Our customers frequently come to us because their pet may have gas, diarrhea, and irritable bowels syndrome and/or yeast problems in their pets. After talking with our customers, about these issues, we will a lot of times recommend probiotics as a supplement to reduce or eliminate the problems their pets are having.

There are two types of bacteria found in the intestinal tract, good and harmful bacteria. Probiotics are the good or friendly bacteria needed in the intestinal tract to promote normal bowel health. Probiotics can be put in your pet's food and given for use in intestinal disorders in which specific factors can disturb the normal bacteria population, making your pet more susceptible to disease.

Several things can destroy the intestinal bacterial balance in your pet's gut including surgery, medications (including steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), antibiotics (especially when used long term), birthing, weaning, illness, poor diet, stress, pollutants, and environmental changes can deplete beneficial bacteria.

Your pet's intestinal tract contains billions of bacteria and yeast-some are more helpful then others. With good bacteria like Acidophilus (and other related probiotics), they not only help the digestive tract function, they also reduces the presence of the bad bacteria and yeast by competing with them for the limited space available.

Here are some ways that probiotics can help.
Probiotics
--Produce inhibitory chemicals that reduce the numbers of harmful bacteria and possibly toxin production that is caused by the harmful bacteria.
--May block the adhesion of harmful bacteria to the intestinal cells.
--May compete for nutrients needed for growth and reproduction by harmful bacteria.
--May degrade toxin receptors located on the intestinal cells, preventing toxin absorption and damage by toxins produced by harmful intestinal bacteria.

If your pet needs probiotics it can be found in yogurt and kefir, however many yogurt products contain little to no living organisms. Some pets like these foods and some, not so much. If you pet has a lactose intolerance, he will not be able to tolerate yogurt. Supplements provide the highest doses of probiotics and avoid any lactose intolerance.

If your pet is currently on antibiotics and you want to give him probiotics, probiotics should be given approximately 2 hours later, several times per day and when antibiotic treatment has been completed. I have seen it recommended doubling or tripling probiotics for 7 - 10 days after antibiotic treatment.

Probiotics have been found to be beneficial to treat irritable bowl syndrome, crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and as a preventive towards colon cancer. Probiotics can be beneficial if your pet suffers from yeast infections.

Sometimes you will see the word prebiotics listed on a label. Prebiotics are a supplement that improves health by stimulating the growth and activity of selected intestinal bacteria.

In our store we carry both the probiotics and prebiotics combined with enzymes (which aids in digestion). Feel free to call or come in if you have any questions.

See you soon,


Kristina
 

Back to Library