Benefits of Iodine in Dogs
If you ever notice your pooch chewing on some seaweed, don’t stop him. It is a natural remedy for his stomach and also adds some iodine in his system. Iodine is one of the most important trace minerals that will benefit your dog for life.
Sources of iodine
Iodine is readily available in greens such as seaweed or sea vegetables. Common sea veggies that will increase the level of iodine in dogs include spirulina, kelp, dulse, and Irish moss. Besides iodine, spirulina weed also has adequate amounts of vitamins, C, E, and B complex.
On the other hand, Kelp boosts iodine intake and also contains sodium alginate which helps filter metals and impurities in your dog’s blood. If you see your pooch chewing on some Irish moss, he probably is doing it to aid his digestion or quiet his upset stomach. The sea veggie Dulse is known to contain iodine, potassium, iron, and traces of Vitamin B12.
So what do you do if you cannot get your hands on some healthy seaweed? Easy, the other option to add iodine in dogs is to feed them pet supplements. Most quality supplements are flavored to help your pooch consume them better.
Feeding your dog sea veggies
As much as your dog loves to roll on Irish moss and chew bits of it, you still have to control his sea veggie intake. This is because seaweed tends to form a gel in his tummy that can block his intestines. And the last thing you want is your pooch not being able to go.
Always grind or pulverize the sea vegetable before adding it to his food. This way, he will digest it better with no after effects to worry about.
Benefits of Iodine
Iodine is necessary for your pooch to maintain most of his energy. With enough iodine in his body, he will utilize his calories better converting them into energy. Iodine also helps your dog store some of these calories as healthy fatty acids.
Moreover, iodine is one of the many minerals that help your dog maintain a healthy metabolic rate. This trace mineral is actively involved in the stimulation of the thyroid glands to release two vital hormones- thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These two hormones are responsible for maintaining the health and function of body cells. In addition, thyroxine and triiodothyronine are integral in the development of internal organs especially the brain.
Iodine also aids other physiological processes such as maintaining a healthy heart rate and regulating body weight. It also assists in internal body processes such as monitoring body temperature and keeping an optimal blood pressure level. Also, Iodine boosts your dog’s immune system by stimulating the release of hydroxyl radicals such as vitamin C.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of iodine keeping healthy thyroid glands in your dog and preventing hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a disease characterized by the slowing down of bodily functions due to inactive thyroid glands. It is also believed that iodine can help prevent cancer by shrinking cancer cells.
Conclusion
The benefits of iodine in dogs cannot be stressed enough. If you cannot get your hands on seaweed then perhaps switching to pet supplements is a good idea. Keep your dog’s thyroid glands healthy, his life depends on it.
