Thursday, December 3, 2009

Colostrum - Not just for Puppies and Kittens

Written by Claudia Loomis

Bovine Colostrum was commonly used by people as a nutritional supplement to aid the immune system long before the development of antibiotics and sulfa drugs. Since cows do not provide their young with antibodies through the placenta like humans and other mammals such as cats and dogs, Bovine must supply all the antibodies to their young after birth through their milk. This means that Bovine Colostrum has a particularly high concentration of antibodies and other substances that enhance growth and development and support to the immune system.

Colostrum is commonly fed to young puppies and kittens to provide additional nutritional support and to enhance growth and development. Colostrum is packed with hormones, enzymes, micronutrients and peptides that support many bodily functions. In addition, Colostrum also has antibacterial properties. It can be said that Colostrum represents nature's complete nutritional package.

There are many beneficial uses for Colostrum in addition to aiding the growth and development of healthy puppies and kittens.

Colostrum should be the first choice in providing your pet with passive immunity (immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG, lactoferrin) during times of stress. It enhances the immune system during many stressful periods, including boarding, traveling and recovery from surgery, chemo or chronic illness.

Because of its antibacterial properties, Colostrum powder mixed with water to form a paste makes a great topical agent for wound and hot spot healing. It will also aid in the growth of new fur.

The abundance of peptides present in Colostrum give it the ability to aid in the regulation of the thymus gland which supports the immune system when functioning optimally.

Colostrum has also been found to aid in the balancing of intestinal flora helping to support complete digestion of nutrients from food and promote regular, well formed stool.

Colustrum is useful in the treatment of arthritis and hip dysplasia. The growth factors in Colostrum facilitate the body’s regenerative process so that it can better metabolize glucosamine and chondroitin so that they can provide better healing and pain relief.

On the other end of the age spectrum, senior pets, whose advanced age brings diminished organ and bodily system function, can benefit from the regenerative properties of Colostrum; bringing them more vitality in their golden years.

Finally, when selecting Bovine Colostrum it is important to make sure that you a getting the most nutrient dense Colostrum available .The highest quality Colostrum is collected from strictly controlled US origin dairy herds that are fed diets free of meat by-products, hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, and processed in UDSA licensed and inspected human food processing plants. This will ensure that the Colostrum you are feeding your pets will deliver in all the ways you anticipate.