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Glandulars: Your Dog Needs To Eat These Organs

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Do you give your dog glandulars? 

As a raw feeder, you know organ meats are the most nutrient-dense meats your dog can get. And you know that prey-model guidelines recommend organ meat form about 10% of your dog’s diet. 

You may give your dog organ meats like liver, kidney or heart. (Yes, heart is an organ, even though many people consider it muscle meat.) 

But there are many other organs in the body … and your dog may be missing out on their nutrients and health benefits. 

Quality organs and glands can be hard to find … and that’s where glandular supplements come in. 

By glandulars, I mean supplements made from whole dessicated organ meats or glands. Glandulars can give your dog a host of nutrients. And the benefits are far-ranging.  

So … I’ll tell you a bit more about giving your dog glandulars. I’ll also share what you need to know about finding the best raw materials you can. 

Glandulars Are Not New

In 1899, the Merck Manual, one of the first medical manuals, cost one dollar. It listed a medical formula of dried cow ovaries, cannabis indicus and papaya enzyme. The Manual also noted the use of pig pancreas for the pancreatin.

Was this the first US publication to recommend the use of glandulars to treat disease?

In 1899 the standard of care included the toxic substances of arsenic and mercury. But it also included completely natural ones made from common plants and foods. 

Over 63% of the prescription medications came from a natural substance. Patented drugs didn’t come up until 1906.

In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act ushered in the use of pharmaceutic medicine. It consisted of patented, synthetic medications … like today

So, how do we avoid these synthetic formulas? Let’s get back to the good old days of using natural products, using food as medicine to support health.

Why You Should Feed Organs To Dogs

There’s a good reason glands and organs are often called nature’s multivitamin. They’re by far the most nutrient-dense parts of an animal. 

They’re packed with rich nutrients, including …

  • Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B-vitamins, folate
  • Minerals like copper, iron, manganese, iodine, phosphorus, zinc
  • Amino acids

Glandulars help improve body function through signaling molecules in the organs. What does this mean?

Signaling Molecules

Cells communicate through signaling molecules. The cells send and receive chemical signals. These signals coordinate the actions of other organs, tissues and cells. 

When the cells in the organ receive the signal, then the body can respond by making changes. 

In the 40s, Dr Royal Lee discovered how to extract signaling molecules from glands and organs. His extraction process (which he patented), involved centrifuging the organ tissues.

These biomolecules are all important to the proper operation of organs and glands. And the molecules act as a blueprint for corresponding cells in the body.

So, when you give glandulars to a dog with a diseased or disordered organ … it helps renew the function of that organ or gland at a cellular level.  

This means feeding these meats isn’t only for their rich nutrients! They have other powerful health benefits too. 

Feeding organs and glands or glandular supplements … can support the healing of the corresponding organ in your dog.

Food In Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) use these foods. 

I use Traditional Chinese Food Medicine concepts for myself. And I often prescribe these foods to my animal patients. 

Whenever a specific gland or organ isn’t working right … I recommend feeding that organ or gland. 

It can be hard to get fresh organs and glands for raw feeding. So glandular supplements are often the best way to deliver these benefits. 

Glandulars help balance the hormone function of the glands. They increase the tone, function, and activity of the corresponding gland.

Sourcing The Best Glandulars For Your Dog

Sourcing high quality glandulars is essential. When you look for a supplier of organ meats or glandular supplements, keep these things in mind. 

Sunshine, Grass And Water

The best products come from animals living in sunshine. They should be grazing on green grass and drinking water from mountain streams … or another non-municipal water source, free of chemicals.

Glands and organs from animals living in these natural conditions are best. They contain higher levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids. And they’re higher in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) … which may be helpful in preventing cancer.

Country Of Origin

The country your glandulars come from is important for two reasons … avoiding BSE and glyphosate. 

BSE – aka Mad Cow Disease

Find products from cattle without a history of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

Do your research and make sure you’re buying products from a country that’s free of BSE. 

Glyphosate

In the US, glyphosate is widely used. This poison is present in about everything we eat. But many countries worldwide have banned the use of glyphosate (or Roundup). 

Your glandulars should come from animals who’ve been grazing on glyphosate-free pastures. 

Avoid Products From Older Animals

Glandulars made from neonatal tissues are best. 

  • Older cows have more toxins in their bodies … and they’re obtained from slaughterhouses. 
  • Parasites like sarcocystis are higher in older adult animals.
  • Older animals have had more pesticide exposure than neonatals.
  • Neonatal glands have very little fatty tissue. Time these by hand. 
  • It’s possible to dry Neonatal organs at mild temperatures. This preserves the enzymes, protein and polypeptides in the whole organs and glands.
  • Enzymes like amylase are higher in the neonatal animal.
  • Neonatal animals have healthier thymus and more cortical content, reflecting better immune activity.

So, look for newborn sourcing … with a couple of exceptions.  The orchis (testis) and the ovaries need to come from young adults who’ve developed these organs.

Follow these sourcing guidelines to get glands and organs from healthy animals. They’ll be more effective in balancing your dog’s body chemistry. 

Remember … glands as food increases the tone, function and activity of that gland in your dog.

Now I want to get into the health benefits of specific organs and glands. 

The Nutrition of Organ Meat

Feeding organ meats benefits the same organ in your dog’s body. Brain feeds brain, heart nourishes heart, and so on. 

