found here
Cultivating a rich microbiome in your pet may well be your first defense against stress and mental health. Leading to a healthier happier life. (Study)
We do this in our daily lives by,
Touch
Taste
Smell
In other words, the air you breathe, the food and water you take, everything we and they are in contact with including surfaces and others that we touch.
If you are wondering what is an indicator that the environment is out of balance? If you find yourself reaching for perfumes, candles and scented powders to mask the scent of your pet due to its odor, it is a good indicator that either the microbiome in or on your pet is not balanced and or the microbiome in your home is not balanced. These artificial scents affect the environment and may do more harm then good especially when many contain VOCs.
Cultivating a balanced microbiome in your environment starts simply by,
Throwing out all your non-organic scents.
Use non toxic cleaners where possible. You’d be surprised how effective baking soda with warm water or good old soap can be.
Allowing your pet to have contact with clean and non toxic plants grown in soil ( untreated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers)- supervised outdoor time.
Use a good quality unscented litter
Give your pet live synbiotics for the up keep of its digestive health (Synbiotics are pre & pro biotics)
Keep the home well ventilated and lit by natural light. Outdoor air is usually less polluted then indoor. If this is not an option, a good air filter that removes VOCs. Allow in the sun’s UV as it is a powerful disinfectant.
Start giving clean food or at least eliminating highly processed foods. A simple change from highly processed treats to a clean freeze dried raw or eliminate highly processed treats and wet food that do nothing but add calories and chemicals into its body. Keep the money for something better. You’d be letting your pet detox and saving its life.
If moisture is a concern there are simple home made broths that you can make, freeze or refrigerate. If you are buying broths, look at the nutritional labels. Word of advice, in our experience, cats don’t care much for broths served without meat. If your concern is UTI’s look at the number of litter boxes, type or litter used, allergies or inflammation instead of just moisture.Use quality pet table ware. No plastic were possible. There is a reason medical equipment is largely stainless steel or glass.
Lastly and most importantly, Exercise, play, bond and laugh.
Exposure, repetition and time is the only way to continuously cultivate a good biome.
Understand the difference between a clean and balanced environment vs a sterile environment. We sometimes in our over zealousness strive for a sterile environment and deploy toxic chemicals to achieve this. There are always gentler methods of achieving a sterile environment and should you be interested in sterilizing your living space you should also be aware that until a balance is established the initial seeding period may bring with it unwelcomed issues.
Until next time