Gut Health & Digestion

Many dogs experience digestive problems — from gassiness and loose stools to itching, bad breath, or inconsistent appetite. Often, the root cause isn’t the food itself, but how well your dog is digesting it. That’s where digestive enzymes can help.

Digestive enzymes are a simple, powerful way to support your dog’s gut health, and can make all the difference for some dogs.

What Are Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are proteins that help break down food so the body can absorb nutrients properly. There are several key types:

• Protease – breaks down proteins into amino acids 
  
  
• Amylase – breaks down carbohydrates into sugars
  
  
• Lipase – breaks down fats into fatty acids
  
  
• Cellulase – helps break down plant fibres
  
  
• Invertase – breaks down sugars
  
  
• Ox bile – not technically an enzyme, but aids fat digestion by emulsifying fats so lipase can work more effectively
  

Note: You may also see 'pancreatin' referred to as a digestive enzyme — this is just the combination of lipase, amylase and protease

Adored Beast are all about finding synergy, and their products were formulated to help the body in a multitude of ways. And often they do that by working together!
 
Adored Best are frequently asked which of their products work best together - and while they could go on for days about that, they have chosen 2 of their favourite perfect pairs to share.

Perfect Pair #1: For Gut Health & Inflammation

The first perfect pairing are The Wolf and Potent Sea for gut health and inflammation
 
Adored Beast Potent-Sea Omega-3 is a rich source of omega-3 for dogs and cats that does not harm the oceans. Sourced from micro-algae known for its high DHA and EPA content, Potent-Sea provides omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial compounds that support the health of the whole body. Grown on land to protect the ocean and our planet. Free from solvents, pesticides, or heavy metals.
 
Adored Beast The Wolf is a species-appropriate pre and probiotic that features 3 probiotic lupine strains derived from wolf

Karnlea was founded by Lara McCullough, a pet lover from Northern Ireland. Following the sale of her successful pet supplement business - prompting Lara to start a new chapter with the launch of Karnlea. Let's look at her range of supplements and see how they may work for you? 

Bone Broths

Karnlea Bone Broth was born in 2021 when Lara, the founder, realised the need for a bone broth that could be kept in a cupboard or on the shelf, freeing up valuable freezer space for our pet's food.

Karnlea were the first company to bring a cupboard-friendly broth out in the UK and Ireland. They are made in a state-of-the-art factory that only produces human-grade broth, using human-grade ingredients and production methods; and all their products all have minimal ingredients and minimal processing. The secret of why Karnlea can offer a cupboard-friendly, three-ingredient, completely natural broth is in the aseptic (think Tetra) packaging. Once opened, the broth can be kept in the fridge for 5 days

If you're a dog owner, chances are you've heard of anal gland issues. These small sacs located on either side of your dog's anus can cause discomfort and even pain if they become impacted or infected.

In this blog post, Proflax will provide some information about the causes and symptoms of anal gland problems together with information about Proflax Bottoms Up, a natural and effective supplement that will help to keep your dogs bottom healthy and happy!

Understanding Anal Glands: Causes and Symptoms

Anal glands secrete a smelly substance that is used for marking territory and communication with other dogs. Under normal circumstances, these little glands empty naturally when your dog goes for a poo. However, sometimes they can become blocked or infected, leading to discomfort and potential health issues. There also now appears to be an increased amount of cases of blocked anal glands, so we will investigate diet and some possible causes in relation to the food your dog eats.

Regular emptying

Boil and Broth are a British bone broth manufacturer and producer of fermented drinks including water kefir juice and apple cider vinegar. Bone Broth is a fantasic way to incorporate a variey of rich nutrients to your dogs diet to help improve their over all health. In this blog, we'll explore the many advantages of bone broth for dogs and why it's become a popular addition to their diets.

Rachel Down founded Boil and Broth back in 2018 and they are the only UK Bone Broth Manufacturer to hold a dual license to sell Bone Broth for both human and pet consumption. Rachel started the business from one slow cooker in her house making bone broth and kefir water for friends and family. 

