The next generation of probiotics for dogs and cats
Biologically appropriate probiotics factor in the specific needs of our animal companions.
When I first started treating animals for leaky gut syndrome in my holistic veterinary hospital, almost 20 years ago, doctors, veterinarians and others thought I was ridiculous. Luckily, I have learned from experience that if someone looks at me like I’m crazy, I know it means I’m on the right track! Currently, I’m very excited about a landmark study I’m immersed in: the new generation of probiotics specifically researched and developed for animals.
Most dog and cat parents are overwhelmed by the number of probiotics out there. As a result, many are falling prey to a multibillion dollar industry that’s more concerned with getting a product to market than with gut health as the multifaceted ecosystem it is. Until a few years ago, the probiotics we gave to animals were in fact human probiotics, meaning they were never tested to see if they remained viable in the species they were consumed by. All species have a different gut pH balance, so if bacteria cannot thrive in that environment, the probiotic is not only a waste but can actually be harmful.
The facts
- Over 80% of the immune system lives in the gut.
- A normal digestive tract contains both “good” and “bad” (pathogenic) bacteria.
- Digestive or intestinal upsets, as well as many diseases or conditions, can result in the digestive tract becoming “unbalanced” — when pathogenic bacteria take over the environment, overwhelming the “good guys” and creating poor gut health.
- The overuse of drugs, especially antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and steroids, as well as over-vaccination, processed food, stress, grains, beans, etc., can damage the gut environment.
- An imbalanced gut can result in reduced digestion and vitamin production, as well as malnutrition, no matter how amazing the food is.
- A poor microbiome can result in a weakened immune system.
Biologically appropriate probiotics
Doesn’t it make sense that our companion animals be given probiotics developed with their specific needs in mind? This is the project I’ve been working on — the next generation of probiotics for your dog and cat (and horse). For the last four years, I’ve been working with a highly skilled, diversified team to find biologically appropriate probiotics for our animal companions.
I want to make it really easy for you to find the best probiotics for your companion animals. So when searching through the sea of products, make sure you find one with the following two key attributes. This will ensure your animal is getting a probiotic that will remain viable in his gut, and deliver all the benefits these friendly bacteria have to offer!
- Isolated from species-specific origin — collected from the feces of a healthy animal (i.e. from dogs, for dogs)
- Proven through research to survive gastric acid digestion – the probiotics actually get to where they need to be.
Finding the best probiotic for your dog or cat is imperative to his health and longevity. The next generation of probiotics fits the bill.
