Article at a glance:
- Chlorella’s rich nutrient profile benefits humans and animals.
- Chlorella, as a supplement for the diet of dogs, provides many benefits, including supporting digestive and cardiovascular health.
- When given the correct dose, chlorella is safe for pets to consume, with rare side effects, and can boost your pet’s health.
Chlorella is a widely popular nutritional supplement many humans use, but can you give chlorella to dogs? That’s a resounding yes! Chlorella’s rich nutritional profile provides many health benefits to your furry pals, and its chlorophyll content is an amazing immune booster in some animals, too!
What Is Chlorella?
Chlorella is a type of unicellular algae grown in freshwater and under sunlight. It’s a popular and well-loved superfood that comes chock full of nutrients. Here are just some of the beneficial compounds that chlorella carries:
- Antioxidants – This superfood is full of antioxidants that may help protect your cells from free radicals and oxidative stress.
- Carotenoids – Chlorella also contains carotenoids, like beta carotene and lutein. This supports the eye health of dogs and cats. This also protects your dogs from heart disease by helping lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels.
- Fiber – Chlorella is a decent source of fiber, so it improves digestion.
- Protein – This unicellular algae-derived supplement is 50-60% protein. Since it carries complete proteins, it has all the essential amino acids the body needs.
- Omega-3 – Chlorella is a decent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Vitamin B12 – This superfood is also a good source of b vitamins, like Vitamin B-12
Health Benefits of Chlorella for Dogs
Is chlorella bad for dogs? This is a common question among dog owners who want to introduce chlorella into their dog’s daily diet. And no, chlorella is not bad for dogs and is considered safe as long you follow the recommended dosage, and your dog isn’t allergic to iodine or mold.
Let’s break down some of the chlorella benefits for dogs here:
1. May Help With Detoxification
While a minuscule level of iron and zinc are vital for your pets’ health, large quantities are not good for them. Healthy metals can still become dangerous if they are exposed to them at high levels. Be wary of other metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury, as these are toxic to pets.
Luckily, algae, like chlorella, is known by many as a supplement that may help bind toxins and heavy metals in your dog’s body. Chlorella products bring this benefit not only for humans but also for our pets. As such, it has a reputation as a natural detoxifier.
2. May Help Fight Against Chronic Diseases
Similar to humans, your pets’ bodies are prone to free radicals. Your dogs can get this from UV rays or external factors, especially in an increasingly polluted environment. Free radicals cause damage to healthy cells. Consequently, damaged cells may cause premature aging, long-term health issues, and even the possibility of cancer.
Chlorella carries many potent antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, chlorophyll, and lycopene. Antioxidants work well to fight free radicals. Such substances also stop them from causing damage to your pets’ healthy body cells. Taking chlorella for dogs adds an extra layer of protection.
3. May Aid in Slowing Down the Aging Process
Can I use chlorella for old dogs? Aging dogs can reap the effects of chlorella against aging. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, chlorella may help fight oxidative stress and free radicals that can cause premature aging. Not only this, but it may also help boost the health of elderly dogs.
Chlorella mainly helps slow the aging process with the help of Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). This carries high levels of nucleic acid, which may help boost protein production and support the cell’s ability to repair and regenerate.
4. May Help Boost Your Dog’s Immune System
Chlorella can also help support your dog’s immune system. Since this superfood helps fend off chronic illnesses and is a known detoxifying agent, it helps keep your pets healthy. On top of this, a study done in 2016 found that the CGF in chlorella may help increase the body’s humoral immune response to fight off harmful microorganisms that may enter the dog’s body.
Meanwhile, another study indicated that chlorella may have helped boost interferon production. Interferons are natural proteins that send out alerts to the other cells in the body, indicating that there is a virus present. Additionally, chlorella also reinforces the ability of natural immune cells in the body.
5. May Help Support Digestive Health
Being high in fiber, chlorella for dogs may help them regulate bowel movements while boosting metabolism and energy levels. On top of that, chlorella is a prebiotic, which greatly helps maintain its gastrointestinal health.
In addition, research showed that chlorella could improve probiotic viability. Another study showed that chlorella could help increase probiotic bacteria growth and inhibit pathogens.
