Probiotics for dogs and cats: A natural way to treat canine and feline diarrhea

Probiotic products can be used to treat diarrhea in dogs and cats.

Probiotics are beneficial nonpathogenic bacteria, or "good" bacteria, which colonize and multiply in the intestinal tract of dogs, cats and other animals, including people.

Probiotics in people

People have benefited from probiotic bacteria present in products such as yogurt, cheese and buttermilk for a long time. Even Jamie Lee Curtis, the famous actress, is frequently seen in television advertisements speaking about the benefits of Activia® yogurt. Activia® is one of the more commonly known human probiotic products.

Probiotics in dogs and cats

Is Activia® a good choice for dogs and cats? In truth, it may have some beneficial effects. However, the bacteria which florish in the intestinal tract appear to be species-specific, which means that dogs have different "good bacteria" than people do. The normal microflora in the cat intestine is also different than that of the dog or human.

The good news is that there are a number of probiotic products which are produced specifically for dogs and cats. Two of the most common canine and feline probiotic products include Fortiflora® and Prostora®. These products are likely to be more effective for pets than human products such as Activia®.

What can probiotics be used for in dogs and cats?

Probiotics have a number of uses in dogs and cats. They are successfully being used to aid in the resolution of diarrhea resulting from:

• stress
• dietary indiscretion or dietary intolerance (i.e. eating something which causes an "upset stomach")
• intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, Giardia)
• intestinal bacterial infection (Salmonella, E. coli)
• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

What are the advantages of probiotics over other treatments?

In cases of diarrhea resulting from any cause, overgrowth of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria can occur within the intestinal tract of the dog or cat. For this reason, antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl®) are often used to treat diarrhea, particularly in the dog. However, these antibiotics can have undesirable side effects.

Probiotics offer a natural, more holistic approach to the treatment of diarrhea, particularly in uncomplicated cases of acute diarrhea. Probiotics do not have side effects and are extremely safe. They offer pet owners a gentle and effective way to speed up their pet's recovery in cases of diarrhea. In addition, probiotics have also been shown to have beneficial effects on other organ systems, such as the immune system and even the skin.

Of course, cases of diarrhea which do not respond to probiotic usage should be examined by their veterinarian. In addition, if the pet is suffering from severe diarrhea, is vomiting, inappetant, or dehydrated, a veterinarian should be consulted. These pets may need more aggressive care than a probiotic may be able to provide.

For more information about probiotics:

• Probiotics to Treat Diarrhea in Dogs and Cats: Feeding Bifidobacterium & Lactobacillus Bacteria for Acute Diarrhea
  
• Probiotics in Dogs and Cats: A Natural, Holistic Approach to Intestinal Disease

The copyright of the article Probiotics for dogs and cats: A natural way to treat canine and feline diarrhea is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Probiotics for dogs and cats: A natural way to treat canine and feline diarrhea in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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