Brittany Ippolito
March 17, 2025
At home gut cleanse for gut restoration
One of the most common issues I see amongst dogs are gut infections and imbalances. Dog parents are looking for that one silver bullet to solve the problem, but the silver bullets they are often looking at are supplements. Will this mushroom fix it? How about a new probiotic? Bee pollen? CBD? This $50 jar of microalgae?
What most dog parents don’t realize is that they already have remedy in their kitchen, and if it’s not there then it’s at their local grocery store. It’s not just about killing the infection with natural herbs and supplements either. If we do that then are we really doing anything different than what convential drugs do?
The solution is intentionally selected foods, herbs and supplements that resonate with and gently guide your dog’s internal terrain back to a state of balance so that they become an inhospitable and resilient environment to gut pathogens.
There’s no way of knowing what type of infection it is unless the dog is brought into your vet for medical testing. Common culprits that pop up are fungal, bacterial, worms, protozoan or even viral infections. Essentially, it is some type of undesirable microbial overgrowth.
These microbial overgrowths begin in the gut. Your dog’s gut includes their stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The infection is often residing in the small and/or large intestine, occasionally the stomach. The infection can be a microbe that naturally exists in your dog’s gut, but populations grew beyond normal levels and this is when the microbe in question becomes a problem. As it continues to grow out of balance, we start to see the visible signs of a gut infection on the exterior of the dog.
There’s a wide range of symptoms that occur with gut imbalances and a dog does not have to have ALL of them. The most common symptoms are rust colored fur staining, tear stains, cornchip/cheese smell, itching, allergies and there’s almost always some sort of gastrointestinal disorder occurring.
Here is an extended list of symptoms that can be connected to poor gut health:
Dog’s History
The dog will oftentimes have a history of parasites, worms, yeast or bacteria that has popped up in fecal tests and cytologies
Digestive Issues
Chronic loose stool/diarrhea, mucus and/or blood in stool, watery diarrhea, explosive bowel movements, alternating loose stool and constipation, odd colored stool, abdominal pain, pain/discomfort after eating, peristalsis issues, gas, bloating, burping, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, IBD/IBS, food sensitivities, food allergies, leaky gut
Strange Habits
Ravenous or low appetite, dehydration, aversion to water, coprophagia, pica, licking/chewing paws, licking floors or other strange objects, itchy and scooting bum
Body Condition
Poor coat health, rust colored staining on coat, itching, inflamed skin, ear/skin infections, feeling damp, tear stains, smelling like corn chips or cheese, failure to thrive, muscular/joint pain, respiratory congestion, chills, fever or alternating between chills/fever, weight loss, bad breath, poor oral hygiene, saliva that stains red, slimy saliva, white or yellow tongue coating
Mental Struggles
Instability, anxiety, anger, reactivity, fear, depression, low energy, lethargic, insomnia, hypersensitivity to lights/sounds
Note: symptoms may worsen around the full moon and may be temporarily relieved by dewormers, antibiotics, immune system suppressants, etc.
Poor Diet
Kibble and canned food diets can contribute to poor microbiome health and create an internal environment that favors poor gut health. Processed food, while easy and convenient to purchase and feed, is oftentimes made with poor quality ingredients, an overabundance of starch, rancid and/or high levels of fat, and an overabundance of synthetic or chemical based ingredients. These foods are also highly processed, meaning any life force, energy or real nutrition that was once in the food has been lost. There is nothing real in these foods that are fueling your dog's vitality.
Inappropriate Diet
This can be any diet that is incompatible with your dog's constitution and can even include fresh food diets. In a world of about 900 million dogs, there is a WIDE range of what any one of those dogs will do well with. The three pillars of the canine diet are protein, fat and carbs. It is the balance between those three components that can be different for every dog and even the sources from which those three categories come from can make the diet even more unique to the individual.
Drugs/Chemicals
Drugs and chemicals can introduce imbalances to your dog's internal terrain which can make them prime real estate for pathogens to take over. Other drugs/chemicals can introduce toxins, like heavy metals, which not only cause inflammation but also serve as a protective environment for pathogens. Most of us also know that drugs/chemicals have the potential to wipe out not only bad microbes but the good ones as well, leaving your dog’s gut ecosystem in a vulnerable place. This is not to demonize drugs/chemicals either, they are sometimes necessary, but they don't always come without side effects either. When we educate ourselves about the potential side effects, we can prepare and help our dogs through those necessary times of use.
Weak Digestion
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, gut infections can arise from having weak digestion. This is referred to as Spleen Qi Deficiency or Stomach Qi Deficiency. When digestive function is weak, food sits in places longer than it should. It becomes overly fermented, which is inflammatory to the intestines and serves as food source to pathogens. These are situations that will oftentimes end with explosive bowel movements, yeast overgrowth and leaky gut.
Weak Immunity
Dogs with a weak immune systems may struggle to keep their gut ecosystem in check. Sadly, I am seeing more and more puppies with clear evidence of yeast infections. What leads to weak immunity? Poor diet and genetics, drug/chemical overuse, age (puppies and geriatrics), stress.
