Today, leaky gut syndrome is the main and fundamental reason for many chronic ailments in dogs. 

What does the intestines have to do with diseases such as allergies and arthritis?

Most often when we talk about problems with the intestines, we think to classic symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. But as this syndrome affects the health of the organism on many levels, the diseases that occur as a result are very different and have a wide range of symptoms. From ear infections to allergies, arthritis, changes in behavior, etc.

In the mucous layer, which covers the inside of the digestive organs, live microorganisms that, due to their number and role, represent the largest immune organ of the organism. Microorganisms that live on the surface of the skin, in the urogenital and digestive system make up the organism's microbiome, and the largest part of that microbiome (70%) lives precisely in the digestive system.

It is a common opinion that microorganisms in the digestive system only affects digestion. But unfortunately or fortunately, that is not the case. Fortunately, because with the correct, biologically balanced diet for dogs (BARF), we can greatly influence the overall health of our dogs.

What is the role of microorganisms in the digestive system:

• regulation of digestion
• production and metabolization of vitamins and other micronutrients
• protection of the body against infections
  
  

The role of the digestive system is very demanding, but to simplify. 
The digestive system should pass all important nutrients from food into the body and prevent all harmful substances (toxins, allergens, pathogenic microorganisms) from entering the body.

Microorganisms live in the intestines that they contribute to the health and resistance of the digestive system, and consequently of the whole organism. External influences can destroy the good intestinal microflora and create conditions for the development of unfavorable microflora. Unfavorable microflora, in addition to taking the place of good microflora, actively affects the health of intestinal cells and directly damages and blocks the protective role of intestinal cells.

External influences that negatively affect good intestinal microflora:< br>

• inadequate diet with foods rich in carbohydrates
• antibiotic therapy
• corticosteroid therapy
• stress
• therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (medicines that relieve pain)

The vicious cycle and how to break it?

It often happens that due to inadequate nutrition, dogs have symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, as well as various skin changes, which veterinarians treat with antibiotics and corticosteroids with the recommendation of eating 'special' industrial food for gastrointestinal problems. The cause of all these symptoms is most often increased intestinal permeability. And the aforementioned 'holy trinity' of antibiotics, corticosteroids and 'special' industrial food for gastrointestinal problems does not solve the problem of impaired gut health, but worsens it!

Proper nutrition based on raw meat, offal, bones and cartilage and a small amount of vegetables and fruits, adapted to the digestive system of carnivores, is the only way to cure leaky gut syndrome.