The Ultimate Protection for Your Puppy!

Beta glucans (written as β-glucans) are functional fibres with a wide range of health benefits for dogs. β-glucans are soluble polysaccharides that act as the major structural component of fungal and plant cell walls. They are mostly found in mushrooms, seaweeds, yeasts and cereals such as barley and oats.

They have some pretty amazing properties that make them an excellent dietary addition for your dog! We include sources of β-glucans in both of our puppy recipes (from oats) and in our Beef & Chicken recipe (from reishi mushroom).

Benefits of β-glucans for dogs:

Protects against metabolic disease
Supports optimal gut function
Stimulates the immune system

Metabolic protection

β-glucans are widely known to protect humans and animals against metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, heart disease and obesity. This is due to their high viscosity and fermentability within the gut.

Here’s how it works.

As β-glucans pass through the digestive system they swell into a gel-like substance that coats the lining of the gut. This viscous layer slows down digestion and the absorption of glucose and cholesterol. Once in the colon the β-glucans are fermented by bacteria, producing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs promote satiety and feelings of fullness via the production of serotonin and other appetite regulating hormones. They have also been shown to improve the sensitivity of the insulin receptors on muscle cells.

Research indicates that these processes induced by β-glucans improve cardiovascular function and blood sugar regulation in dogs. This occurs by lowering blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Great for the gut

β-glucans contribute to your dog’s gut health by promoting the growth and activity of “good” bacteria in your dog’s intestines. This is because they are prebiotic or fermentable fibres, which are required for the growth of healthy bacteria known as probiotics.

Probiotics act directly to protect gut immunity by warding off “bad” bacteria and other pathogens. They also produce a wide range of nutrients, enzymes and other compounds, enhancing digestion and regulating the function of nearly every cell in your dog’s body. For example, they produce folic acid which is essential for the maturation of red blood cells.

SCFAs that are produced during microbial fermentation nourish the intestinal lining by promoting optimal hydration, circulation, ph levels and muscle function inside a dog’s colon.

It’s no surprise then that β-glucan’s have been shown to significantly improve the quality of life, treatment efficacy and disease markers in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

Immune boosting

β-glucan’s ability to regulate the immune response has been well documented across over 20,000+ studies over the last 50 years. This research has been conducted in vitro (ie. test tube) as well as in animal and human based clinical studies.

It’s incredible to have so much data on the efficacy of β-glucans!

As immunomodulators, β-glucans are effective at boosting a dog’s immune system when it is compromised as well as calming it down when it is overactive. When immune function is balanced and enhanced in this way dogs are naturally protected against infection, inflammation and disease.

Once in the blood stream, β-glucans bind to and stimulate the activity of a range of white blood cells including macrophages, neutrophils, granulocytes, dendritic cells and Natural Killer cells. These innate immune cells protect against infection and cancer by devouring bacteria, foreign cells, dead and dying cells, mutated cells and other negative invaders that don’t belong in your dog’s system.

Beta Glucans for Puppies

During the first year of life a puppy’s immune system is especially susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. These can cause serious illness. Ensuring our puppies receive proper nutrition, regular deworming, adequate socialisation and appropriate vaccination are all common practices which can help prevent the development of disease.

Recent research also strongly indicates that we can do even more to maximise a puppy’s natural defences by including β-glucans in their diet!

Like all their fellow vertebrates, dogs possess both innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is a primitive system of defence that is not directed against specific invaders but against any pathogens that enter the body. Adaptive immunity is acquired overtime and is dependent on T and B immune cells which are able to recognise and attack a diverse array of pathogens in a highly specific manner. Vaccine functionality is founded on adaptive immune function.

β-glucans have been shown to bolster and balance a puppy’s primary defences helping them to thrive after maternal antibodies have waned and before their adaptive immunity is fully developed .

They also have beneficial affects on adaptive immunity when dogs are vaccinated, training T and B cells to produce more antibodies against rabies, parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis.

What does all of this means for your puppy?

Enhanced vaccination efficacy and therefore protection against common canine diseases such as rabies, parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis.
Helps prevent chronic metabolic and inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, arthritis, inflammatory bowl disease and cancer.
Generally you may see the benefits for your dog as an overall better quality of life! They can potentially have less allergies, less stress, less infections, less inflammation heal faster and have greater resilience ❤️