Understanding The Blood System in Your Pet’s Bioenergetic Scan
Your pet’s body is truly paw-some! It’s a marvel of intricate systems with many components working together to keep it running smoothly. The Blood System connects all the systems! However, when reviewing the results of your pet’s scan, where does your mind go first?
Maybe you instinctively zone in on their Digestive System because Douglas the Golden Retriever has tummy troubles? Or maybe you want to explore their bioenergetic food intolerances!?
Or perhaps your cat Pickles has a rash or itchy skin, which may appear on the Integumentary System dial.
When we think about our pets’ health and happiness, there’s a lot to consider. Even if there aren’t any big health concerns right now, there are still a whole bunch of systems in their bodies to examine, like the Blood System. What does that mean when it comes up on their report?
This intricate system parallels its human counterpart, circulating blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues while removing waste products. It’s connected to other systems like the Lymph System and Cardiovascular System, and it plays a role in their immune responses.
This blog post aims to help you understand the blood system on your pet’s report by shedding light on how the blood works, its components, its roles, and how to maintain a healthy blood system!
The Components of the Blood System on Your Pet’s Bioenergetic Scan
While every animal’s body has unique quirks, the fundamental roles of the Blood System’s components—red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma—are consistent across the spectrum, whether wagging tails or purring softly or otherwise.
Like humans, dogs, cats, and other animals have different blood types. These blood types are determined by specific antigens present on the surface of red blood cells. In dogs, for example, the most well-known blood typing system is the Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) system. Dogs can have various DEA blood types, such as DEA 1.1, DEA 1.2, DEA 3, DEA 4, and others.
Similarly, cats have their own blood typing system called the Feline Blood Group (AB) system. Cats can be classified into several blood types, including Type A, Type B, and, more rarely, Type AB.
Knowing an animal’s blood type is important for veterinary medicine, especially in situations such as blood transfusions or breeding programs, where incompatible blood types can lead to severe reactions or health complications. Therefore, veterinarians often perform blood typing tests before these procedures to ensure compatibility and safety.
Now, Let’s Explore the Components of the Blood System:
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes): While red blood cells serve a common purpose across species—to transport oxygen and remove carbon dioxide—their structure and characteristics can vary significantly. In particular, some animals, such as birds and reptiles, have nucleated red blood cells, which contain a nucleus within the cell. This evolutionary adaptation has arisen to meet the unique physiological demands of these species’ environments and lifestyles.
These nucleated cells offer advantages in demanding environments. With their high metabolic rates and aerial lifestyles, birds benefit from enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity, aiding their flight efficiency. Additionally, nucleated red blood cells help animals thrive by improving oxygen extraction in low-oxygen or high-altitude habitats.
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes): Acting as the body’s defense system, white blood cells protect against diseases and foreign invaders. These specialized cells play a critical role in maintaining your pet’s health by actively identifying and neutralizing harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Platelets: While platelets perform the essential function of clotting to prevent excessive bleeding, some animal species may have variations in their platelet counts or clotting mechanisms. For instance, certain breeds of dogs, such as Greyhounds, have been shown to have lower platelet counts than other breeds, but no cause is known.
Plasma: While plasma serves as a carrier for nutrients, hormones, and proteins, the composition of plasma may vary between animal species. Differences in plasma composition can impact various physiological processes, such as blood viscosity and immune function.
How Does the Blood System in Pets Work?
The Blood System in pets works through pumping and circulation. If Rocky the Rottweiler’s scan shows a stressed blood dial, you may see Circulation listed at the bottom of the first page. Circulation can be stressed for many energetic reasons, including imbalances in energy flow caused by emotional stress, environmental factors such as temperature extremes, dietary issues leading to nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, lack of physical activity, or underlying health conditions affecting the cardiovascular system.
Like humans, the heart pumps oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the arterial system, carrying it throughout the body. As this blood travels, it provides cells with oxygen and essential nutrients while simultaneously collecting carbon dioxide and other waste products from the cells, transporting them to the lungs and kidneys for elimination.
If there is heart stress, which would mean stress on your pet’s Cardio Dial, you may also see blood stress.
When the Blood System is linked to the Immune System in pets, white blood cells play a vital role in defending the body against various pathogens and infections. Pets may encounter harmful invaders such as Bartonella and Babesia, both commonly transmitted through tick bites, heartworm spread through mosquito bites, and Giardia, a microscopic parasite usually from contaminated food or water sources. These organisms can evade the immune system and cause body-wide stress, potentially damaging the Blood System by infiltrating cells.
Platelets initiate the clotting process, preventing excessive blood loss during injuries. Blood acts as a transportation system, a defense mechanism, and a regulator.