Brain

Feeding your dog brain can translate into good brain health. Brain has DHA and EPA. Remember those initials because the full names are a mouthful … docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.

These omega-3s, plus selenium and copper, all help build healthy brain cells.

Brain can help developing brains in puppies … as well as aging dogs with cognitive disorders.

Heart

Feeding heart provides your dog with a great source of B vitamins, taurine and magnesium. And heart has natural C0Q10 … a popular cardiac health supplement.

Heart can boost collagen and support skin, coat and joints.

Heart supports heart health … and may help prevent heart disease and regulate blood pressure.

Kidney

Functioning kidneys are vital to your dog’s health. They remove waste products from the blood via the urine. And they regulate hormone function, including vitamin D.

Feeding kidneys supports kidney health …  and could help prevent or slow the onset of kidney disease in your dog. 

Liver

Liver is full of nutrients, especially vitamin A and B vitamins. Liver contains important minerals like iron, choline, selenium and CoQ10.

It helps support digestion, brain function, heart health and energy levels.

And once again, feeding liver helps your dog’s liver stay healthy!

Lungs

The lungs perform the essential function of carrying oxygen to the body. Lung contains iron and calcium. It’s rich in arteries and can support vascular health.

Feeding lung meat can boost your dog’s lung health. Give it to your dog if he gets kennel cough or canine influenza.

Eyeballs

Like brain, eyeballs are a source of EPA and DHA for dogs, as well as zinc and magnesium.

These omega-3 fats support brain and vision health. They fight inflammation and can reduce heart disease risk

Stomach And Intestines

These organs can help strengthen the digestive system in dogs with gastrointestinal issues. And the parietal cells in the stomach create intrinsic factor … which supplies vitamin B12.

If your dog is B12 deficient, feeding stomach may help … via intrinsic factor production. This can also be important for dogs with EPI (see Pancreas below). 

Trachea

Raw trachea is a rubbery meal that dogs love to chew on! It will support tracheal health. It could help dogs with collapsing trachea … or dogs with damaged trachea from pulling when walked on collars.

Trachea is also full of natural glucosamine to help with joint health. Your vet might recommend expensive Adequan injections for your dog’s joints. But Adequan comes from bovine trachea! Give it in its natural form instead.

What Glands Do For Your Dog

Each gland supplies different hormones to your dog. Just like feeding organs … feeding glands can support that gland in your dog.

Adrenal Glands

The adrenals produce more than 100 different hormones. They include epinephrine, norepinephrine, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), aldosterone, and cortisol. These hormones support healthy blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism. They help manage inflammation. 

These hormones can help your dog during times of stress. They can also support dogs with adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) or overactive adrenals (Cushings disease).

Hypothalamus

This gland produces five different hormones. One monitors the kidneys and several others activate the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus carries out many important roles. It maintains homeostasis (balance) in the body … by controlling body temperature, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, water content and sleep.

So … feeding hypothalamus can help regulate important body processes

Ovaries

The ovaries release the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These relate to female sex characteristics, reproduction, and other bodily functions.

So they can be helpful to support hormone heath in spayed females. If your dog has spay incontinence, this glandular can help provide the hormones she needs..

Pancreas

The pancreas produces two hormones, insulin and glucagon. Insulin directs glucose to its destination and assists with fat storage. Glucagon elevates blood sugar levels to provide the body with energy. Pancreas contains natural enzymes.

Even conventional vets recommend feeding pancreas to dogs with EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). Feeding stomach can deliver intrinsic factor to EPI dogs as well. 

Pituitary

This gland produces six different hormones, including growth hormone. Others work in conjunction with the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and testicles.

The pituitary gland is especially important to adrenal activity … so could help regulate adrenals in dogs with Cushing’s disease.

Spleen

The spleen delivers minerals like zinc, iron and selenium. These minerals support immune and hormone function.

Spleen can help support a dog who’s had a splenectomy … whether due to trauma, after bloat, or hemangiosarcoma. Spleen also supports the immune system … you can give it with thymus for this purpose.

Testicles

The testicles release two hormones, testosterone and the less-known inhibin.

These hormones primarily relate to the development of male sex characteristics and reproduction. Testicles can provide hormonal support for neutered males.

Thyroid

The thyroid produces three hormones. Two of these regulate cellular metabolism. The third monitors calcium levels in the blood and bones.

This gland can support thyroid activity in hypothyroid dogs.

Thymus

The thymus produces the hormone thymosin. Thymosin stimulates the production of antibodies in the immune system. 

The thymus is like a training center for the immune cells – think of it as immune boot camp

So it’s helpful for immune support and immune-compromised dogs. It may also help with thyroid cases as well as blood sugar control

Feed Your Dog Organs and Glands To Stay Healthy

French haute cuisine still includes organ meats and glands in their dishes. Chefs and high-end restaurants search for these grass-fed meats. You’ll find sweetbreads (thymus) on many French menus … and they can be delicious! 

So prepare a French gourmet dinner! You and your dog should both be eating organ meats and glands. 

If you can get the raw organs I’ve listed, feed them to your dog. If they’re hard to find, use glandulars. They’re an easy, effective and safe way to give your dogs the sweeping benefits of these organs and glands. 

5 minutes a day. Healthier Dog.

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