6. May Help Minimize Arthritis Symptoms
Chlorella is one superfood many know may help reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation usually causes joint disease and other chronic pains in dogs. As such, adding chlorella to your pet’s daily diet may aid in easing symptoms of several chronic conditions.
A study in 2013 found that lycopene from chlorella may be a good natural alternative to anti-inflammatory medication. This may help with collagen-induced arthritis and joint pain. In the said study, chlorella also showed no side effects when used.
Meanwhile, omega-3 essential fatty acids also carry some anti-inflammatory benefits. Since chlorella is packed with this nutrient, adding this superfood to your dog’s diet is a good way to get your dog’s daily dose.
7. May Help Improve Your Dog’s Skin and Coat
CGF contains nucleic acid, which helps promote cell regeneration. As such, chlorella is a great supplement to give your dogs to aid in keeping skin cells healthy.
Other than the CGF content, chlorella itself also contains essential fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and C. These nutrients may support your dog’s coat health and help promote collagen synthesis to make your dog’s skin appear healthier.
Collagen is a protein that provides the body with structure. Skin and hair are mostly made up of this protein. On top of that, collagen plays an important part in the proper growth of several body parts, such as bones, muscles, and connective tissues.
Adding collagen-rich chlorella to your dog’s diet may help maintain the health of its skin and coat. Moreover, it can aid with skin dermatitis.
8. May Help Support Eye Health
Adding chlorella to your dog’s food may help support its eye health. This is attributed to the carotenoids and antioxidants carried by chlorella, most importantly, lutein and zeaxanthin.
The two said carotenoids found in chlorella are known to stay and collect their eyes’ retinas. As such, the two nutrients can help protect that part of the eyes against oxidative stress damage.
Other than this, they can also help safeguard your dogs from other degenerative eye problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Chlorella Can I Add to My Dog’s Diet?
You can use chlorella powder or crush chlorella tablets for dogs and add it to your dog’s food. There are also dental snacks with chlorella available commercially.
You must know your dog’s body weight to know the right dosage. The recommended dosage for pets is 50 milligrams for every 25 pounds of body weight. You can choose to give this once or twice daily.
You can also double the chlorella dose for dogs if it needs an immune system boost. Start with smaller doses to help ease your dogs into getting used to the supplement.
Does Chlorella Have Side Effects for Dogs? Is Chlorella Safe for Dogs?
Generally, dogs will suffer no side effects when taking chlorella for supplementation if taken correctly. The chlorophyll in chlorella is healthy for other animals like cats, rabbits, horses, birds, and fish.
Why Is Chlorophyll Good for Dogs?
Chlorophyll is found in many green superfoods. When comparing chlorella vs spirulina for dogs, one of the common beneficial substances people may point out is chlorophyll. For both humans and our pets, chlorophyll carries many health benefits. Here are some of them:
- May help with metabolism
- May minimize inflammation
- May support cardiovascular health
- May help with weight loss
- May aid in boosting the immune system
- May help in wound healing
- May help improve coat appearance and skin condition
- May help with renal health
What Happens If My Dog Drinks Chlorophyll?
If given the recommended daily dosage, dogs may benefit from chlorophyll. However, remember that too much of a good thing can still be bad. If you give your pets too much chlorophyll, it may lead to some digestive issues.
How Much Chlorophyll Can I Give My Dog and Cat?
The dosage may vary depending on your pet. If you have a dog, a safe dose of 1/8 teaspoon of chlorophyll for every pound of food. Meanwhile, cats can safely take 1/4 teaspoon of chlorophyll for every pound of food.
Do keep in mind that chlorophyll can come from multiple sources. While concentrated amounts may come from chlorella and spirulina, green leafy vegetables add chlorophyll to the diet.
Does Chlorophyll Help With Dog Odor?
Yes. Besides the benefits mentioned above, chlorophyll may also help improve dog odor and reduce bad breath in pets.
Add Chlorella to Your Cat’s and Dog’s Food
Chlorella’s positive effects are not limited to people. Given how rich this superfood is with nutrients and how safe it is to be ingested by most living beings, it’s no wonder your little buddy can also enjoy the wonderful benefits of chlorella.
With its many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, supplementing with the best chlorella for dogs can help support their overall health. Start using chlorella as your pets’ new supplement today and see how they can enjoy its long list of positive effects.
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