Can exercise cause inflammation? Is inflammation bad? Is this a problem I should be worried about for my dog? These are all valid questions. Hopefully this post can help clear up some of these questions surrounding exercise induced inflammation.

Let’s first start off by asking, what is inflammation in the first place? Inflammation is the body's reaction to a physical or pathological threat. It generally occurs when the body’s immune system is trying to protect itself and usually results in localized redness and swelling, as a result of an increase in localized blood flow. 

There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic. Exercise induced inflammation is a type of acute inflammation. This means that the inflammation is usually not long lasting or prolonged. Inflammation caused by exercise is usually caused by high-intensity exercise, such as sprinting or carrying/pulling heavy loads. If inflammation is prolonged, it can result in muscle fatigue or joint pain. 

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Fortunately, some of the best ways to reduce inflammation is with food! We all love to feed our dogs so what better way to stifle inflammation than through a healthy treat!

1. Omega 3 fatty acid sources. You may have heard of omega 3’s and for good reason! Found in many fish, marine, seed and nut sources, omega 3’s have many supporting studies proving their ability to reduce inflammation.
2. Antioxidant sources. Antioxidants fight against free radicals, the culprit responsible for inflammation. There are many different foods that contain antioxidants which just a few being: leafy vegetables, berries, carrots, hemp hearts, and some spices.
   

Here at Kabo, we have designed our Monch Bars to include omega 3 and antioxidant ingredients like salmon, flax seed, hemp hearts, and turmeric. This means that they expertly crafted to help combat any inflammation generated during exercise and adventures with your pup!

Ultimately, exercise induced inflammation is not a life threatening condition and is inevitable with any type of high intensity movement. Fortunately, there are some food sources that can reduce inflammation so that your dog can keep moving and grooving!

References

Pyne, David B. "Exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation: a review." Australian journal of science and medicine in sport 26 (1994): 49-49.

Malm, C. "Exercise‐induced muscle damage and inflammation: fact or fiction?." Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 171, no. 3 (2001): 233-239.

Jakeman, John R., D. M. Lambrick, B. Wooley, John A. Babraj, and J. A. Faulkner. "Effect of an acute dose of omega-3 fish oil following exercise-induced muscle damage." European journal of applied physiology 117, no. 3 (2017): 575-582.

Kyriakidou, Yvoni, Carly Wood, Chrystalla Ferrier, Alberto Dolci, and Bradley Elliott. "The effect of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage." Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 18, no. 1 (2021): 1-11.

Mickleborough, Timothy D. "Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in physical performance optimization." International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism 23, no. 1 (2013): 83-96.

König, D., K. H. Wagner, I. Elmadfa, and A. Berg. "Exercise and oxidative stress: significance of antioxidants with reference to inflammatory, muscular, and systemic stress." Exercise immunology review 7 (2001): 108-133.