Understanding Pet Gut Health in Monsoon: Common Issues and Solutions

As monsoon arrives with its refreshing showers, it adds another dimension
of challenges for your furry friends. This change in weather may leave an
impact on your pet's digestive system in huge proportions and can cause
several gut health issues. Knowing about such common problems and
ways to rectify them will definitely help in keeping your pet jolly and healthy
during the rainy season.

Common Digestive Problems in Pets During Monsoon

More significantly, monsoons bring in increased humidity and dampness,
which support the growth of bacteria and parasites. The manifestations of
this are noticed in the digestive problems of pets through issues such as
diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal infections.
Diarrhea can be one of the most prevalent issues. The damp conditions
offer ideal circumstances for food and water to be infested with bacteria.
Later, the very same bacteria find their way into the stomachs of your pets
when they drink from puddles or eat some spoiled food with dirty water.
Another common problem during the rainy season is vomiting. With the
prevailing wetness, pets get attracted to grass, mud, or any other GI foreign
bodies. These could result in stomach upset characterized by vomiting.
Suddenly changing the diet or feeding patterns may be very common
during this period and can lead to vomiting.
During monsoons, gastrointestinal infections are on the rise due to the
proliferation of helminths such as worms and giardia. These parasites

multiply in damp conditions and readily infect pets on exposure to
contaminated water or soil. Symptoms of such infections include diarrhea
and vomiting but also a lack of appetite, lethargy, and emaciation.

Dietary Changes for Gut Health

A healthy digestive system is very essential for your pet during the
monsoon season. Follow these dietary changes, which can help in
maintaining gut health:
Establish a regular feeding pattern: Avoid abrupt changes in your pet's
diet; this may offend their stomach. Should you need to introduce new food,
do so gradually over a week in order to allow their system time to adjust to
the new feed.
Fresh and Clean Water: Provide your pet with fresh, safe drinking water at
all times. Change water in the bowl frequently, and avoid letting them drink
from puddles or stagnant sources that host dangerous bacteria and
parasites.
Add easily digestible food: Easy-to-digest food is the best option for your
pets during the monsoon. Include boiled chicken, rice, and pumpkin in their
diet. This will help to pacify their stomachs and hence reduce diarrhea and
vomiting.
Add some fiber in their diet: Fiber aids in digestion and helps an animal
avoid constipation. This includes veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes,
and green beans. A small amount of pumpkin powder can also be added to
the meals.

The Importance of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Pet Food

Probiotics and prebiotics are an important modifier of the gut microbiome in
pets. They balance the good and bad bacteria in the gut, which becomes
even more imperative during the monsoon months when the chances of
gastrointestinal problems increase.
Probiotics are live good bacteria that are ingested to restore the natural
flora of the gut. Adding probiotics to your pet's diet will enhance their
immune system, absorption of various nutrients, and generally provide
good gut health. You can add probiotic supplements to your pet's diet or
simply feed them pet foods that have probiotics added.
On the other hand, prebiotics are regarded as indigestible fibers that serve
as food for good bacteria in the intestines. They help in increasing the
number of probiotics and maintain a healthy gut. Prebiotics are derived
from chicory root, apple (without seeds), Brown rice etc and some fiber
supplements. Adding these to your pet's diet will ensure that the population
of good bacteria is not oppressed.
While choosing a probiotic supplement for your pet, ensure that it contains
several strains of bacteria and is pet-specific. One should also consult the
vet before adding any supplement in the diet of your pets.

Practical Tips for Pet Parents

There are many practical ways, apart from the diet, in which you can help
ensure your pet's gut health during monsoons.

Keep their environment clean: Clean the feeding and water bowls of your
pet regularly. Change their bedding frequently to prevent the growth of
injurious bacteria and reduce the risk of infections.
Watch out for outdoor activities: While playing, make sure not to take
your pets to stagnant water-logged and muddy areas to avoid exposure to
parasites during the monsoon.
Regular deworming: Deworm your pet regularly as advised by your
veterinarian. This is crucial during monsoon when the risk of parasitic
infections is more.
Watch out for signs of distress: Keep a regular check on your pet,s
behavior and stool. If you find any signs of digestive problems like
continuous vomit, diarrhea, or change in appetite, immediately consult your
vet.

Though monsoons are generally a troublesome season for any  pet parent
it is time that with appropriate knowledge and precautions, you can be
sufficiently equipped to take care of your furry friend;s gut health. Common
digestive problems that usually face your pets in this season may be
managed by proper dietary changes and support through probiotics and
prebiotics to enable them to walk in the rainy days with a happy and
healthy tummy. Coupled with a little more care and attention, one can take
considerable care in keeping one;s pet healthy and comfortable during the
monsoon season with a little awareness.