Environmental Factors
You may notice your dog’s symptoms flare up during specific seasons. Perhaps your dog gets worse during the hot/damp summer or perhaps it is the cold/damp winter that affects them. Observe when your dog is vulnerable and prepare them ahead of time. Even the environment of your home can impact a dog prone to gut infections. Homes that are too humid or have constant AC running can create too much Dampness or Cold in your dog.
Their Emotions
TCM recognizes that emotions affect the body’s ability to function. The organ that is said to be the most sensitive and most influenced by emotions is the Liver. When Liver function is impaired, it can lead to an imbalance known as Liver Qi Stagnation, which can lead to a multitude of digestive issues and a reduced ability to filter out and eliminate toxins and pathogens
Your Emotions
This is a tough one to address. I have been told my emotions were causing my dog's health issues. Words stick with you and this experience I had still gets in my head. As it would turn out, my emotional state was not the source of my dog's health issues.
I do believe dog's are highly intuitive creatures and can not only deeply sense but interpret and even mimic our emotions. I also understand chronic stress can lead to illness. However, for the large majority of us, I do not entirely stand behind the notion that we can transfer illness to our dog's THAT easily in that way.
Now, that being said, because dogs are highly sensitive and highly aware of our headspace and they can and will take on our emotions, when they are in the process of healing, we do need to be mindful about whether or not the environment we are creating for them is conducive to their healing.
This does NOT mean you can't ever have a negative thought, or never get angry, sad, upset, etc - you are allowed to have emotions. Just make sure that you are not introducing an unmanageable amount of stress to your dog and consider THEIR emotions in everything. I always try to think about my dog's behavior or even his health mishaps and what he and his body are trying to tell me.
In your quest for healing your dog, don’t forget that your unconditional love for your dog is more than they've ever asked for. Don't underestimate the power that laughter, singing, dancing, playing, exercise and fresh air can have. The mind and spirit are very much included in the healing of the body.
Every gut restoration case is different and unique, making it impossible to lay out a plan that works 100% of the time for 100% of the dogs, but these are a few supplements that can be helpful.
Dogs with gut imbalances are typically sensitive and it is always best to move slowly when it comes to introducing supplements. ALWAYS start with ¼ of the suggested dose and SLOWLY work your way up to the full dose or stop where your dog is comfortable.
Protocols to rewire the gut that are too strong can be uncomfortable and intolerable for the dog. If you notice symptoms are worsening, you could be on the right track but are moving too fast - slow and steady wins this race.
Common supplements to restore your dog's gut
When it comes to gut restoration cases, I utilize a combination of Western and Eastern medicine. Again, it is hard to give an exact protocol that works 100% of the time for 100% of the dogs because every dog is their own unique individual. You may not need to follow ALL of these steps nor do they HAVE to be done in this order. Follow your dog's lead above all else. If you find your dog's symptoms are worsening, you may not be selecting foods, herbs and supplements that resonate with your dog's body or you could be moving too quickly through your protocol and are triggering die-off symptoms. If this is the case, I recommend slowing down and move a pace that is more comfortable for your dog.
Common Vitamins/Minerals missing from homemade diets:
*NOTE: if you aren't familiar with what foods and herbs do what, then it may be time to reach out for help by booking a Food Therapy Consultation with me for a custom recipe and diet plan to help you and your dog through this process.
That was a lot, right? Take a deep breath. If I can do this then you can do this.
Remember that bad microbial overgrowths are the result of an imbalance residing in your dog's microbiome. Symptoms can be obvious and present on the exterior of the dog, more subtle and present on the interior of the dog or both.
It’s common for dog parents whose dogs have gut health issues to have them on an overabundance of supplements. The intention is coming from a good place, but gut imbalances are conditions where the dog’s body is in a state of EXCESS. Your dog is already struggling to process even the basics. Feed only what is NECESSARY and remove everything else. Less will be more.
Aside from that, the cure is not fancy and expensive supplements. It is REAL nutrition with carefully selected foods, herbs and supplements that gently guide your dog’s internal terrain back to a state of balance so that they become an inhospitable and resilient environment to gut pathogens.
I cannot lie to you and say this process is always easy peasy though. For some dogs it may be something in their diet that was triggering the overgrowth and simply removing it was enough to do the trick. For others, it may require simple food therapy adjustments you weren’t aware needed to be made, and then there will be dogs that need guided help and stronger food and herbal therapy with long term maintenance protocols.
It can be a journey that requires time, energy and diligence from you - the dog parent. If you have gone through this protocol and find yourself stuck or needing one on one help with restoring your dog's gut, book a Food Therapy Consultation with me at www.dogfoodtherapy.com
Looking for advice and help with your dog's diet and nutritional needs?
Book a one on one call with me where we'll go through your dog's history, habits and any current health concerns. You'll receive tailored recipes and food/herbal therapy guidance on what will best meet their needs. I am also available to chat if you have questions along the way!
