Does your Golden have bouts of stomach upset or diarrhea? Is he itching or scratching more than he should? Do you think her skin and coat could be better? Do you want to give his immune system a boost? Perhaps it’s time to add a probiotic to your dog’s food or routine!
Please read to the bottom of this article for an update on the new airborne respiratory disease that is affecting our dogs.
Have you ever taken a probiotic? If you’ve ever eaten yogurt with live cultures, the answer may be yes. The term refers to beneficial or “friendly” gut-dwelling microbes (bacteria and yeasts). There are billions of them in the gastrointestinal system of all animals, and they aid in the digestion of food, fight off potential pathogens, make nutrients and vitamins, and bolster the immune system. The word itself is derived from the Latin word “for” (pro) and the Greek “life” (bio). Probiotics for dogs are a nutritional tool to consider for the health of your best friend.
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that live in your dog’s intestines. Prebiotics are fiber upon which the probiotics feed. Both occur naturally but can be given as supplements or added to your dog’s food.
Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract contains about 70% of their immune system, putting it on the front line for preventing pathogens from accessing the rest of the body. By normalizing the conditions in the digestive system, probiotics allow the immune system to function properly.
Probiotics are safe. Studies for any given product should show that the probiotic does not promote antibiotic resistance in other bacteria and that it is not pathogenic itself.
Severely immunocompromised dogs should only be given probiotics with caution and under veterinary supervision, as their immune systems may not be able to handle the strain of any bacterial load, regardless of its pathogenicity.
Probiotics can be given proactively if you know a stressful event is coming up, such as boarding while you are on vacation or moving. Start giving the probiotics several days in advance so that your dog already has an ideal gastrointestinal tract. You can also give probiotics daily as part of your dog’s long-term health care.
Should I give my dog probiotics? There are numerous benefits to giving your dog probiotics. Healthy stomach bacteria are important for the health of mammals, including you and your dog. Natural dog probiotics support food digestion, vitamin and mineral absorption, and the immune system. Probiotics can even lessen the symptoms of allergies. Research has shown probiotics can help:
· Allergies
· Anxiety
· Bad breath
· Coat quality
· Diarrhea
· Immune disorders
· Intestinal inflammation
· Irritable bowel syndrome
· Liver disease
· Obesity
· Skin disorders
· Urinary tract infections
Dogs undergoing cancer treatment sometimes struggle with stomach health, especially from chemotherapy. This treatment is especially common for dogs with lymphoma. While most dogs receiving this treatment have no side effects, some dogs suffer from loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Probiotics for dogs with cancer can help reduce these side effects. As always, discuss with your vet whether or not to consider adding natural dog probiotics to your best friend’s diet.
We recommend no particular probiotic for your dog…do your homework or check with your vet.
Our vets have directed our families to provide these probiotics for our Rescued Dogs: Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora (powder); Proviable Forte (capsules) ; and Visbiome (capsules)
Information courtesy of:
Cornell University Veterinary Medicine
National Canine Cancer Foundation
Texas A & M Veterinary Medicine
American Kennel Club
