Natural Detox For Dogs And Cats

Check out safe, natural ways to detox your dog or cat from everyday toxins. Read up on antioxidant-rich foods, herbs, and supplements that support his health and reduce toxin overload.

We live in a toxic world. Our food, water, soil and air are contaminated with a range of harmful substances, from pesticides to PFAs. It’s impossible to avoid all toxins. But we can take steps to detoxify our bodies, and those of our animal companions. Read on for details about natural detox for dogs and cats. 

What toxins are we and our animals dealing with?

First, let’s take a look at some of the toxins affecting us today, and where they come from. Many packaged and processed foods contain potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, bisphenol-A, pesticides, herbicides, PFAs, and heavy metals. These affect both humans and animals. 

• Many commercial pet food companies use potassium bromate as an additive. Research has linked it to cancer, and it is banned in many countries.

• Non-organic rice and chicken commonly contain some degree of arsenic.

• Chemical contamination also comes from agriculture and aquaculture, food packaging and disinfection. 

• PFAs — known as “forever chemicals” — don’t break down. As a result, they affect our environment and food supply indefinitely. Manufacturers use PFAs in food packaging, household cleaners, nonstock cookware and more. Thes chemicals may increase cancer risk, suppress immunity, and lead to liver and thyroid diseases.  

• The Environmental Working Group (EWG) water database reveals the presence of chemicals, heavy metals, and other substances in drinking water across the U.S.  

Toxins in food and water increase the body’s oxidative stress 

Oxidative stress happens naturally when the body turns food into energy. It results in the production of free radicals. Toxins can overwhelm the body’s detox systems. This causes more free radicals, which trigger inflammation, cell death, and DNA damage.

•  The body stores the following toxins in the body after ingestion: heavy metals, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins, BPA, and more.

Dietary recommendations for detoxing your dog or cat

We’ve looked at where toxins come from, and how they enter our bodies (see sidebar on page xx) and affect our health. Now let’s consider how to protect our dogs and cats as well as ourselves from these harmful substances.

Add antioxidant foods to your pet’s meals daily to limit toxin absorption and reduce health risk. Avoid low-end commercially produced pet food, and use antioxidant supplements (more on these below) best suited to your animal’s individual needs.

• Red, orange, yellow, and dark green organic vegetables contain different antioxidants and antioxidant vitamins. Consider adding lightly-cooked carrots, pumpkin, squash, kale or spinach to your animal’s diet.

• If your cat or dog won’t eat veggies, you can provide antioxidants by giving him moringa powder, wheat grass powder or chlorella mixed with organic nutritional yeast.

• If palatability is an issue with your animal, use a syringe to give him an antioxidant drink (green smoothie) twice daily, or add it to meals.

Antioxidants and herbs for detoxification 

Here is a list of antioxidants and medicinal herbs commonly used for detoxification. It’s vital to work with an integrative or holistic veterinarian when deciding which ones to use for your dog or cat, and at what dose. 

• Pycnogenol (an antioxidant made from the bark of a European pine tree)
• N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• CoQ10
• Glutathione 
• Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
• Coriander/cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Medicinal mushrooms (Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Agaricus blazei)
• Basil
• Parsley
• Artichoke
• Cabbage/kale/broccoli/broccoli sprouts
• Daikon (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus)
• Beet root (Beta vulgaris)
• Spirulina (Arthrospira Platensis)
• Chlorella (a nutrient-dense algae)
• Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
• Skullcap root (Scutellaria biacalensis) 
• Rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum)
• Juniper berry (Juniperus communis)
• Moringa (Moringa oleifera) 
• Wheat grass (Triticum aestivum)
• Stinging nettle (Urtica urens, U. dioica) 
• Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

 For ingested toxins, it’s important to restore the microbiome with a live probiotic supplement and prebiotic fiber starches (organic vegetables or whole grains).

What about bentonite clay and zeolite? 

I have used these in the past, but there is some controversy surrounding them.

Bentonite

Bentonite clay and its derivatives can contain heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury, depending on where it’s mined. Long-term use can lead to heavy metal accumulation and harm the gut microbiota, resulting in nutrient deficiencies. Some bentonite may also contain variable amounts of respirable crystalline silica, a recognized human carcinogen.

Zeolite

If zeolite is collected properly and does not contain contaminants, it offers many benefits. However, some zeolite is contaminated with heavy metals. Chronic use may also disturb the microbiome.

Clinoptilolite, the main component of zeolite, has a biologically neutral structure. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated and confirmed zeolite-clinoptilolite non-toxicity for animal feed at doses of 10,000 mg/kg. 

Because it’s chemically stable, oral zeolite doesn’t pose a health risk, according to EFSA. Its benefits can include detoxification as well as antioxidant effects, release of trace elements, and a positive influence on the intestinal microbiota.

However, zeolite does have some downsides. Cellular zeolite supplements have potential side effects including cancer, anemia, and respiratory and chronic lung disease if inhaled. Inhaling zeolite powder can also cause abnormal changes in white blood cells. Zeolite supplements may interfere with chemotherapy, antioxidants, and other treatments. 

Zeolite may inhibit the development of oral microbes by inactivating key enzymes, interrupting RNA replication, and blocking microbial respiration.

We and our animals live with a lot of toxins, and it’s not getting any better. Reducing exposure with the healthiest possible diet and lifestyle (including clean, pure water) is a strong first step to natural detox for dogs and cats. For toxins you can’t avoid, a wide range of foods, antioxidants, and medicinal herbs will help protect his health, and your own. 

How toxins enter your dog or cat’s body

Toxins can enter the body through several routes:

1. Respiratory channels through inhalation (e.g. yard spray with chemicals, fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides, silica/concrete dust, and asphalt fumes). 
2. Gastrointestinal tract via ingestion (e.g. oral flea and tick medications, dewormers, commercial pet food and treats, veterinary drugs and antibiotics, sprayed plant material, contaminated water, etc.).
3. The eyes via aerosol or droplets.
4. Needles and injections (e.g. vaccines, injectable drugs and antibiotics)
5. Direct skin contact via touch (e.g. flea and tick collars, tick sprays, medicated shampoos and sprays, environmental chemicals such as household cleaners and pesticides).

The amount of toxin an animal is exposed to, and the form it’s in, will affect symptoms and pathology. Inhalation is most harmful, followed by ingestion, then skin contact. Inhaled toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream, affecting all parts of the body. Inhalation often causes the most damage to the brain.

Different levels of toxin exposure

There are two different levels of toxin exposure, each requiring a different treatment plan. 

1. Acute:

   This involves high levels of exposure at one time, causing severe digestive reactions, liver failure, tremors, and seizures.

Vets treat acute toxin exposure with emesis, activated charcoal, vitamin C, NAC, and possibly oxygen. Depending on the type of toxin, additional supplements protect organ damage and support repair and regeneration as well as detoxification – e.g. Lion’s Mane mushroom, DHA, EPA, coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, B complex vitamins, and taurine.

1. Chronic:

   This involves lower levels of environmental toxins over long periods. Though chronic exposure damages cells slowly, it can reduce life expectancy and cause cancer, kidney issues, or liver failure.

The most common toxicity condition in animals is chronic exposure (via food, water, air, soil), which is the main focus of this article. It causes degenerative processes such as inflammation, DNA damage, cell death and mutations. 

Editor’s note

For help restoring your dog or cat’s microbiome, Wholistic Pet Organics offers a probiotic and prebiotic supplement (wholisticpetorganics.com/products/wholistic-wholebioticstm). Another option includes WINPRO’s probiotic and plasma meal topper (winpropet.com/products/pre-probiotic-plasma-meal-topper).

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