Canine Superfuel: 10 Benefits of Colostrum Supplement for Dogs

As a Canine Nutritionist, it’s my job to advise customers on what’s best for their dogs’ diets. I advocate feeding raw, meat-based diets to most dogs; it’s their natural way of eating, and I’ve seen it change dogs’ lives for the better time and again.

However, sometimes, dogs need a little extra nutrient boost, and that’s where the right dog supplements come in. Colostrum is one of my favourites because it supports dogs of all ages and health conditions. With its powerful properties, colostrum is especially helpful for tackling a range of health concerns.

Read on to find out why I recommend colostrum supplements to so many of our customers.

If you’re wondering what colostrum is and how your dog will benefit from it, allow me to explain. Colostrum is the “first milk” that mother mammals produce upon birthing their babies. It’s designed (very cleverly) by nature to contain key nutrients in highly concentrated amounts, which supports and helps build a healthy immune system in their first days of life.

Colostrum supplement for dogs is generally sourced from cows, as bovine colostrum has been found to contain multiple health properties that benefit canine health. The benefits of colostrum include stronger immunity, fewer allergies, balanced gut health, healthier muscles and joints, better dental health, and many others. It’s a helpful addition to the diets of growing puppies, senior dogs, dogs on prescription medication, and dogs in general!

Colostrum also contains naturally-occurring methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is a micronutrient that heals wounds, relieves pain, strengthens cartilage and gastric lining [1], and has even been found to reduce the size of tumours [2]. As you can see, this nutrient powerhouse is full of good things!

1. Boosting immunity

Colostrum begins its work in the gut, where the majority of dogs’ immunity resides. When the canine gut microbiome is out of balance, it can cause their immune systems to behave erratically, reacting defensively to things that they normally wouldn’t.

Thanks to its health-promoting properties, colostrum helps reduce inflammation, calms the immune response, and allows dogs’ immune systems to begin functioning normally. Also, when given at an early age, colostrum helps to build strong, balanced immune systems in puppies, setting them up for a healthy adult life.

Explore why immune health matters in Dr Katie Woodley’s blog, The Basics of Dog Immunity.

2. Digestive health

As all health begins in the gut, it’s essential that the digestive system functions optimally. An imbalanced gut microbiome can result in all sorts of discomfort for dogs, including leaky gut, allergies, malabsorption, and more. Much of this can be avoided through a whole food, species-appropriate diet such as raw dog food, but some dogs require additional help in the form of nutritional supplements.

Colostrum contains IgA antibodies, which form a protective lining in the digestive tract so that harmful bacteria and viruses don’t enter the bloodstream. It also acts as a food source for healthy gut bacteria, allowing the “good guys” to outweigh the bacteria that promote the potential for dog gut health issues. It also helps to soothe irritated gut linings, aiding in their ability to regenerate and restore, thus supporting the natural healing process.

Check out our blog, The Secrets of Dog Gut Health, for a deep dive into how your dog’s gut health impacts their overall wellbeing!”

3. Growth and development

Puppies grow at a rapid rate and require optimal nutritional support throughout their various developmental stages. Receiving the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive is made possible through balanced gut health, as a healthy gut allows them to absorb and assimilate nutrients more effectively.

By contrast, an imbalanced gut microbiome may prevent puppies from absorbing these much-needed nutrients, resulting in less than ideal growth and development, along with other potential issues down the road.

Colostrum gives puppies their best chance at healthy growth and development by starting them out on the right path nutritionally. Their immune systems, digestive health, and ability to absorb/assimilate nutrients are all strengthened through the use of colostrum in their early lives, boosting their health in numerous ways from the very beginning. This strong start follows them as they grow, resulting in healthier, happier adult dogs.

Learn how a fresh, natural diet can support your puppy’s growth and development! Dive into our Puppy Raw Feeding Guide to explore the benefits of raw puppy food, and get expert tips on welcoming your pup home from our canine behaviourist, Caroline Spencer, in our Puppy-Prep Guide.

4. Joint and muscle support

Dogs can experience joint and muscle issues for a variety of reasons, with age, malnutrition, and poor exercise recovery being among them. However, inflammation is more often the cause of these issues, which stems from an imbalanced gut and ripples out into dogs’ various systems. Reducing this inflammation can be achieved by adding the right nutrients to your dog’s diet, and colostrum is a particularly helpful addition [3].

The multiple growth factors, MSM, and other health-promoting properties in colostrum work together to support dog joint health, aiding cellular and tissue damage repair, preserving muscle mass and bone density in older dogs, reducing pain and inflammation [4], and ultimately helps keep muscles and joints in peak condition.

5. Anti-inflammatory properties

As I’ve mentioned, colostrum plays a crucial role in calming inflammation throughout dogs’ systems. Since inflammation is responsible for a wide array of health issues including joint and muscle problems, dog allergies, skin health concerns and poor gut health, the anti-inflammatory properties of colostrum are particularly helpful. Through calming, balancing, and restoring the gut, inflammatory responses can be corrected, allowing dogs relief from various inflammation-related health issues.

Naturally occurring Lactoferrin in colostrum plays a big role here. Lactoferrin is a versatile protein that helps regulate the immune system and provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant benefits. Its powerful effects are due to its ability to bind iron and block harmful microorganisms from attaching to cells.[5]

6. Cognitive enhancement

The gut/brain connection is becoming more widely known by the day, with published studies recognising this relationship as an especially important one [6]. Not only do dogs feel better in general when their gut health is balanced, but their cognitive functioning can be boosted as well. Research underscores the impact gut health has on mood, the central nervous system, and mental well-being, all previously thought to have been strictly brain-related.

