By Lucy Jabrayan | Thrive4lifePetFood.com

The place for our dogs and cats in our households isn’t what it used to be. Before, it was an absolute necessity to have a guard dog or a farm dog that needed to earn their keep. The same went for cats—they had to hunt mice and do their part.

Not so much anymore. Our beloved pets have a place in our hearts like family—because they are. With that, they face their own challenges, as they become bombarded with chemicals, toxins, pesticides, medications, and of course, the inevitable vaccinations.

As hard as the discerning pet guardian may try, there simply is no escaping the toxins they’re bombarded with over their lifetime. We live in a fallen world, so we have to make our pets even stronger to cope with modern times.

The modern-day pet needs a more sophisticated way of detoxing these “modern chemicals” that their bodies were never really meant to ingest (I said what I said). Of course, we must look at the research as to which ingredients can help equip their bodies to release some of these toxins, such as heavy metals and chemically engineered substances that are foreign to the body. Whatever the body doesn’t recognize to catabolize, it simply stores, rendering the immune system rigid.

A high toxin load can make the body vulnerable to disease, parasites, gut issues, skin problems, allergies, inflammation, joint issues, and accelerated aging—all leading to a decreased quality of life, where they’re surviving but certainly not thriving.

So, here are my top research-backed recommendations for safely detoxing our pets while building immunity. If your pet has severe symptoms, this is where one should work with a holistic pet nutritionist alongside their vet to better support their animal.

A Probiotic Containing Humic and Fulvic Acid

Known as nature’s bioactive compounds, both humic and fulvic acid should not be overlooked when it comes to detoxing our pets.

Humic acid is a large, high-molecular-weight molecule shown to bind to heavy metals, toxins, and pathogens. Fulvic acid, by contrast, is a small, low-molecular-weight molecule that easily penetrates cells, delivering nutrients such as minerals and antioxidants where they’re needed.

Both work beautifully together, acting as chelators that bind to minerals and other molecules. These can be given long-term—especially in probiotic formulations—to further enhance gut microbiome health.

Glutathione

Glutathione is known as the “master antioxidant,” critical for preserving cellular integrity and essential for optimal health. Especially in a patented form that has been clinically tested, this ingredient is not cheap—but very well worth it.

While the body produces its own glutathione, these factors deplete it: poor diet, toxins, infections, pollution, aging, stress, inflammation, and certain medications, such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids.

Cats especially need glutathione because they’re metabolically more vulnerable to oxidative stress than dogs. Their unique liver metabolism and limited glucuronidation capacity mean they rely more heavily on glutathione for detoxification.

A good, bioavailable glutathione supplement may help promote detoxification, healthy aging, antioxidant protection, and lung and immune health.

Chlorella

Chlorella is an algae rich in minerals and powerful antioxidants that quench free radicals in the body. It may aid in detoxification by binding to heavy metals and harmful substances such as lead, mercury, aluminum, uranium, cadmium, and pesticides like glyphosate.

Acting like a sponge, chlorella binds to these toxins, preventing reabsorption into the bloodstream and tissues. The bound toxins are then released through urine and feces.

Chlorella’s high chlorophyll content may also help regenerate liver cells—an integral detoxification organ for the whole body. It’s safe for both dogs and cats in proper doses.

Larch Arabinogalactan

I had to include larch because it’s been studied for use post-vaccination. It’s a prebiotic fibre derived from larch tree bark, with a long history of use as an immune aid and infection support.

Larch has been shown to raise the body’s natural killer cells and may improve immunoglobulin response after vaccines. One in vivo study in dogs showed that supplementing with larch arabinogalactan for 10 days increased circulating white blood cell counts—particularly neutrophils and eosinophils, both key immune defenders.

Larch is safe to supplement long-term for both dogs and cats and provides a host of additional health benefits.

As always, please consult your veterinarian before incorporating anything new into your pet’s diet.

Lucy Jabrayan, a holistic pet wellness expert and entrepreneur, is the founder of Thrive4life Holistic Pet Food and the formulator of her own professional supplements. Her mission is to bring cutting-edge science to help pets and their owners thrive. Find out more at thrive4lifepetfood.com