Most of us that know about colostrum know it as the first milk produced by the mother animal for nursing her pups or kittens. Colostrum is rich in nutrients and antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) that protect puppies from various diseases until they get old enough to receive vaccinations.
That's why it's so important for puppies and kittens to get colostrum and they have to get it in the first hours and days of nursing. After that, the immature intestinal tract shuts off absorption of antibodies.
As you probably know,
antibodies are produced by the mother in response to vaccination or exposure to disease causing organisms. These maternal antibodies passed to the pup or kitten via colostrum are critical in defending youngsters against common diseases like canine distemper, parvo virus or something like
feline rhinotracheitis in kittens.
Over the first weeks to months the levels of these maternal antibodies subside and immunity to disease is replaced by the common vaccinations given to puppies and kittens.
When I was still working for Purina in New Product Development we researched the potential health benefits of adding bovine colostrum (colostrum from cows) to the diet of dogs and cats. The theory was that the antibodies in bovine colostrum could
stimulate the immune system and provide other intestinal health benefits.
We found that the antibodies (immunoglobulins) in bovine colostrum stimulated the production or protective IgA locally in the intestine. This immunoglobulin helps protect the animal from challenges by disease causing invaders. We also found that when the antibodies from colostrum interacted with the immune cells lining the intestine, these cells produced messenger cells that stimulated the production of circulating IgG, another disease fighting antibody.
In another study we found that these higher levels of IgG improved the response to distemper vaccination
. Pups on the colostrum diet produced higher levels of antibodies in response to the vaccine and the antibodies lasted longer in the bloodstream. All that leads to extra protection and demonstrates how colostrum can prime the puppies immune system to fight off other disease challenges.
This can be good news for both adult dogs and cats and puppies and kittens. Right now Pro Plan puppy food contains colostrum. You'll see it referred to as something called
"Opti Start". Marketing people love to come up with catchy names for stuff. I would guess that Opti Start will be available in kitten food too at some point in the future. I'll let you know when that happens.
You can also find the benefits of colostrum in Purina Veterinary Diets. The intestinal formula called
PVD EN for both cats and dogs is fortified with colostrum for the obvious intestinal health benefits. In addition to immune enhancement colostrum improves stool quality and creates a stable intestinal environment critical for dogs recovering from a variety of intestinal ailments.
At PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance we are all about disease prevention. Your mom was right, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care is one way to prevent disease and what you choose to feed your pet is another.