Be a Pro At Gut Health for Your Pet
By Brooke Sloate
Probiotics
are well known as a primary supplement to promote a healthy balance of
bacteria in the intestinal tract, and have been linked to a wide range of
health benefits. There’s also a wide variety of probiotics and knowing
which ones are most beneficial for our specific needs is important.
In
another article, called GI Wish I Felt Better, we talked about how good gut health
is as important for our pets as it is for us. Let’s look a little more closely
at which probiotics are best for our pets.
Probiotics,
such as Bacillus and Lactobacillus, are live microorganisms that are dehydrated
and dormant. Once they’re exposed to
moisture, they start to live and come out of their dormant state, that’s when
the clock starts ticking. These microorganisms have a short life span (from
days to weeks generally), so packaging is critical to ensure these
microorganisms don’t get exposed to moisture.
For
this reason, these probiotics for pets should be packaged in a way that keeps
them from being exposed to moisture (such as a capsule packaged in a blister
pack, or individual foil-lined stick packs). This ensures that the last dose is
as effective as the first dose. If the probiotics come in a jar, each time that
jar is opened, the microorganisms are exposed to moisture. The first few doses
of the product would be just fine, but those at the bottom of the jar would
most likely be dead and not effective.
I
thought probiotics had to be refrigerated.
Refrigerating
is necessary once the microorganisms have been exposed to moisture, as it slows
down their metabolism and minimizes the growth of bacteria. If your pet’s dose
of a capsulated probiotic is half a capsule, you should open the capsule, pour
half of it on their food, reclose the capsule and store the other half in the
refrigerator (the same for an opened stick pack).
What
is the best way to give my pet capsulated probiotics?
Even
if you’re dosing a whole capsule, your pet will benefit more if you open the
capsule and sprinkle it on the food as opposed to pilling him, as he will get
the immediate benefit of the amylase beginning the digestive process by breaking
down starches in his mouth, as he chews the food.
How
are the probiotics processed for gut health?
When
a dog or cat is given probiotics, they go through their stomach and pass into
their colon, protecting their gut with good bacteria. A super high level of 12
Billion colony forming units are recommended. This refers to the minimum number
of alive and viable bacteria cells.
Isn’t
bacteria bad?
No,
probiotics refers to the “good” bacteria, as opposed to the “bad” bacteria like
salmonella and e-coli which cause intestinal issues such as abdominal pain, diarrhea
and gas. Good bacteria have a tremendous effect on the immune system. They use
up anything that hasn’t been broken down and absorbed in the small intestine.
The good bacteria keep the bad bacteria under control and prevent the
overgrowth of pathogens. They also produce beneficial vitamins like Biotin and
Vitamin K.
What
about PREbiotics?
Prebiotics
are long-chain sugars that don’t get digested in the stomach like regular
sugar. The prebiotics continue down the GI tract to the colon where they are
used as nutrients for the good bacteria or probiotics. Their purpose is to feed the probiotics.
At
pawTree® we are committed to providing pet parents with a line of premium
products to help pets thrive. Look for products from pawTree that include the
recommended ingredients listed above, including our propriety product, Gastro
Pro Plus for both dogs and cats, developed by veterinarians and animal
nutritionists. It provides a premium digestive health solution for pets. In
comparison, pawTree’s Gastro Pro Plus contains 100 times more colony forming
units than probiotics sold in vet’s offices, as well as digestive enzymes,
prebiotics and herbs.
About
Brooke…
Brooke
Sloate, Director of Product Development at pawTree LLC, is passionate about
solving problems for pets and creating products that truly make a difference to
pet parents.
With
over 20 years of experience in the pet industry working for a variety of pet
companies prior to pawTree®, including Nature's Variety®, Hill’s®, Mars®, Petmate®,
Applica® and Sergeant's®, Brooke has developed a wide range of innovative pet
products including pet food, treats, and pet accessories.
Brooke
loves pets! She enjoys the unconditional love of her family of Shih Tzus and
responds by spoiling them every chance she gets!
TAGS:
Gastro
Pro Plus