The stink on Tripe
How Does Bacteria Get Out of Whack in the First Place?
Improper Diet
When you feed your pet an improper diet consisting of foods that are reactive to the gut, it causes increased permeability and negative physiologic responses.
Abnormal gut fermentation of excessive amounts of grains (complex carbohydrates) can cause an overgrowth of yeast and unfriendly bacteria. This process also has an adverse effect on vitamin absorption, including the B vitamins, zinc and magnesium.
Foods that are too high in insoluble fiber (fillers such as cellulose and beat pulp) can also cause a physiologic barrier to nutrient absorption by inhibiting nutrients from coming in contact with the mucosal surface.
The end result for your pet is malabsorption and maldigestion.
What’s your clue that your dog or cat may not be able to digest or absorb the diet you’re feeding?
Gas, belching, vomiting and poor stool quality.
Antibiotics
It’s vital to understand that antibiotics do not discriminate in the type of bacteria they destroy. They kill both the healthy and unhealthy bacteria.
And, by decimating the good bacteria, you increase your pet’s risk of subsequent intestinal infection and yeast overgrowth. Every time your pet is placed on antibiotics I strongly recommend you use a high quality probiotic, which replenishes the beneficial bacteria the antibiotic destroys.
Parasites
Many parasites colonize the absorptive surface of your dog or cat’s small intestine, causing problems with nutrient absorption. Parasites also use the nutrition intended for your pet.
Some parasitic infections cause an inflammatory response in the intestine which can result in increased permeability and susceptibility to other diseases.
Deworming
Routine deworming of your pet (most monthly flea preventives also contain a dewormer) can cause disruption of the normal bacterial environment.
Parasites are always attracted to the weakest of the species. The likelihood your pet will develop a parasitic infection is directly related to how healthy he or she is. When an animal is weak (from excessive drug use, poor diet or genetic factors), parasites are more likely to gain a foothold.
If you’re deworming your pet on a regular basis (for example, monthly), there’s a good chance the dewormer is not even effectively treating the parasites your pet has.
I recommend you have your pet’s stool checked every six months, and if parasites are present, deworm for the specific parasite your pet has acquired.
Each category of parasites requires a different type of dewormer. Giving one type of dewormer monthly without knowing if it’s needed or effective is not the best medicine for your pet.
Steroids
Steroid medications are serious business for animals. They inhibit several normal GI processes and also suppress the immune system, allowing opportunistic disease-causing pathogens to colonize.
Vets often use a different term for steroids, such as an “anti-inflammatory” shot or pill. I recommend you ask that your pet’s records to be marked with the words, “No steroids without owner’s consent” -- or your vet could prescribe them without your knowledge.
Although there are rare life-threatening diseases for which treatment with steroids is sometimes warranted, the majority of steroids prescribed in veterinary medicine are for non-life threatening issues. If your dog or cat is itching, or is achy, you might receive a steroid medication to treat this minor condition. This is an unacceptable practice to me.
How to Get Your Pet’s Intestinal Bacteria Back in Balance
Good bacteria, like acidophilus and bifidus, should be replaced when destroyed by any of the factors mentioned above.
Good bacteria not only prevent an overgrowth of bad bacteria, they keep your pet’s intestinal mucosal lining healthy.
Tripe:
the magical mystery meat that dogs crave and humans fear! Tripe seems to be the line in the sand drawn between beginning raw feeders and the ‘been there, done that’ old pros.
If you are among the uninitiated, then you will find feeding tripe to be a real treat (as will your dog).
Not only will tripe provide immense health benefits for your dog, it will catapult you to the rank of seasoned raw feeder, just one rung below raw feeders who scoop road kill off the road and tote it home in their trunk to proudly offer as a gift for their furry charges!
What is tripe?
Tripe is the stomach of a ruminating (grazing) animal including cows, buffalo and sheep. The unique stomachs of ruminants have four chambers which systematically break down grasses with a slew of digestive enzymes, gastric juices and amino acids.
You may have seen tripe on the grocery store shelves in a white and bleached form. This is not what you want to feed your dog: it is devoid of any real value. What you want to feed is ‘green tripe’, the stuff that comes right out of the animal, dripping with all of those wonderful juices.
Why does it have to be green?
The same digestive enzymes and beneficial bacteria that help the ruminant animal digest foodstuff will do the same for your dog.
Think how much money you can spend on digestive enzymes and probiotics in a bottle and those same wonderful, natural substances are in abundance in green tripe.
Digestive enzymes aid in digestion, meaning the body does not have to expend as much energy when digesting a meal.
This means your dog gets the most nutritional benefit from his meals. Digestive enzymes also do much more than aid in digestion: they purify and cleanse the blood and remove toxins, parasites and fungus. They also improve metabolism, hormonal function and boost the immune system.
Cooking destroys digestive enzymes, so it is important that your dog’s tripe is not only green, but raw.
If your dog eats a cooked or commercial diet, then he may be suffering from enzyme deficiency. The signs of this can include anxiety, lack of energy, chronic diarrhea and digestive problems, gingivitis, viral and bacterial infections and yeast overgrowth.
If your dog suffers from any of these disorders, consider the value of adding green tripe to his diet or increasing the amount you currently feed.
The gut is populated by hundreds of different kinds of bacteria or microflora which are divided into the ‘good guys’ and the ‘bad guys’. The ‘bad’ bacteria are those responsible for health complaints and some of their members include e- coli, salmonella, campylobacter and listeria.
These are the bacteria contained in foods and the environment that could potentially make your dog sick: if it weren’t for the protection of the ‘good’ bacteria.
The good bacteria improve immune function simply by out- numbering the bad bacteria and maintaining a healthy microflora in the gut.
Green tripe is loaded with Lactobacillus Acidophilus, one of the bacterial ‘good guys’.
Your dog’s gut can only feed so many micro-organisms, so the more ‘good’ bacteria he consumes, the less ‘bad’ bacteria will find anything to eat in his gut and they will get crowded out.
Many health issues are caused by imbalance in the microflora.
Older dogs are especially prone to this as they tend to have lower levels of beneficial bacteria in their guts.
Supplementing your dog’s diet with lots of raw, green tripe will help him maintain a healthy balance of microflora, manufacture more B vitamins, and prevent many health disorders.
If your dog already suffers from health issues, consider adding raw, green tripe to his diet. Acidophilus can be used to treat a myriad of health complaints.
More good news
Not only is tripe loaded with digestive enzymes and probiotics, it has the perfect ratio of calcium to phosphorus – 1:1.
Green tripe also contains the essential fatty acids, Linoleic and Linolenic, in their recommended proportions. It can also be served in nice, large rubbery chunks which will provide your dog with good exercise and better dental health.
The bad news
The rumours you heard are true: tripe stinks!
If you are really serious about your dog’s health, you will get past the smell. Instead of thinking about the horrific smell, think about all of the great stuff tripe will do for your dog. Don’t worry, those dry-heaves will go away with time!
Tripe can be a bit difficult to find.
It is also important to note that tripe does contain its share of bacteria. Use care when handling it as we humans do not have the natural resistance to harmful bacteria as our dogs do. Just wash your hands thoroughly after handling.
For a complete rebalance of your dogs system:
Add a tbls of organic apple cider vinegar with the Mother once daily to the tripe. This will balance the PH levels of your dogs system. It will also clean up any yeast issues he or she may have.
Braggs or Omega Nutrition are the best examples and recommendations.
****** Please note that canned tripe is not recommended at all *******