Natural probiotics are beneficial for your dog’s overall state of health. Probiotics are helpful bacteria which can maintain or restore the normal bacterial equilibrium in the digestive tract. Natural probiotics help with intestinal disorders and are recommended if your pet is suffering from digestive problems or after a lengthy antibiotic treatment.
Natural Probiotics for Dogs
Probiotics are necessary for your dog’s health. They are friendly bacteria which help maintain and restore the normal bacterial balance in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. The ‘good bacteria’ help the digestive function and control the ‘bad bacteria’ which can cause infections and a series of other health conditions. The normal percentage of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract should be: 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria. To achieve this ratio, your dog might need probiotics supplements. The most common probiotics are lactic acid bacteria. They help fight a series of harmful bacteria which might enter your dog’s body.
Most natural probiotics may be found in:
- Milk, curdled milk and dairy products: cottage cheese, buttermilk, yogurt
- Sourdough bread
- Fermented vegetables (soybeans, sauerkraut)
Make sure that the food you feed to your dog has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization destroys the bacteria and the food no longer has probiotic effects.
When the Dog Needs Natural Probiotics
It is recommended that you feed your dog natural probiotics on a regular basis. However, there are situations when probiotics supplements are required:
- Gastrointestinal tract inflammation
- Stomach upset, flatulence, bloating
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Stressful situations
- Dietary changes or low fiber diet
- Food allergies or other allergies
- After treatments with antibiotics or steroids
- Bacterial and yeast infections (Candida)
Intestinal disorders are often associated with other diseases such as skin irritations, arthritis or asthma. Natural probiotics supplements can be useful in these situations as well.
Antibiotic treatments cause an imbalance the dog’s intestinal microflora. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you feed your dog natural probiotics during or after the treatment.
Probiotics also help with food intolerance since they facilitate digestion.
Stressful events can result in loss of appetite and weakened immune system. Probiotics help restore the body’s normal functionality after these events.
Beneficial Effects of Natural Probiotics
Natural probiotics help the immune system and favor the absorption of iron, antioxidants and other nutrients in the body. They also produce folic acid, biotin and other vitamin from the B group.
Some types of bacteria contained in natural probiotics can act as a natural antibiotic fighting pathogens such as E.Coli or salmonella. Other friendly bacteria can stimulate the immune system to produce substances meant to reduce inflammation. Probiotic bacteria also help alleviate the symptoms of allergies.
Since these friendly bacteria come from natural sources, you should not worry about any possible side effects.
Probiotics for Puppies
You can feed your puppy natural probiotics. They ease the transition from dog milk to puppy food. Natural probiotics help the development of a healthy digestive system. The friendly bacteria facilitate digestion and increase the nutrient intake, thus stimulating growth.