Immune Bundle
Description
Your dog or cat has recurrent infections, has been diagnosed with an allergy or an autoimmune disease, or you simply recognize that the resistance is not what it should be. These are very different situations, with one similarity: the immune system does not function optimally. This bundle explains what’s going on in both directions, and helps you choose the right support instead of just blindly “increasing the resistance”.
When can the Immune Bundle be used?
The bundle has been developed to support you with, among other things:
- Reduced resistance and regularly recurring infections
- Lengthy or difficult recovery after illness or physical strain
- Older animals with declining vitality
- Allergic and hypersensitivity reactions
- Recurrent immune-related skin or intestinal complaints
- Chronic inflammatory problems
- Immune-mediated conditions, as an adjunct to regular veterinary treatment
- Animals in which gut health and immune function require attention simultaneously
In the event of established autoimmune or other immune-mediated disorders, deployment should always take place in consultation with the attending veterinarian.
One immune system, two opposite problems
“Increasing resistance” is not always the right goal. In the case of recurrent infections, slow healing or declining vitality, the immune system is indeed too weak: immune deficiency. But with allergies and autoimmune diseases, the problem is often not that the immune system is too weak, it reacts too strongly or incorrectly: against harmless substances in the case of allergies, against the body’s own tissue in the case of autoimmunity. This is called immune dysregulation.
Why this distinction is so important
Nutrition and the immune system
Regardless of the direction, nutrition is an underexposed instrument. Ultra-processed dry food with low fibre content weakens microbial diversity and increases LPS load, which can feed both too slow and too fierce immune response via the intestinal barrier. High-quality, fresh and varied food provides the amino acids, fatty acids and trace elements that the immune system needs in both directions to function properly.
What low resistance, autoimmune disease and allergy have in common
Both weak immune system and autoimmunity and allergy are associated with a disturbed microbiome and intestinal barrier. The direction of the imbalance differs, the involvement of the intestine does not.
In infection and recovery, but also in chronic autoimmune or allergic inflammation, the oxidative load is increased, only the source of that load differs.
Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and other cofactors are necessary for a properly functioning immune system, regardless of whether that system needs to be stimulated or inhibited.
Our advice: shared basis, then focused on the situation
Everyone starts with the same basis. Then, in consultation with doubt, you choose the direction that suits your animal’s situation. Never use the “low resistance” direction next to an established autoimmune disease or severe allergy without consulting your veterinarian.
An important part of the interaction between the outside world and the immune system takes place around the intestine. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C also support cell membranes, the normal inflammatory response and numerous enzymatic processes that the immune system needs, regardless of the direction in which it needs to be adjusted. Daily Multi adds the broad base of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are needed as cofactors for these processes: just like the intestine, the cell membranes and the antioxidant balance, an adequate nutritional status is directionally neutral, it does not push the immune system in any direction, but it is a prerequisite for proper functioning.
Bowel protocol as a foundation in all three directions
Prebiotics in the base give most animals sufficient intestinal support in addition to the Immune bundle. If there are pronounced intestinal complaints, long-term dysbiosis or medication use that puts a strain on the intestine, the NGD Care Gut Protocol goes deeper: it structurally tackles the intestinal barrier and the microbiome and thus forms the foundation on which each direction of this bundle, low resistance, autoimmune disease or allergy, has the most effect.
Here, stimulation of the immune system is desirable. Myco Immune provides beta-glucans that support the normal functioning of the immune system. Lactoferrin forms a link between mucosal defense, iron balance and microbiome. In addition to NAD⁺ for cell energy during recovery, Longevity Support also provides astragalus, which supports the immune system via a different mechanism than beta-glucans (including the TLR4/NF-κB pathway).
Here, stimulation is undesirable. PEA Complex (PEA and Boswellia) supports a balanced inflammatory response without stimulating the immune system. Liposomal Curcumin inhibits NF-kB, a central inflammatory pathway. Liposomal Glutathione supports cellular antioxidative balance and the liver, relevant for long-term use of corticosteroids or other immunomodulatory medications.
Myco Immune and Longevity Support are deliberately not recommended as standard here, only after consultation with the treating veterinarian.
