This entry was posted on 2020-06-11 by Pet Heaven Store.

Pets often eat all sorts of rubbish they shouldn't. And why do they do this? A very good question with often no answer! It almost seems that the grosser and more rotten the substance, the better and apparently tastier. Very rarely are they lacking some sort of nutrient, especially if they are fed a good quality diet. And most times we don't even see them sneak something into their mouths at all. What we notice is the upset, grumbling tummy later on that night with possible vomiting and diarrhoea!

And not all dogs that have diarrhoea feel sick! Some are alert, bright and active and seem completely normal except for either the incident in the house or constantly wanting to go outside! Sometimes one can even confuse this with a bladder infection.

So what does one do when your ‘not so sick dog or cat’, has diarrhoea? Rush off to the vet? Wait? If so, how long does one wait?

The advice I generally give is; if you suspect your adult dog or cat ate something it shouldn't have and seems healthy otherwise, give probiotics a chance. By healthy I mean active, eating well and does not seem in pain. The diarrhoea will run its course and probiotics will help the 'good' bacteria resolve the problem quicker. I would generally however be very cautious with puppies and kittens as they can dehydrate quickly and viral infections can become serious very quickly.

So what are probiotics and how do they work? And how do they differ from prebiotics?

Probiotics are generally live bacteria that, when consumed in adequate amounts, have a good effect on the body, mainly in the digestive tract. They are bacteria that restore or improve the gut microflora. Lots, but not all of our evidence is however based on ongoing human research, as the studies done on dogs are smaller and limited. We know that long-term antibiotics or inflammation can disrupt the gut microflora.

Probiotics are usually taken in the form of supplements or by eating yogurt. Yogurt however has much lower numbers of bacteria than supplements .

Bacteria that one might find in probiotics include different species from the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus. These bacteria occur in different parts of the digestive tract.

How do they work?

These 'good' bacteria produce short chain fatty acids in the digestive tract which inhibit the overgrowth of harmful bacteria that cause disruption, upset and inflammation resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea. Harmful bacteria include, amongst others, E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium.

It is important to administer probiotics alive and therefore according to the manufacturer's recommendations and take note of the expiry date. Most probiotics are in fact freeze dried and may require certain storage conditions such as keeping them in the fridge or sealed to prevent moisture getting into them. It is often better to dose probiotics with food or liquid to improve their benefit.

Probiotics can be taken for short or long-term situations. And although it is difficult to measure their benefit acutely, one may notice their benefit better long-term.

Probiotics vs Prebiotics ?

Prebiotics are different from probiotics in the fact that they are non-digestible foodstuffs that promote the growth of these beneficial, good, probiotics. In other words they are food for probiotics. Prebiotics are derived from fruit, vegetables and whole grains. One would supplement a prebiotic by choosing the right food or a specific product that contains it.

When are probiotics helpful and should be considered?

Below are a few examples where they would be considered beneficial:

● Acute diarrhoea when your adult pet is otherwise healthy and eating. This is especially true in multi-pet households, when one does not even know which animal has the diarrhoea.
● Excessive flatulence or farting
● When your pet has a very sensitive tummy. Pet owners know who they are!
● When your pet has a chronic disease diagnosed by your vet such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhoea
● When your pet has been put on antibiotics by your vet
● When your pet has allergies. But be sure to tell your vet if your pet is already on a special hypoallergenic food
● Newborn puppies and kittens especially if delivered via cesarean section, to establish a healthy intestinal microflora as soon as possible
● In any stressful situation such as changes in diet, environment, vet visits or surgeries and transportation

A probiotic product that one may want to consider includes Protexin Soluble which is a palatable 7-strain probiotic powder that can safely be given to all animals including pregnant and lactating animals.

A prebiotic product that one may consider buying includes Diomec Plus, a tasteless nutritional paste that contains Diosmectite (an activated natural aluminosilicate clay), Prebiotics, L-Glutamine, Dextrose and Electrolytes.

Examples where probiotics and prebiotics are in one paste include Pro-kolin and Canigest.