We all want the best for our dogs, for them to be happy, loved, and healthy. The love we give them directly affects their happiness, these sensations we can give to them daily by simply spending quality time with them. But in some situations, their health needs a bit of a boost, sometimes they need supplements to enhance their regular diet.
Using a supplement to help your dog achieve her optimal health is likely something that you have already talked about with your veterinarian or with other pet owners. But before you commit to giving her a supplement, you want to do your homework first; we understand. That's why we plan to tell you all about the benefits of Resveratrol for your dog. Read on to find out more.
What is Resveratrol?
Humans, animals, and plants alike all have a defense system, the ability to fight off foreign invaders that try to infect their bodies, make them become ill, and slow them down. Humans produce antibodies, free radicals, as do animals, while plants produce what is called Resveratrol.
As we can see in WagWalking , when a plant produces Resveratrol, it helps to protect them from bacteria, fungi, and other threatening entities, such as insects. A plant produces this compound when It feels like it is under attack by a pathogen, but it will also produce the compound as a way to prevent water loss.
Where Does Resveratrol Come From?
Dr. Becker Bites notes that Resveratrol was first founded in 1940, in the roots of the Veratrum, a flowering plant that habitats temperate and subarctic locations. Since then, Resveratrol has been discovered in other varieties of plants, the skin of grapes, and in turn, red wine, dark berries, and even dark chocolate; you can read more about it at Draxe.com.
Foods and plants that it has been discovered in are often described as superfoods, with their strong antioxidant and oxidative burst properties. Essentially, this compound is a polyphonic bioflavonoid antioxidant and is believed to stall the beneficial effects of aging.
Japanese knotweed, in specific, is one of the best sources of Resveratrol, as it also, according to Vital Plan, has high concentrations of trans-Resveratrol. This active form of the compound has made it so that it is the number one choice when sourcing the compound; specifically, when using it on dogs.
How Resveratrol Works
According to WagWalking , a study was conducted in 2015 that discovered that Resveratrol helps to boost and suppress the immune system. What that means is, that it when Resveratrol enters the system, it stimulates the white blood cells to release more proinflammatory cytokines than they normally would.
Proinflammatory cytokines, also known as inflammatory cytokines polyphenol, are excreted from immune cells much in the same way as T cells and macrophages are. These, in turn, help to promote inflammation. To further understand these cytokines, Science Direct has much more to say on the topic.
The belief is that the more cytokines there are, the stronger the immune system becomes. That being said, Resveratrol also suppresses the immune system and decreases the cognitive impairment function of neutrophils - they are the most abundant white blood vessels and blood pressure in the body. Their purpose is to defend against both bacterial and fungal infections and other health benefits.
Studies have also been conducted to determine whether the Resveratrol compound can aid in preventing cancer cells, by slowing down the growth of cancerous cells. As further mentioned by WagWalking, Resveratrol also contains antihypertensive, anti inflammatory effect, powerful antioxidant, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial function properties and may help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Although animal studies are still progressing, and are still in the process of being conducted on laboratory animals, they are hopeful and continue to go in the direction of suggesting that an animal's lifespan can benefit from the introduction of Resveratrol.
Is It Safe for Your Dog?
As we previously described, Resveratrol can be found in the skins of grapes, chocolate, berries, and plants. That said, grapes and chocolate, as according to the ASPCA.org website, are on the list of foods to never give to your dog or other pets for that matter.
That being said, Wagwalking.com discusses the fact although grapes are not to be given to your dog, "Resveratrol supplement and resveratrol supplementation does not contain the same toxic principles found in grapes and coconut oil, and is safe for dogs." To be on the safest of sides, however, we always suggest that you discuss your pet's needs with your veterinarian before you introduce any natural supplement or food to her diet.
Further to this safety precaution, if you choose to use a natural supplements of Resveratrol for your dog, be sure that the method they have used to obtain the compound does not come from grapes, chocolate, or any other food on the list according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ® , ASPCA.org.
Supplements or foods that contain Resveratrol directly derived from the Japanese Knotweed, which is the safest form, such as in the following supplemental source, will verify where they obtain their Resveratrol because they are a quality product.
Keep in mind that if your dog is taking any medication you will want to discuss possible side-effects that can occur when mixing Resveratrol and your dog's medicine. The following video can answer many of the questions you may still have in deciding whether or not this product is right for you and your dog.
The Benefits of Resveratrol
Now that we know more about the compound, we can further examine the many benefits of Resveratrol that have been viewed when given as a supplement to dogs. Natural Dog Health Remedies states that since many of the clinical studies have been conducted on lab animals and have resulted in positive outcomes, that the benefits will carry over to a dog's immune system.
Benefits that include a better control over weight gain, an increased lifespan for a dog's lifecycle, and the potential to slow down and prevent cancer cell growth. Natural-dog-health-remedies.com goes deeper to state that the National Cancer Institute has reported that Resveratrol "has been shown to reduce tumor growth in animals by affecting one or more stages of cancer development."
Because Resveratrol contains anti-inflammatory properties, this is likely what affects the growth of the cancerous cells. Other benefits of the site state that owners report their dogs as having more energy, carrying less weight, and have a lower risk of developing cancer.
Where Can You Find it?
There are a couple of varieties to choose from if wanting to introduce this compound to your dog. Immunity-boosting foods that contain Resveratrol in a combination with other beneficial compounds can be found here.
Remember, that before you choose to give your dog or pet a supplement, make sure that you talk with your veterinarian, and follow the directions on the packaging of the purchased product.
Our Final Words and Reminders
We, as pet owners, understand that providing your dog with the best nutrition she can receive is at the top of your list. We believe in giving you information that will help you make the proper decision that is in your dog's best interests and one that you can feel good about.
If you are looking to introduce Resveratrol to your dog remember the following:
- It is derived from a variety of foods and was first discovered in flora
- Some food, such as grapes and chocolate contain the compound, these foods are not to be given in their raw form to your dog, or any other pets
- Resveratrol, when given as a supplement to your dog, should be derived from Japanese knotweed
- Studies are still in their infancy but are promising and show many benefits of Resveratrol for animals
- When giving the compound to your dog you can purchase a product that contains other added immunity compounds
- Always discuss with your veterinarian first when giving a supplement to your dog and make sure you understand any possible side-effects that can occur if mixing medicines with a supplement
If you have any questions, stories to share, or want to know more we would love to hear from you.