Again, modulation is the goal, not stimulation. Histamine Balance provides, among other things, quercetin, which plays a role in the stability of mast cells, and MSM. PEA Complex and Liposomal Curcumin also support a balanced inflammatory response, as with the autoimmune direction. If the allergy manifests itself mainly on the skin, such as in atopic dermatitis, this direction works well with the NGD Care Skin Protocol, which specifically focuses on the skin barrier and skin microbiome.
Myco Immune and Longevity Support are also advised with caution here, unless there is a specific reason for this.
What can you expect and when?
The base acts on the gut immune axis and is similar in structure in all directions. The targeted layer differs in pace per direction: stimulation with low resistance is usually noticeable faster than modulation with chronic autoimmune or allergic complaints.
Intestinal base is built up. No clearly visible effect yet.
With low resistance: first improvement noticeable. In case of allergy/autoimmune: no major change expected yet.
In allergy/autoimmune, modulation begins to become noticeable. Blood values and clinical picture remain leading.
Stable effect with consistent use. Reassess periodically together with the vet, especially when taking medication.
Always inform your veterinarian about the supplementation, especially if you have an established autoimmune disease or if you are using corticosteroids, cyclosporine or other immunomodulatory medications.
Per direction: specific points of attention
Short-term deployment around an infection or recovery period, or structurally in case of chronically increased susceptibility.
Always beside, never in place of veterinary treatment. Avoid immune-stimulating additives without consultation.
In the case of itching as a primary complaint, Histamine Balance is often the first noticeable part of the targeted layer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between low resistance and an autoimmune disease or allergy?
With low resistance, the immune system reacts too slowly or too weakly: immune deficiency. In an autoimmune disease or allergy, the immune system reacts too fiercely or incorrectly directed: immune dysregulation. The first requires stimulation, the second requires modulation. That is why this bundle contains three different directions instead of one approach for “more resistance”.
Can I just switch between the directions, or combine?
The base (Prebiotics, Calanus Oil, Vitamin C, Daily Multi) can always be used. Don’t do the targeted layer: don’t combine the “low resistance” direction with the “autoimmune disease” or “allergy” direction without consulting your vet, because the first stimulates and the other two don’t.
Why is Longevity Support only for “low resistance”?
Longevity Support contains astragalus, which supports the immune system through a stimulating mechanism. This is desirable in case of a weak immune system, but is deliberately not recommended as standard in the case of an autoimmune disease or allergy, only after consultation with the attending veterinarian.
Is this bundle suitable if my animal is already receiving medication for an autoimmune disease?
The “autoimmune disease” direction is meant to be a supplement to, never a substitute for, your vet’s treatment. Always inform your veterinarian about the supplementation, especially when using corticosteroids, cyclosporine or other immunomodulatory medications.
Can a veterinarian still opt for immune stimulation in case of an autoimmune disease or allergy?
In some situations, yes: in the case of a demonstrable infection during immunosuppressive treatment, in the case of a stable autoimmune disease in well-controlled remission, or during the tapering of medication. This is always an individual consideration of the treating veterinarian, not standard advice within this bundle. We will discuss this in more detail in the scientific background blog.
For which situations do we recommend this bundle?
Want to read the full scientific background?
Stefan Veenstra DVM explains how immune deficiency and immune dysregulation differ, and how the gut-immune axis plays a role in both directions.
All supplements in this bundle
→ Calanus oil (base)
→ Liposomal Vitamin C (base)
→ Daily Multi (basic)
→ Myco Immune (low resistance)
→ Lactoferrin (low resistance)
→ Longevity Support (low resistance)
→ PEA Complex (autoimmune/allergy)
→ Liposomal Curcumin (Autoimmune/Allergy)
→ Glutathione (autoimmune)
→ Histamine Balance (allergy)
→ Water Kefir (optional)
Developed and clinically substantiated by Stefan Veenstra DVM, integrative veterinarian and founder of NGD Care. For personal guidance: NGD Care consultation →
This bundle is educational in nature and does not replace a veterinary consultation. The Immune Bundle is intended as a supplement to regular veterinary treatment, never as a replacement. Always use in consultation with your veterinarian, especially in case of an established autoimmune disease, severe allergic reaction or use of immunomodulatory medication.
