The essentials
- Dogs’ immune systems work a lot like our own — Their bodies produce antibodies and white blood cells that protect against infection.
- Dogs have a higher risk of getting sick than people — Exploratory sniffing and licking exposes dogs to harmful pathogens.
- Prioritize annual checkups to keep your dog healthy and happy — A vet can detect and treat underlying health issues that may not be noticeable to owners.
Dogs love to use their senses to explore the world around them, but all that sniffing, rolling around, and licking can do a number on their immune systems. With so many opportunities for germs to enter their bodies, they have a higher risk of getting sick.
Luckily, a healthy lifestyle can give you some peace of mind when your dog goes to sniff every other pup at the dog park. With some simple tricks, like a solid exercise and grooming routine, you can keep your dog’s immune system in tip-top shape.
How a dog’s immune system works
To know how to boost the doggie immune system, you’ll need to understand how it works. Like humans, dogs’ immune systems include antibodies and white blood cells that attack foreign proteins to prevent illness. Your dog’s organs also help fight infection. The skin is the first barrier of entry for harmful proteins. But other defenses include membranes of the respiratory, reproductive, urinary, and digestive tracts.
If any of these are weakened, like if your dog has a skin wound, there’s a higher risk of illness or infection. Still, a dog’s body has other ways to fight foreign substances that break through the physical barriers. The dog’s bone marrow and thymus gland produce white blood cells to defend against microorganisms. Some organs, such as the spleen, may trap foreign substances. Then, immune system cells can generate immune responses here.
The immune system has many working parts, but if one or more parts are weak due to things like injury or poor diet, your pet has a higher risk of health issues. There are ways to boost your pup’s immune system and keep them happy and healthy.
Annual checkups are key to your dog’s health
Even if you give your pet a nutritious diet, plenty of exercise, and a clean, stress-free environment, there could be underlying, asymptomatic health issues. The best way to make sure your dog stays in good health is to keep up with annual checkups.
Your vet can detect, diagnose, and manage or treat any issues early if you are consistent with regular visits. On top of these tips for boosting your dog’s immune system, make sure you’re taking your dog to the vet on a regular basis for checkups.
1. Make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations
One of the top ways to strengthen your dog’s immune system is to keep on top of their vaccinations. Vaccines can prevent many common illnesses for pets. They help train the immune system to fight specific types of invaders. A vaccine teaches your dog’s immune system exactly how to fight off an illness. You’ll want to make sure your dog has their core vaccines, including vaccinations against rabies, canine parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, bordetella, and canine hepatitis.
Depending on the risk of exposure to extra illnesses, your vet may determine if your dog needs additional, non-core vaccines, such as Lyme and influenza vaccines. Vaccinations often occur in a series that can take several weeks or months, so don’t miss an appointment! Your pup needs all their vaccines to stay healthy.
2. Feed your dog high-quality food
Dogs need a well-balanced diet just like humans do. That means getting enough proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. Dogs will have different dietary needs depending on their stage of life, breed, size, weight, and any underlying medical conditions. No matter their needs, you should choose high-quality foods made with trusted ingredients.
To ensure high-quality ingredients, stick to dog foods that meet the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines.
Keep their diet low in added sugars or sodium to maintain a healthy weight, and make sure they get the right amount of protein. It’s also critical to keep your dog hydrated with constant access to fresh, clean water. If your dog loses 10% to 15% of their body water, they can experience severe illness or even death.
3. Try a doggie probiotic
Probiotics may provide more immune system support for dogs by balancing out “bad bacteria” with “good bacteria.” The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approves of probiotics for dogs for digestive and immune system support. Of course, if you’re considering a probiotic, talk to your vet. These are considered supplements, and your vet can help determine if it’s safe to add these to your dog’s diet. Plus, your dog’s size can affect the number of probiotics they need.
These supplements may come in pill, powder, or even treat or chew forms. Pills can be tricky if your dog is notorious for spitting out or refusing them, but you may be able to cleverly disguise them in a tasty pocket of cheese or a spoonful of peanut butter.
👉 Many powders are made with savory ingredients that you can sprinkle into your dog’s food.
When choosing a dog probiotic, check for multi-strain formulas to fight off different illnesses. One of our favorites is the Native Pet’s All Natural Probiotic, which has just four ingredients. This supplement has a multi-strain probiotic blend to help defend against diarrhea, upset stomach, gas, bloating, and other illnesses. It also has a savory beef flavor that dogs love.
We also love Purina Fortiflora, named one of the best probiotics for dogs, because it promotes normal intestinal microflora. It’s also vet-recommended and easy to use thanks to pre-measured packets of probiotics.
4. Consider adding salmon oil to your pup’s diet
Dogs benefit from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can support the skin, joints, immune system, and brain. Salmon oil offers many of these benefits, and this supplement is usually a tasty dog treat. Plus, salmon oil supplements can even help your dog’s seasonal, skin, and environmental allergies, all of which can weaken a dog’s immune system.
Dr. Dwight AlleyneImmune supplements can help with some allergy conditions. They may also help reduce certain cancers, arthritis, and certain heart conditions.
One of our favorite fish oil supplements is Natural Dog Company’s Salmon Oil. It has just one ingredient — wild-caught salmon oil — and can be pumped right into your dog’s normal food. If fish oil capsules are easier to give your pup, try the Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet Soft Gels, which support joint, heart, coat, and overall health. These capsules are even made following sustainable fishing practices in a zero-waste facility.
