Inflammaging in Pets

Over time, this prolonged inflammatory state damages the body’s tissues and organs, accelerating aging and increasing the risk of age-related diseases, including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. 

This is reflected in the growing number of pets, even young ones, suffering from chronic illnesses that were once only seen in older animals. Disturbingly, many pets are now facing shortened life spans due to these insidious conditions.

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli. However, when this response becomes chronic, it leads to a phenomenon known as “inflammaging” – a state of low-grade, persistent inflammation that accelerates aging and the onset of age-related diseases. While often discussed in human health, inflammaging is equally critical in pets, impacting their longevity and quality of life.

Signs of inflammaging in pets include reduced mobility, skin issues, chronic pain, or behavioral changes. These symptoms are often dismissed as “normal aging,” but they may signal a treatable deeper underlying inflammatory condition.

Joint and Mobility Issues

Chronic inflammation damages joints, leading to arthritis, stiffness, and pain, even in young pets. Cats and dogs may become less active, exhibit difficulty with movement or not engage with family activities.

Cognitive Decline

Inflammation impacts not only the body but the brain. Pets suffering from inflammaging may show signs of cognitive decline, such as confusion, anxiety, or changes in behavior, similar to human neurodegenerative conditions like dementia.

Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases

Cancer, diabetes, periodontal (teeth) and heart disease are strongly linked to chronic inflammation. Unregulated inflammation leads to oxidative stress and cellular damage, heightening the risk of these diseases.

1. Species Inappropriate Diet

Just like humans, pets’ diets play a major role in inflammation. Processed pet foods containing excessive carbohydrates, synthetic additives, genetically modified ingredients (GMO’s), hormones, chemicals and pesticides contribute to chronic inflammation. 

2. Obesity 

Obesity is an epidemic in our fur baby population and it is a key factor in inflammaging. Insulin resistance produces pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that promote a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation. Obesity is also related to a rise in cognitive dysfunction, a dis-ease that is significantly more common today as compared to 20 years ago. 

2. Environmental Toxins

Pets are frequently exposed to environmental toxins, including chemicals in household cleaners and laundry products (endocrine disruptors), shampoos, pesticides, fertilizers on the lawn, herbicides, fungicides, mold and electromagnetic frequencies (EMF). Over time, these toxins trigger an immune response that leads to chronic inflammation. Tap water alone contains over 85,000 harmful toxins including glyphosate and heavy metals.

3. Chronic Stress

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that leads to leaky gut and exacerbates inflammation. Pets entrain to their families stress, a real problem in today’s S.A.D. lifestyle (Standard American Day) where families are in constant fight flight and sleep deprived. 

4. Microbiome Imbalance

70% of the immune system lives in the gut. A healthy gut microbiome is critical for immune function. Disruption of gut flora, often caused by poor diet or antibiotic use, can lead to “leaky gut syndrome,” where toxins enter the bloodstream and are filtered in the liver, triggering the release of a cytokine storm in response to the “invaders”.

5. Deficiencies, toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction

It is well accepted that the foods grown with industrial methods are nutrient deficient AND are sprayed with excessive amounts of herbicides and pesticides. This combination leads to mitochondrial (the mitochondria make the energy that run the body and direct gene expression) dysfunction.

Starts with stopping the behaviors that are causing the inflammation

1. Feed a species appropriate diet

Switching to a grass fed/grass finished organic balanced raw diet is the goal. For those pets that have been on processed foods and/or are suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, the transition should be slow, utilize supplemental digestive enzymes and probiotics. 

2. Provide highly filtered structured water. 

This may require investing in a unit for your home. Click here to view solutions which you will find by clicking on or scrolling down the page to water purification solutions.

3. Essential nutrients

These are the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that the body cannot produce in sufficient quantities on its own. Supplementing these with a species appropriate diet ensures the body has the building blocks it needs to perform efficiently. Click here to add these supplements to your pets lifestyle!

4. Supplements that reduce inflammation at the cellular level 

Buy Pectasol (Click here to buy) and EvoLove Digestive Enzymes(Click here to buy).

5. Support the gut integrity 

Repairing and supporting the gut lining mitigates leaky gut and its negative impact on the body.

6. Support a robust diverse microbiome

A healthy microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms working in concert to supply functional genes and immune support to the body. The first step is creating a terrain that will support a health microbiome, and the second step is supplying the organisms. For most animals, using combinations of fermented foods may be sufficient. Others may need a Faecal Matter Transplant (FMT) from a healthy, non-vaccinated, raw-fed donor.

7. Integrative Therapies

Low-level light therapy (LLLT), acupuncture, frequency, ozone, hyperbaric oxygen, chiropractic and acupuncture are well documented to aid in reducing inflammation. 

8. Exercise Daily 

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for reducing inflammation. Regular exercise stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory chemicals, helping manage inflammaging. Incorporate walks, swimming, and interactive play. 

9. Environmental Toxin Reduction

Limiting exposure to environmental toxins plays a significant role in managing inflammaging. Feed organic foods, use non-toxic cleaning products, mitigate EMF exposure and avoid pesticide use. Offering highly filtered, structured water that has molecular hydrogen is another simple and effective life hack.

10. Stress Management

Reducing environmental stressors is crucial for controlling inflammation. Create a calm living space, and provide appropriate daily exercise and mental stimulation through interactive toys.

Inflammaging is an often-overlooked aspect of pet health that plays a critical role in aging and disease development. By making informed choices in diet, lifestyle, and stress management, pet parents can significantly slow down the aging process and enhance their pets’ overall well-being, potentially “extending” their lives to a thriving 20 years and beyond!

Identifying the deficiencies and toxicities along with designing a “health plan” may require the assistance of a qualified veterinarian familiar with an integrative approach. I offer consultations to help pet parents identify the toxicities and deficiencies through laboratory testing. I then create tailored programs to repair and restore the body’s biological systems to homeostasis so each pet has the opportunity to move from surviving to thriving!