Promote the Probiotics for Life
The term probiotics refers to the beneficial or friendly bacteria in the digestive tract, specifically in your dog. These bacteria help to keep the harmful bacteria under control. Frequently, their role in the maintenance of normal functions within the digestive tract and immune system are minimized. Usually, the digestive tract within the dog is the first line of defense for the body and it must be functioning at optimal health so that the canine is able to have a healthy immune response. Microflora living inside the gut might be divided into three major areas: neutral, potentially damaging, and beneficial. In the beneficial category, mostly it is lactobacilli and bifidobacteria (acidophilus and bifidus). These microflora provide a source of fuel for the cells lining the gut. Then the intestinal cells are strengthened and nutrient absorption is enhanced. These helpful bacteria are able to prevent the attachment of harmful pathogens to the wall of the intestines.
The normal level of helpful microflora might be upset by a number of factors including travel, stress, aging, long-term use of antibiotics contribute to unbalancing the intestinal tract in your canine. Probiotics are able to help re-balance the dog’s system.
A probiotic can help to eliminate digestive problems in your dog by increasing the population of friendly bacteria. They are what the body uses to regulate hormone levels, reduce food intolerance, reduce inflammation, assist absorption of nutrients, iron, and antioxidants, and increase digestibility of food. Generally, the acidophilus and bifidobacteria aid in mucosal conditioning. Other important functions of probiotics within the digestive system of dogs include the production of important enzymes, containment of pathological microorganisms, and protection against the formation of cancerous substances.
One reason that probiotics have moved into our nutritional vocabulary is all of the positive attention they have received for helping to heal damage done by taking antibiotics. Often, the prescribed, broad-spectrum antibiotic will not only destroy the pathogenic bacteria that caused the problem, but the healthy bacteria as well.
This explains why antibiotic drugs cause side effects in your dog, some only short term and others are long term. Side effects may include gastrointestinal upset, impaired digestion, yeast infections, lowered immunities, fungal infections, and potentially immunity to antibiotics or development of a resistant bacterial infection. This same phenomenon happens with people.
Normal levels of lactobacilli in your canine’s intestines boost absorption of phosphorus, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Adding acidophilus to your canine’s diet allows for absorption of B vitamins, folic acid, and biotin.
You may supplement your dog’s diet with probiotics in response to stress, aging, environmental changes, or long term antibiotic therapy. At birth, probiotics benefit the puppy, providing him with healthy bacteria in his system. At the time of weaning, when the puppy’s digestive system is still not completely developed, probiotics play a positive role.
As your dog ages, digestion may slow within his system and the gastrointestinal juices do not flow as well. Probiotics may help indigestion and reduce inflammation due to irritable bowel syndrome.
Because probiotics are live cultures, they are most stable when under refrigeration. Some probiotics also contain dairy ingredients and many dogs are lactose intolerant. It is best to use a non-dairy version.
Probiotics are available in a variety of strengths. Keep it simple! Locate the most basic product and try to look for one made specifically for a dog. Then, dosage will not become a problem.
Check with your veterinarian if you have questions. Initially you may need to begin the probiotics by “loading” the dog, and then reducing the dosage to two to three times per week for a determined amount of time.
Good things come in small packages. Beneficial bacteria might be microscopic but they can have a huge impact on the health of your dog’s immune system. Continue to monitor the way that the probiotics interact with your pet. And, you may be wise to use it on a daily basis for the first couple of weeks, and then reduce the dosage to twice to three times per week.
