Best Bovine Colostrum for Your Dog – Our Pick
Bovine colostrum is gaining more popularity among dog owners.
People have been continuously asking us questions like
Is bovine colostrum safe for dogs?
Can I give my dog bovine colostrum? Are there any side effects?
That’s why we decided to write this post. Here, you will find everything you need to know about bovine colostrum for dogs.
Read on.
What is Bovine Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first milk that mammals produce within moments of giving birth to their young ones. All newborns of mammals receive their proper share of vitamins, proteins, antibodies, and fat only from this colostrum. After that, the cow produces regular milk which we are familiar with.
We mentioned that colostrum comes with proteins and other good stuff, but did we say that the concentration of immunoglobulin here is nearly 100 times when compared to regular milk.
Bovine colostrum comes from the cows in your neighborhood. One good thing about bovine colostrum is that any mammal can consume them. It is truly universal in the sense, even dogs can eat them. But the other way around is possible, i.e. cow can’t consume the colostrum that comes a man or dog.
So are we stealing the good stuff from the newborn calves?
Cows produce a lot of colostrum for their young ones. Usually, colostrum is taken only after the calf has been fed completely. A newborn calf requires around two to four liters of colostrum in the first few hours after birth. The mother, however, can produce around fifteen liters of colostrum which is enough for all of us.
So you can be sure that nothing inhuman is happening when it comes to colostrum.
Components of Bovine Colostrum
The effectiveness of bovine colostrum in other species is mainly because of its components. The following are some of the critical elements in colostrum.
Cytokines. These are soluble mediators that include interleukins and interferon. They play a role in immune regulation, immune cell recruitment, and inflammation.
Oligosaccharides. These are a form of sugar present in the colostrum. They help in inhibiting the growth of pathogens. These sugars also play a role in maintaining overall gut health.
The presence of factors such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and lysozyme help the immune system. They have a toxic effect on bacterias and viruses.
You will also find a variety of growth factors like epithelial, endothelial, fibroblast, and platelet-derived growth factors. These are important in maintaining good gut health.
Benefits of Bovine Colostrum for Your Dogs
People have been utilizing bovine colostrum for their dogs for many reasons. They are beneficial to our furry friends on more than a few ways.
Bovine Colostrum for Dogs with Allergies
Allergies in dogs are mostly a non-issue. But in some cases, it can be nasty.
In most cases, owners give their dog a dose of Benadryl, and everything will be back to normal.
But what can you do when the allergies return more often than they should?
That’s when colostrum comes in.
Colostrum can help in reducing histamine production in the body. Histamine is what causes the inflammation you witness in dogs. Once that is taken care of, your dog will be back to its usual self.
The antibodies present in colostrum can help the dog respond better to allergens that have affected your dog in the past. So when your dog comes into contact with them now, you can see a better allergic response.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the most common issues a dog owner faces.
Bovine colostrum can help with your dog’s diarrhea and gut health.
It can improve the diversity of microflora present in your dog’s gut and also increase the fecal IgA immunoglobulins. This will get rid of your dog’s diarrhea and also improve the overall fecal consistency.
Periodontal Diseases
Bovine colostrum is the home for a number of beneficial factors. These factors can help in fighting periodontal diseases.
Lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and lysozyme can help in fighting the oral bacterias that are responsible for many periodontal problems.
A periodontal disease would cause inflammation along with tissue damage. Colostrum can help in reducing the pathogenic host response. It can also assist in repairing tissue damage.
To Fight Aging
Bones and muscles can get weak in mammals with aging.
The insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) is a hormone that is helpful in muscle hypertrophy and regeneration.
In a recent study that involved 50 to 60-year-olds, bovine colostrum was found to improve leg strength and reduce bone resorption. If it works in humans, then there is no reason why this shouldn’t be the case in dogs as well.
You can also combat the degradation of musculoskeletal in dogs by consistent consumption of bovine colostrum and regular exercises.
Respiratory Disease
Bovine colostrum can be useful in treating upper respiratory tract infections in dogs.
The lactoferrin present in colostrum can fight viruses like canine herpes viruses and feline calicivirus. Colostrum also provides a robust antibody response in the case of respiratory diseases.
Coat Quality
Dog owners have observed that regularly adding colostrum in their dog’s diet has improved the coat quality of their dogs.
While there is no scientific proof to support this conclusion, we can assume that this is possible due to the activity of fibroblast and epidermal growth factors present in colostrum.
Joint Problems
Joint problems are a painful condition for dogs. Hip dysplasia and degenerative arthritis are cruel to our friends.
