Immune System Support for Cats

There are plenty of things that you can do as a pet owner to provide your cat with immune system support. Pets with weak immune systems are more susceptible to infectious diseases. If these pets with compromised immune systems are left at boarding facilities they often contract respiratory diseases that prove fatal. It's therefore important to assess your cat's overall health and supplement her diet (if necessary) with good quality supplements that strengthen the pet's immune system.

Choosing the Right Supplements

While there are several commercially available nutrient supplements that boost the cat's immune system, you need to first conduct a vet check to find out if your cat has any other underlying conditions. Once this is done, ask your vet if your cat requires any vitamins or minerals in particular and choose good quality supplements that are suited to your pet. Cats that are suffering from cancer, older pets or cats suffering from respiratory illnesses require certain supplements that boost the immune system to fight diseases and bacterial infections.

Providing Immune Support

Commercially available supplements contain vitamins and minerals in varying proportions, but in order to boost the cat's immune system, you have to make sure that the supplements contain certain amounts of antioxidants, Arabinogalactans and Purine Nucleotides. You will also have to feed your pet a nutritious diet so that the body gets its recommended daily intake of nutrients.

Immune Stimulators

Antioxidants are commonly derived from sources of Vitamin E and C. Although antioxidants don't directly boost the cat's immune system, they work to prevent cell damage and thus help pets recover quickly when they suffer from contagious diseases.

Arabinogalactans on the other hand contain agents that stimulate the immune system. They also have certain anti-inflammatory properties that help to cure both viral and bacterial infections. If your pet is suffering from cancer, the vet will most likely prescribe ImmunoSupport, as it contains Arabinogalactans that are meant to bring relief from the illness.

Cats should be administered supplements that contain Purine Nucleotides as they regulate metabolism and maintain proper regulatory function of the body. Pets that are administered Purine Nucleotides are known to develop increased immunity to various autoimmune diseases and conditions like arthritis. Although there are several supplements that are available over the counter, discuss the benefit of using these supplements with your vet before administering them to the cat. It may also be necessary to obtain a prescription, to buy certain immune stimulators.

Commercially Available Products for Immune Support Include:

  • Super VitaChews Soft Chews
  • Proanthozone
  • Cell Advance
  • Pet Alive Immunity & Liver Support 
  • Premium Plus AntioxiTabs

Tips for Pet Owners

If your cat has a weak immune system, make sure you only feed him natural food products. Also, read commercial food labels to find out if they contain any dyes or additives. Apart from this, avoid using flea preventive medications as they might worsen the cat's condition. It's best to minimize the number of booster vaccines that are administered each year, as they put more pressure on the cat's immune system.

Although diet and vitamin supplementation are necessary, you should exercise your pet regularly to keep him active and alert.

 

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