Cranberries

by Albert S. Townshend, DVM

We all know that cranberry juice has been recommended for humans for many years. There has been a huge amount of research into the benefits for humans and much of that research suggests that cranberries offer the same benefits to dogs and cats too.

Cranberries are rich in antioxidants called bio-flavonoids which help to enhance the immune system, protect us from toxins and encourage a healthy heart. In addition, cranberries are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Cranberries are also known to help lower urine pH in both dogs and cats, as they contain substances that discourage bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary bladder, thus helping to  helping to prevent infection within the urinary system. In addition to suppressing infection, cranberries are also known reduce the incidence of bladder stones in dogs and Idiopathic Interstitial Cystitis in cats, both of which are far too common a problem within the pet population today.

More recent research suggests that cranberries may also offer oral health benefits by removing harmful bacteria from the teeth, slowing the formation of plaque and reducing the incidence of gum disease.

Additional studies are needed to support initial human research that suggests the antioxidants in cranberries may have an anticancer effect for certain types of cancer. Specific research is needed to support these benefits in dogs and cats as well as to better understand how these antioxidants work. Holistic Select® dry recipes for dogs and cats contain cranberries and the Holistic Select canned cat or dog food recipes contain cranberry powder. These are only a few of the functional ingredients in our pet food because every ingredient has a purpose in our foods. We work hard to provide your pets with the best natural and holistic diets available today. Explore more of our functional ingredients for whole-body health in our new interactive ingredient dictionary

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 9:42 am and is filed under Pet Health, Pet Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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