Bone broth is simply amazing for gut healing and can help people support their digestive function. After seeing similar challenges within the pet industry, Rachel decided to go for a pet food license so she could sell broth to dogs and cats. Bone broth is simply amazing for dogs, and cats - it is a nutrient-rich

Did you know that we have 7 different probiotic formulas at Adored Beast??

A frequent question we get asked is what is the difference between the different probiotics that Adored Best sell?

Firstly, why are probiotics important? Over 80 percent of the immune system comes from the gut. A normal digestive tract contains both “good” and “bad” (pathogenic) bacteria.  A healthy gut helps the whole body not only stay healthy, but thrive!

Unfortunately, there are many things that damage the gut environment, causing it to become ‘unbalanced’ and creating much of the chronic disease we see in our dogs today. This includes: antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and steroids, over-vaccination, processed food, stress, grain or beans (anything with lectins). These things can cause the bad bacteria to start overwhelm the good bacteria, the gut can really start to take a beating.

So what are Probiotics?

Probiotics, or “friendly” bacteria, act like the gut’s defence system against “bad” or

This is a question that we frequently get asked as pet parents are concerned their dogs or cats may be constipated. 

It is always a good idea to keep an eye on your pet's bowel movements and observing their poop. What your dog is fed / eats will affect your pet's poop. Sometimes it may be drier; at other times looser. If your pet is not allowed to evacuate when the urge is there, they may develop a habit of holding their stools. If your pet is straining when passing stools / the stools are hard and dry then this could be a sign of constipation.    

Many factors can contribute to constipation including diet and inactivity. Manx cats, for example, are especially prone to constipation. 

What Causes Constipation In Dogs?

Diet - constipation can occur when there is a lack of dietary fibre / not enough bulk in your pets' diets. A diet that doesnt provide the right digestive enzymes to the gut. Too much or too little fibre in your dog’s diet may cause constipation.

Dogs can become constipated

Eating grass is a common behaviour in dogs and cats, and there's no doubt that the occasional nibble is quite normal. When this becomes habitual, compulsive or excessive however, there is usually an underlying reason which needs addressing if this is to be resolved.

In Vince The Vets experience, the commonest causes of this, and measures which most often help are as follows: 

1. Gut Flora (Microbiome) Disturbances

Healthy bowels are home to a dynamic array of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms, which assist in the breakdown of food and the assimilation of the nutrients present.

Disturbances can arise as a result of early life experiences which adversely affect the development of a healthy bowel bacteria population, or subsequent damage to the gut microbiome caused by environmental and dietary chemicals, toxins, drugs such as antibiotics, food additives and other factors.

Signs when this is the case typically include:

• soft or sloppy stools
• excessive wind
• bad breath
• recurrent

When it comes to maintaining your dog’s health, a balanced gut is key. Four Leaf Rover's range includes three different probiotic supplements, each formulated to support your dog differently. You're probably thinking "so, which one is right for my dog?"—read on to find out.

PRO-BIOME is a daily probiotic designed to support your dog’s digestive system and support a healthy immune system. Packed with a unique blend of soil-based probiotics, whole food prebiotics, and other nutrient-rich ingredients, Pro-Biome is formulated for optimal daily gut health and function.

This is our 'go-to', everyday probiotic from the Four Leaf Rover range, perfect for daily gut support.

• Soil-based Probiotic Strains: Unlike many traditional probiotics, soil-based probiotics are more resilient and better able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach. This makes them incredibly effective at reaching the gut, where they can work to support healthy digestion. Because of this hardiness, you need lower

I often recommend the ‘healthful’ benefits of home-made bone broth, which makes a fantastic base for stews and soups, as it is full of nourishing substances. Well dogs and cats love it too and it makes a super nutritious and inexpensive treat or an additional source of nourishment...

Why is bone broth so good for our pets?

Bone broth, which is easily digestible, essential, anti-inflammatory, gut healing nutrients such as amino acids the building blocks of protein, easily absorbable forms of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, phosphorus and chondroitin, glucosamine & gelatin which have been released into the water as the bones have been simmered.

Can how this nutritious stock can therefore help support your pets? 

• A healthy gut and healthy digestion; the amino acid glycine stimulates the production of stomach acid and glutamine, another important amino acid which helps to maintain and restore the integrity of the gut lining. There is a strong link between gut health