Originally, glucosamine was used to treat these joint problems. Now, you can add bovine colostrum in your dog’s diet to fight joint problems. People have reported that their dogs have responded well to colostrum.
Weaning Pups
Weaning is the process of changing your pup’s diet from its mother’s milk to other common foods.
At this stage, the pup’s immune system is not fully ready, and the same can be said for the gut’s health as well.
During weaning, you can include a bit of colostrum in your pup’s diet. This will ensure the development of a healthy gut. It can also assure the transition to the new food your pup is having.
Usually, when food habits change, pups can have diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive issues. Complementing the pup’s diet with colostrum can help prevent all these and also improves the overall immune system.
Topical Application
Bovine colostrum can also be used as a topical application for rashes, wounds, abscesses, and even surgical incisions.
When treating simple rashes, you can see results in a matter of days. All you need to do is to apply a paste of colostrum on the affected area regularly.
Hot spots in dogs can be very bothersome. All the biting and chewing will only make it worse. If you apply colostrum paste on the affected area, then you can see visible improvements in a night’s time.
Side Effects of Bovine Colostrum in Dogs
Bovine colostrum comes with a lot of goodness. From aiding gut development to helping out as a topical ointment, colostrum does it all.
As of now, there are no side effects observed by giving bovine colostrum to your dogs. People have only good things to say.
However, if your dog doesn’t react well to regular milk, then you should avoid colostrum as it is also a kind of milk.
How Much Bovine Colostrum for Dogs – Dosage Guide
There is no specific information on how much bovine colostrum is right for your dog.
If you’re trying out bovine colostrum for general wellness, then you should give 1/4 tsp of colostrum per 20 lbs daily.
You can divide the total amount and feed in parts at different times of the day. If your dog doesn’t take it in the original form, try mixing it with its meals so that he or she wouldn’t notice.
What if you’re treating for a particular condition?
Well, in this case, you can double the dosage. You can give 1/2 tsp per 20 lbs daily without any issues.
Colostrum is entirely natural and comes without any side effects. So consuming a bit more will not bring in problems like in other medicines. You don’t have to worry about overdoses when it comes to colostrum.
You can take the recommended dosage and mix it with the gravy in your dog’s diet. Your dog will not suspect a thing and consume it like the champion she is.
Where to Buy Bovine Colostrum for Your Dogs?
If you know someone is your local farm whom your trust, you can always contact them to see if they sell colostrum. Local stores are usually the better option as most of them are fresh.
If you’re unable to find bovine colostrum locally, you can order it online.
We have carefully researched several products and found this to be the best product in terms of quality and value. Click this link to get it on Amazon.
Related Questions
1. Is Bovine Colostrum Safe for Dogs?
Yes. Absolutely.
It is one of the most natural things your dog will ever consume, and that too without any side effects.
2. Is Bovine Colostrum Good for Dogs?
Bovine Colostrum comes with a lot of goodness.
The concentration of the components in it are many folds higher when compared to regular milk.
It can be used to treat many problems in your dogs like allergies, respiratory problems, immune deficiency, rashes, hot spots, periodontal diseases, joint problems, and can even fight aging in dogs.
3. Am I Stealing from the Calves?
No, you’re not.
The calves are always the priority.
Like we mentioned in the beginning, a newborn only needs around 2 liters of colostrum while the mother produces approximately 15 liters.
The farmers only take what’s left after the calf does feeding.
4. How healthy is the cow they get colostrum from?
If you’re buying colostrum online, you can be sure of the quality. A lot of testing and certifying is done before the product reaches the shelf.
If you plan to buy colostrum locally, then you can maybe visit the farm to see how the cows are treated and how healthy they are.
5. Will colostrum help my aging dog?
Yes.
Colostrum is known to have factors that reduce bone resorption and improve muscle health.
As your dog ages, it can get musculoskeletal problems. Bovine colostrum does an excellent job in slowing down the deterioration with age.
6. Does Bovine Colostrum Interact with other Medications?
Absolutely not. We have not seen or read cases of drug interactions with bovine colostrum.
7. Where Can I Buy Bovine Colostrum for my Dogs?
You can try buying it from local stores or farms. If those options are not that attractive, you can order it online here.
8. Bovine Colostrum Powder for Dogs – Is it good?
We do prefer bovine colostrum powder for dogs because they do not come from a single cow.
The powder comes with immune factors that are obtained from multiple cows which brings in more benefit to the end consumer.