This article is sponsored content brought to you by Nestle Purina.
Probiotics offer many benefits, but with so many options available, pet owners may not know how to select the best quality and most appropriate one for their pet’s needs.
Let’s take a closer look at the probiotics from PURINA PRO PLAN Veterinary Supplements!
Why are probiotics so important?
The intestinal tract—or gut—is home to trillions of bacteria that can have a huge impact on overall pet health.1 An imbalance in bacterial populations can affect the body’s immune system, lead to digestive disorders, inflammation of the intestines or diarrhoea.2,3 The gut microbiota can even affect brain development and behavior.4
Probiotics are live bacteria that can help to shift gut microbiota toward more beneficial bacterial species, helping maintain an optimal balance.5
How can probiotics help in gastrointestinal issues?
Gastrointestinal tract conditions, such as diarrhoea, are commonly seen in dogs and cats and are often associated with an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. Restoring microbial balance is a key component of the effective management of these conditions. PRO PLAN Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora®, probiotic supplements are recommended by veterinarians worldwide to help reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea in dogs and cats. The benefits also go beyond the dietary management of diarrhoea.
Tapping into those Gut-feelings
There is mounting evidence in scientific literature that manipulation of the gut microbiota can influence anxious behaviour specifically via the gut-brain axis. Thus, probiotic supplementation has potential as an option to help manage symptoms of anxiety in dogs.6 A Purina study on the effects of a strain of Bifidobacterium longum on anxiety in dogs resulted in significantly less anxious behaviours such as barking, jumping, spinning and pacing. Also, 83% of dogs studied had lower levels of cortisol, and 75% had lower heart rates.7 PURINA PRO PLAN Veterinary Supplements Calming Care have proprietary use of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum (BL999). This probiotic strain has shown to help dogs maintain calm behaviour. In a blinded crossover design study, 90% of dogs showed improvement in displaying anxious behaviours (jumping, pacing, and spinning).
To find out how PURINA PRO PLAN Veterinary Supplements can make a difference to your patients, speak to your PURINA Veterinary Consultant or call 1800 738 238
References
1. Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo R. (2016). Revised estimates for number of human and bacteria cells in the body. PL0S Biology, 14(8):e1002533. doi:10.1371//journal.pbio.1002533.
2. Kelly, M. The Role of Probiotics in GI Tract Health, Nestle Purina Petcare, Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diets.
3. Ng, S.C., Hart, A.L., Kamm, M.A., Stagg, A.J., & Knight, S.C. (2009). Mechanisms of action of probiotics: Recent advances. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 15, 300–310. doi:10.1002/ibd.20602
4. Wiley, N.C., Dinan, T.G., Ross, R.P., Stanton, C., Clarke, G., & Cryan, J.F. (2017). The microbiota-gut-brain axis as a key regulator of neural function and the stress response: Implications for human and animal health. Journal of Animal Science, 95, 3225–3246.
5. Sanders, M. E. (2008). Probiotics: Definition, sources, selection, and uses. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 46 (Suppl 2), S58–61. doi: 10.1086/52334.
6. Trudelle-Schwarz McGowan, R. Tapping into those ‘Gut Feelings’: Impact of BL999 (Bifidobacterium longum) on anxiety in dogs. ACVB Symposium 2018.
7. McGowan, R. T. S. (2016). “Oiling the brain” or “Cultivating the gut”: Impact of diet on anxious behaviour in dogs. Proceedings of the Nestlé Purina Companion Animal Nutrition Summit, March 31-April 2, Florida, 91-97.
