Probiotic refers to beneficial or âfriendlyâ 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.
If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or related issues or seems to get sick often, your vet may suggest using one of the methods:
- Prebiotics are nutrients that are designed to nourish and promote the growth of good bacteria that are already living in the colon.
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Probiotics, also referred to as âdirect-fed microbialsâ by the pet-food regulatory body AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).
These products come in several different forms, including:
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Yogurt or kefir with live cultures. (Not all yogurt cultures are created equal. Some were used for the manufacture of the product, but are not probiotics. Only offer unsweetened, plain yogurt, and avoid artificial sweeteners.)
- Powders
- Capsules
- Chews
- Dog foods
These products usually contain kinds of bacteria normally found in the canine gut, such as:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Enterococcus faecium
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus casei
- Bifidobacterium breve
You might consider giving your healthy dog a probiotic if he is prone to developing diarrhea in stressful situations. For example, if you are planning to take your dog to a show or to board the dog, it may make sense to give probiotics a few days in advance. Also, puppies who tend to get diarrhea after training classes of visits to the vet, for example, might benefit from a few days of probiotics in preparation for the stressful event.
How To Care for a Probiotic Product
- List of specific probiotics in the product, including strain identification. Dr. Czarnecki-Maulden points out that there are several strains of bacteria, and each does something different. She cites a study in which scientists examined live microbesâLactobacillus acidophilusâextracted from dog feces. On 97 strains, only 17 had probiotic activity, but they were not all the same. Some showed anti-inflammatory activity, while others were immune stimulants. She points out that more strains or different forms of bacteria are not necessarily better in probiotics, because they may work against one another. Of the studies conducted on how well probiotics work, she says, most have been done with single strains.
- Guaranteed analysis of how many live bacteria there will be at the end of the shelf life. Some companies may say how many live bacteria are in the product at the point of manufacture, but by the time you purchase the product, all the probiotics may have died.
- Use-before date.
When Are Probiotics Used?
Probiotics are most often prescribed for maintaining a âdesirable intestinal microbial balance,â according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. When an animal is stressed or sick, the balance between the healthy and disease-causing microbes may be disrupted. This can lead to diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bad breath.
Some of the triggers for such digestive disorders include:
- Infection or bacterial imbalance
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Stress: As in humans, changes that cause emotional stress, such as boarding, moving, or losing a home, can result in colitis. Thatâs one reason why many dogs in shelters suffer from diarrhea. Some studies have suggested that probiotics work as well as antibiotics in clearing up diarrhea in shelter dogs.
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Diet: This can include abrupt changes in the menu or eating food that is spoiled or that just doesnât agree with the dog.
- Old age
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Medications: Antibiotics and long-term steroids are known culprits in causing diarrhea by killing good bacteria.
- Parasites
Do Probiotics Work?
Anecdotal evidenceâstories of individual successâexists to support the effectiveness of probiotics and some veterinarians swear by them. There are some scientific studies on the health benefits of probiotics in humans or in animals, as well, and in enhancing immune responses in growing dogs.
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