by Team WellJoy
When Fall arrives our schedules often change. Kids go back to school, Pet Loyalists spend more time sheltering indoors from colder, wetter weather, and the normal walks might be earlier, later or shorter. These shifts might feel like nothing to us, but our pets definitely notice – and it can subtly impact their stress levels and wellbeing.
That makes Fall a better time than ever to start boosting their gut health.
Why does gut health matter so much?
It’s only fairly recently that we’ve started better understanding the link between our pets’ guts and their wider wellbeing.
The gut and the brain might be far away from each other, but they’re strongly connected. Cats’ and dogs’ nervous systems and gastrointestinal tracts communicate through something called the gut-brain axis, which means stress can impact gut health, and gut health can impact stress.
It’s not just their emotional wellbeing either. Our pet’s gut microbiome can affect their immune system, their teeth, their fur, their urinary health, their joints….
It also impacts their ability to make the best use of nutrients from their food, meaning all that goodness in those delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners – and functional treats! – might not be getting where it needs to go.
That’s why WellJoy formulated our GutBoost™ biotic blend to contain everything your pet needs for improved gut health. You can find it in every single one of our treats and supplements for cats and for dogs, so whether you’re supporting your pet’s joints, teeth, skin, urinary system or emotional state, it’s improving their gut health and making sure the ingredients are working as hard as possible.
Do changing seasons make that much difference?
Any shifts in routine have the potential to affect our pets, and Fall brings plenty.
Younger family members go back to school, work schedules might adjust as a result, and your pet’s probably thinking to themselves: where has everyone gone?
As the weather shifts, pets might be getting shorter walks – which means less chance to burn calories from treats. Dogs might be tempted by compost, garbage or fallen fruit. Add that to a few sneaky extra table scraps around the holidays, and all of this affects their gut wellbeing.
It’s not just changes in their day-to-day routines that can raise stress. Halloween night can be difficult for our pets and holiday visitors might feel unsettling. Heating systems can circulate indoor allergens, drier air can make skin feel irritated, and there’s plenty of seasonal pollen that can trigger itchiness. You might not think about it, but cooler temperatures might mean your pet’s drinking less, which can similarly affect digestive health.
Fall weather also brings more wild mushrooms, which might be toxic (keep curious dogs away from these) and sometimes more rodenticides – these are used more often in Fall as rodents move indoors. Antifreeze, which can be spilled around garages and driveways, is also toxic to pets.
How can I keep up good gut health as the seasons change?
There are a few day-to-day shifts that can support your pet’s gut health as the weather changes and the leaves start to fall:
- Keep feeding times regular – this helps synchronize your pet’s daily rhythms, including their digestive processes.
- Wherever possible, keep to the same exercise and sleep pattern – consistency truly is everything for our pets.
- Watch out for pets (dogs, mostly) drinking from dirty puddles – these can contain harmful bacteria.
- Make sure pets have plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated – this is particularly important for cats, as they can be prone to urinary issues.
- Introduce WellJoy Treats or Supplements as part of a proactive daily routine to promote gut health. They can support your pet with multiple aspects of their wellbeing, and are designed to easily stack.
Boosted gut health can benefit our pets at any time of year, but seasonal changes are a great moment to introduce a new wellbeing routine to counteract some of the uncertainty that comes with new schedules and changing weather.
We’ve shared a step-by-step guide on setting up your cat’s supplement routine, and adding supplements to your dog’s day-to-day which covers everything from deciding which supplement is best and how you know it’s working.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.