In fact, the gut/brain connection operates in both directions, with the brain and gut effectively sending messages to each other. This helps us to make sense of the cognitive benefits of colostrum, as its properties work to heal and restore the gut lining, decrease inflammation, regulate the immune response, and aid in nutrient absorption. Therefore, the gut can send the correct messages to the brain, allowing it to function optimally as well. This is especially important for our older dogs, who may experience cognitive decline.

Discover how gut health and nutrition can impact your dog’s happiness and behaviour in our blog, The Hidden Influence of Nutrition on Your Dog’s Mood.

7. Allergies/skin issues

Dog allergies are on the increase. Growing numbers of dogs are exhibiting allergy symptoms stemming from the immune system’s response to certain triggers. These triggers can be environmental, food-related, or simply a product of an overactive immune system in dogs. Research indicates that allergies can also stem from leaky gut. This occurs when the mucosal lining of the gut is compromised, allowing proteins to pass through and enter the bloodstream [7].

Allergies can manifest in a variety of ways, including digestive upsets, skin health issues such as atopic dermatitis, and even behavioural changes. Colostrums’s ability to support the gut’s natural healing process can help to reverse the effects of leaky gut syndrome, stopping proteins from entering the bloodstream and keeping them within the digestive tract where they belong. This allows the immune system to respond more appropriately rather than remaining in a constant, overactive state.

Is your dog scratching non-stop or showing signs of allergy trouble? Check out my article, How to Help an Itchy Dog, for some relief tips!

8. Yeast imbalance

While it’s normal for dogs to carry some yeast within their digestive tracts, overgrowth/imbalance of this microorganism can become a very uncomfortable problem. Yeast thrives on sugar, moisture, and warmth, and multiplies at a rapid rate when it finds its desired living conditions, leaving dogs itchy and miserable. Poor gut health can contribute to yeast imbalance, as can a diet rich in starches, which ultimately break down into sugars.

Thanks to the lactoferrin and peptides, anti-fungal and gut health-promoting properties, colostrum can be especially helpful in restoring yeast to normal levels in the body. It not only works internally but can also be utilised as a topical remedy for relieving the relentless itch that often comes with yeast overgrowth.

Wondering if yeast is causing issues for your dog? My article, How to Help Yeast Imbalance, guides you through spotting the signs and provides a step-by-step approach to tackling yeast overgrowth naturally.

9. Stress reduction

Just as cognitive function is closely linked to gut health, the same can be said for stress levels. As the gut/brain connection is responsible for sending/receiving messages back and forth, a healthy gut is much more likely to send calming signals to the brain than an imbalanced one. A clear correlation has been identified between digestive problems and anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders — one of many reasons that balanced gut health is so important [8].

Colostrum’s many healthful properties help to balance good/bad bacteria in the gut, which leads to more balanced brain chemistry. As too many bad bacteria can be responsible for mood issues and their resulting behavioural concerns, promoting good bacteria in the gut can help dogs better self-regulate their stress, alleviate their anxiety, and allow them to feel happier overall.
Stress can lead to challenging behaviours in dogs, like reactivity and separation anxiety, making life tougher for both you and your pet. Our blogs, Cultivating Calm: The Nutritional Role In Reactive Dog Behaviour, and Overcoming Separation Anxiety, dive into these topics, offering insights and practical tips to help you understand and manage these stress-related behaviours.

10. Dental health

As many dogs suffer from periodontal disease, keeping their dental health in check is paramount. Dental treatments for dogs can be expensive and often require anaesthesia, so prevention and natural treatments are ideal. As unhealthy gut bacteria have the potential for creating this condition in dogs, it makes sense to start at the root when aiming to promote their dental health [9].

Colostrum’s ability to balance the bacterial load in dogs’ digestive systems is helpful in preventing periodontal disease, as the bad bacteria have less opportunity to cause damage to their gums and teeth. Also, the growth factors in colostrum are helpful in cell and tissue repair, aiding the recovery of dogs’ gums from any damage that may have already been done.

While colostrum is a fantastic supplement I highly recommend, not all products are created equally. Here are some of the criteria I suggest looking for in a quality colostrum nutritional supplement:

• Ethically sourced bovine colostrum- the calves come first
• Produced from cattle raised naturally, without antibiotics, steroids, or hormones
• High concentration of immunoglobulins (I suggest at least 30%, as in ProDog’s Colostrum Supplement) – many other brands have lower amounts
• Pure colostrum with no additional ingredients

We all want what’s best for our dogs, and this starts with what we feed them. As a Canine Nutritionist, I’ve seen first hand how the many benefits of colostrum can help dogs become healthier, which is why I recommend it to so many of our customers, and regularly give it to my own dogs.

Many of the issues that affect our dogs are preventable — or at least —correctable with a species-appropriate, whole food diet. Ready to dive deeper into the benefits of a raw diet for your dog? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Raw Feeding and our Puppy Raw Feeding Guide for everything you need to get started on a raw diet journey, whether for a new puppy or an adult dog. These resources are packed with tips and insights to help you make the best choice for your dog’s health and happiness.

If your dog needs extra nutritional support for common issues like allergies, gut health troubles, yeast imbalance or any other key areas of canine health mentioned in this article—or if you just want to give them a little extra boost, colostrum is my top natural choice. It’s packed with benefits and is suitable for almost every dog.