Blood Circulation: How Blood Travels Through the Body
Blood circulation is a continuous process. The heart, the engine of the circulatory or Cardiovascular System, pumps blood throughout your pet’s body via a network of blood vessels. This network includes arteries, which carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, capillaries, where nutrient and waste exchange occurs, and veins, which carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
This circulation process can be divided into two primary circuits:
- the systemic circuit
- the pulmonary circuit
The systemic circuit transports oxygenated blood from the heart to your furry friend’s tissues and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart. The pulmonary circuit carries this deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where it gets oxygenated again and then brought back to the heart.
The Blood System and Nutrition
Maintaining a healthy blood system is pretty important for your pet’s overall health. Make sure their food bowls contain a diet that aims to balance of the following:
- Vitamin K: Needed blood clotting, ensuring wounds heal properly. Pets can benefit from sufficient vitamin K intake to support their blood coagulation processes.
- Arginine: Supports circulation and nitric oxide production, which helps regulate blood flow. It also contributes to hair growth, muscle growth, and liver detoxification in pets.
- Iron and Copper: Critical for the production of healthy red blood cells, which are necessary for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Pets need adequate levels of iron and copper to maintain optimal blood health.
- Niacin (B3): Supports circulation and overall cardiovascular health in pets, ensuring proper blood flow and nutrient delivery to tissues.
- Iodine: Necessary for thyroid function, which influences metabolism and blood transport in pets. Proper thyroid function is essential for maintaining overall health and vitality.
- Vitamins B6, B9, and B12: Support red blood cell function and overall blood health in pets. These vitamins play vital roles in the synthesis and maintenance of blood cells, ensuring proper oxygenation and nutrient transport.
- Vitamin A: Essential for stem cell development into red blood cells and contributing to producing new blood cells.
- Vitamin E: Supports blood circulation by widening blood vessels, ensuring efficient nutrient and oxygen delivery throughout the body. It also aids in red blood cell production, promoting overall blood health.
- Hydration: Appropriate water intake is crucial for pets to maintain blood volume, facilitating the transport of nutrients and waste. Proper hydration supports overall blood circulation and pet health, preventing dehydration-related issues.
Top Takeaways for the Blood System in Pets and Bioenergetic Balance
Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining a healthy blood system in pets. A balanced diet rich in specific nutrients can support various aspects of their blood health. However, while the treats below can be beneficial, they should only be part of a balanced diet tailored to your pet’s specific nutritional needs. For a complete and balanced diet, consult with your veterinarian and get a scan done for your pet to see any energetic imbalances that may arise.
- Meat Treats: Treat your pet to some lean meat, such as chicken or turkey, as a protein-rich snack. Cut it into small pieces or use it as a training reward to support their circulation and cardiovascular health.
- Liver Nuggets: Create liver nuggets by baking or dehydrating liver slices. Of course, you can buy these too! These treats are rich in iron and copper, crucial for producing healthy red blood cells in your pet’s body.
- Pumpkin Seed Sprinkles: Add ground pumpkin seeds over your pet’s food or blend them into homemade treats. These seeds are a tasty source of niacin (B3), which supports circulation and overall cardiovascular health.
- Carrot Crunchies: Slice up fresh carrots into bite-sized pieces for your pet to enjoy as a crunchy snack. Carrots are high in vitamin A, essential for stem cell development into red blood cells, and promote overall eye health.
- Sunflower Seed Surprise: Incorporate sunflower seeds into homemade treats or sprinkle them over your pet’s meals. These seeds are rich in vitamin E, supporting blood circulation and red blood cell production while adding a delightful crunch to their diet.
- Berry Bonanza: Treat your pet to a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries as a nutritious snack. Blueberries are high in vitamin C, improving circulation and providing antioxidant support to keep your pet healthy and happy.
- Sweet Potato Delight: Bake or steam sweet potato slices for your pet to enjoy as a tasty treat. Sweet potatoes are a source of iodine necessary for thyroid function and blood transport, offering a delicious and nutritious addition to their diet.
Additionally, certain supplements can offer specific benefits for the blood system in pets:
- Fishy Fun: Mix animal-appropriate fish oil into your pet’s food to boost omega-3 fatty acids. Alternatively, offer fish-based treats or frozen fish cubes for a refreshing and healthy snack that protects against circulatory issues and supports heart health.
Regular check-ups and bioenergetic scans can help provide a detailed finding of any food and environmental sensitivities, a list of resonating toxins, and any hormonal or nutritional imbalances.
DISCLAIMER: Balanced Health, LLC/CBH Energetics and any parent, subsidiary, affiliated or related entities and companies do not provide medical advice or services. This post and the bioenergetic products and services offered by Balanced Health, LLC/CBH Energetics including, but not limited to, bioenergetic tests, bioenergetic scans, bioenergetic reports and related products and services (collectively the “Bioenergetic Products and Services”) are designed for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, condition, complaint, illness or medical condition and are not a substitute for professional services or medical advice. Testing is not used for the purpose of obtaining information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease or the assessment of a health condition or for identification purposes.