This healthy oil contains only one ingredient, wild-caught salmon, with zero questionable additives. It’s a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support your dog’s immune, joint, and cognitive health.
5. Support their immune system with colostrum
In the first few days of a puppy’s life, the mother’s mammary glands produce colostrum, a fluid that passes antibodies and growth hormones to the pups. But adult dogs may also benefit from colostrum supplements. Studies are still limited, so you’ll need to speak with your vet before giving this to your dog.
But some research has shown that colostrum boosts immune support and may even improve immune response to vaccines, including the core distemper vaccination. Colostrum also helps stabilize microflora in the gastrointestinal tract. Colostrum typically comes in powder form that can be mixed into wet or dry food.
6. Give your dog a stress-free environment
Your dog can’t feel their best if they are constantly stressed. Some dogs are naturally anxious, but creating a safe haven at home can help them feel more at ease. In turn, their immune system will perform better. Look for signs of stress in your pup, such as incessant scratching or licking, pacing, or a tucked tail.
Next, consider ways to ease the stress, like exercise, a solid routine, and a quiet place to rest. If your dog has separation anxiety, you may want to try these tips to ease their anxiety. You can also talk to your vet to identify ways to help your dog feel more relaxed.
7. Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise
Exercise can help relieve stress and anxiety for dogs, but regular movement is also important for mental and physical health. Exercise will look different for every dog. For example, puppies can develop skeletal trauma if you take them on long runs, so stick to shorter excursions with your new friend.
👉 Overweight, obese, and brachycephalic dogs have unique exercise needs that require extra attention.
Creating a regular exercise routine is important, and you should aim to keep your pet at a healthy, average weight for their age and breed. For dogs, obesity can lead to health issues that weaken the immune system, including cancer and diabetes, and shorten a dog’s life span.
8. Keep your dog and their surroundings clean
Germs are the immune system’s enemy. These foreign substances can collect in dirty food and water bowls or thrive in that mud puddle Fido just rolled in. Maybe your pup loves to sniff, lick, and roll around with other dogs at the dog park. Either way, all this germ exposure can overwhelm an immune system. Keeping your dog clean and groomed is important to keeping them healthy. You should also keep their environment clean.
Plan to give your dog a bath at least once every three months. If you both love hikes, long walks, or dog park dates, you may need to give the dog baths more often about every two weeks if needed. Grooming is also essential. Brush short-haired dogs about once per week, and give long-haired dogs daily attention. Keep their ears, eyes, noses, paws, and nails cleaned, too.
To keep their surroundings clean, plan to wash your dog’s food and water bowls daily. Wash dog toys about every two weeks. Clean the couch, rugs, and carpets of dog hair regularly. Don’t forget to deep clean their kennels, beds, collars, and favorite blankets and pillows often, too.
A functional immune system is just as important to our furry best friends as it is to us. Without it, they would have no natural defenses against viruses, bacteria, and all the other harmful pathogens found both inside and outdoors. These tips may seem simple, but every one of them goes a long way toward supporting your dog’s immune system and keeping them happy, healthy, and ready to play.
Frequently asked questions
How do I strengthen my dog’s immune system?
You can strengthen your dog’s immune system using a lot of the same strategies you’d use to strengthen your own. Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise for their age and breed, and feed them high-quality dog food formulated by vets to contain all the vitamins and minerals they need to thrive. Dietary supplements like salmon oil and colostrum can also help meet nutritional requirements. Last but not least, it’s important to maintain a clean, stress-free home environment to minimize your dog’s exposure to germs and keep their immune system running at optimal levels.
What is a homemade immune booster for dogs?
While vet-formulated dog foods are specially designed to contain all the vitamins and minerals dogs need to stay healthy, you can occasionally treat them to small portions of healthy human foods for an extra immune boost. Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and greens including broccoli, spinach, and kale are all great sources of antioxidants — compounds that maintain cell health and offer a ton of immune benefits. Fish and eggs are high in vitamin E and zinc, both of which help the immune system fight off infection.
When is a dog’s immune system fully developed?
According to a recent study, it takes from birth to about 6 months of age for a puppy’s immune system to mature.
Do dogs have weak immune systems?
All dogs have weak immune systems for the first several months of their lives. Older dogs can also be immuno-compromised. Kidney, liver, and bowel problems can result in immune system weakness and deficiencies, as can diseases including lupus, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, anemia, and pyruvate kinase deficiency. These diseases may be caused by bacteria, viruses, tick diseases, cancer, infections, or they may be genetic.
What vitamins are good for a dog’s immune system?
Like humans, dogs will benefit from a robust diet with varied vitamins and minerals for better immune support. Your dog’s health will benefit by providing recommended amounts of omega-3s, B vitamins, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. Most high-quality diets contain all the vitamins and minerals a dog needs to live a healthy lifestyle. If you are uncertain if your dog is on a good quality diet, talk to your local vet to see if your dog’s current diet is a good choice for them.
What foods are good for a dog’s immune system?
In general, plan to give your dog their own dog food and any supplements approved by your vet. If you decide to give your dog some human food, consider healthy options like carrots, green beans, broccoli, bananas, blueberries, and sweet potatoes. Just be sure to avoid foods that are bad for your dog, like grapes and onions, and always feed your dog human foods in moderation to prevent overfeeding and resulting digestive problems. Don’t give your dog human foods that are high in fat either, such as steak, bacon, nuts, or potato chips, as these foods can cause pancreatitis.
