The idea that gut health can affect the long-term health of your dog or cat is newly emerging in veterinary care. For this reason, probiotic supplementation is quickly gaining recognition as effective and natural gastrointestinal and immune system support for pets with almost miracle effects.
At birth, your pet's gut is sterile, and from birth on, the digestive tract of our animals undergoes colonization by an amazingly diverse array of microbes (bacteria), which becomes the base gastrointestinal (GI) flora. Depending on genetics, diet, and other factors, this microflora base can be favorable or problematic for overall health. Problematic GI flora results in a lifetime of inadequate to poor health.
3 Things You Need To Know About Pet GI Health
Yes, the early days of life are extremely important in establishing this healthy gastrointestinal flora base, but its important to note that the base is not staticdiet, stress, lifestyle, and other factors can change the balance of the gut flora during a lifetime. Here are 3 key things you need to understand about gut health that will give you the power to affect your pet's health in a positive way.
1. UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF HEALTHY BACTERIA IN YOUR PET
For your pet to have a healthy base of GI flora, the gut has to be predominantly colonized (inhabited) by what are known as health bacteria. These are the microbes that are known to produce beneficial effects for your pet's body. For example these bacterial do the following:
2. THE GUT-IMMUNE CONNECTION AS A FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF GOOD HEALTH
It is said that 80% of your pet's immunity is established in the gut, specifically the gut mucosal system, which strengthens the lining of the gut and helps to produce defenders (antibodies) against pathogens. This is especially beneficial when we consider that some of the most common ailments that pets suffer from are immune related, such as food allergies and inflammatory conditions (IBS, SBO, skin conditions, diarrhea, etc). This improved gut lining foundation would make a pet much less susceptible to these problems.
3. PROBIOTICS ARE THE BEST WAY TO ESTABLISH A HEALTHY BASE OF GI FLORA
Probiotics are healthy bacteria. By now, most people know that the word "probiotic" literally means pro-life. Probiotics have been classified as such due to studies showing their properties and functions within the body. The best probiotics for pets are the ones that actually contain species that are found in pets (as opposed to human formulations). PROBIOTIC MIRACLE® is a sophisticated formula that was designed specifically for your pet.
7 Activities of Probiotics:
- Facilitates the absorption of minerals
- Digests certain sugars and proteins
- Prevents yeast overgrowth
- Manufactures vitamins
- Competes against pathogenic microbes (harmful bacteria) for colonization
- Strengthens the lining of the gut to help block dangerous pathogens, toxins, and allergens
- Stimulates immune system by increasing T-cells, producing natural antibiotics and antifungals
The science behind Probiotic Miracle® makes it a unique fit for animals and the ideal supplement to support a healthy gut. It is very important to establish a healthy gut early in your pets life, but dont fret if you didnt. Its never too late to start. Get your pet on the path to long-term wellness with probiotics now (especially if they have any gut issues, or problems with allergies). They will be much stronger for it.
Cites and References
Mucosal immunity and chronic idiopathic enteropathies in dogs. Fogle JE, Bissett SA Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2007 May;29(5):290-302; quiz 306. Review.
Vet Microbiol. 2009 Oct 20;139(1-2):106-12. Epub 2009 May 19. Portrait of a canine probiotic Bifidobacterium-from gut to guy. A dynamic partnership: celebrating our gut flora. Anaerobe 11 (5): 24751. doi:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2005.05.001 Björkstén B, Sepp E, Julge K, Voor T, Mikelsaar M
Allergy development and the intestinal microflora during the first year of life. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 108 (4): 51620. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.118130 Guarner F, Malagelada JR
Gut flora in health and disease Lancet 361 (9356): 5129. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12489-0. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2012 Apr 15;146(2):185-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.02.013.
Epub 2012 Mar 1. Early exposure to probiotics in a canine model of atopic dermatitis has long-term clinical and immunological effects. R, Santoro D, Ahrens K.