Spirulina or Spirulina is a single-celled organism corresponding to the species Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima, a type of blue-green algae that contains incredible nutritional and medicinal qualities for both humans and animals.
We will explain what Spirulina is and what it is for, what are the medicinal and nutritional properties that it can bring to our dog if it is applied in adequate doses and when it is recommended to use it.
After reading everything that Spirulina can do for your dog, you will surely end up taking it too. It is one of the best nutritional supplements that exist on the entire planet.
What is spirulina?
It is a natural algae with a spiral shape, hence its name, and teal. It is grown in both fresh and salt water, being its optimal cultivation in alkaline water where it receives a large amount of daily sunlight.
The seaweed itself is not supplied fresh but is dehydrated and is sold or purchased by weight once dehydrated. Normally we can find it in powder or pills, since they are the most common formats.
Spirulina is a very beneficial seaweed for its nutritional and medicinal properties, numerous scientific studies from around the world corroborate it.
Nutritional benefits of spirulina algae in dogs
The benefits that Spirulina can bring to those who consume it are so many that we can separate them into two sections, nutritional benefits and medicinal benefits. The nutritional benefits are simply fascinating, as it is a practically perfect nutritional supplement.
Once dehydrated, the spirulina algae is made up of around seventy percent of high-quality protein, accompanied by the corresponding amino acids so that it can be used by the body.
The remaining thirty percent is made up of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, A, D, Iron, Zinc or Magnesium among many others. Beneficial fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6, chlorophyll, natural antioxidants, carbohydrates and lipids.
So at a nutritional level it is not comparable to any other nutritional supplement, since it is practically perfect. And if this were not enough, it also has numerous medicinal qualities.
Medicinal benefits of spirulina in dogs
Chlorophyll is a powerful natural cleanser for the body and Spirulina algae has the appropriate doses for consumption. That said, Spirulina helps the body to detoxify naturally.
Expirulina is a perfect ally of the defenses, of the dog’s immune system. It stimulates the defenses and provides them with energy, making our dog much more resistant to external diseases.
Something that is phenomenal to combat dog allergies, especially those of a seasonal or undefined nature, which usually do not have treatment. They also help improve digestion and repair the dog’s digestive system.
As if this were not enough, it has been shown that spirulina algae helps prevent some types of cancer and also improves pigmentation in dog hair. Some people think that Spirulina is used to lose weight or fatten dogs, but it is simply a nutritional supplement with medicinal properties.
All these effects of Spirulina are clearly noticeable after a few weeks of consumption, Spirulina has no known side effects and is recommended by prestigious nutritionists.
What dose of spirulina algae should I use with my dog?
We should not make the mistake of thinking that the more algae we give our dog the greater its benefit. As with all foods, in the right dose it is beneficial but in the wrong doses it can be harmful.
Depending on the size of our dog, the dose of Spirulina will be higher or lower, with these amounts being the most recommended:
- Small 10 kg dogs: Half a teaspoon of coffee (small ones).
- Medium 25 kg dogs: One teaspoon of coffee.
- Large 40 kg dogs: One and a half teaspoons of coffee.
These are the adequate daily doses if we use natural spirulina, in powdered format, once dehydrated. If you have a weight, the ideal is to use between one gram and a gram and a half of Spirulina algae for every ten kilos of body weight of the dog.
The ideal is to mix the daily dose of Spirulina with the dog’s food so that it eats it naturally, since being powdered it can cause a little dryness. We can also use it inside a cheese or dog biscuit, thus hiding the dust.