Probiotics for Dogs: Have We Always Been Wrong???

Probiotics for Dogs: Have We Always Been Wrong???

And did we give the wrong strains for dogs assuming “what works for people works for dogs?”

Over the past decade, Americans have become increasingly familiar with their own “microbiome” and how it affects our immune system, digestion, and overall health. (The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside of us. Although microbes are so small that they require a microscope to see them, they are key pathways to human health and well-being.They protect us against pathogens, help our immune system to develop and allow us to digest food for energy .)

But what about our dogs? We talk about “species-appropriate” foods for dogs, but did you know that there are species-appropriate probiotics for dogs? (Totally different from the ones that work well in our human body) If you feed the wrong “strain” it won’t do anything. So let’s talk about how species-appropriate probiotics benefit our cuddly canines. Probiotics:

* stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut

* support a healthy immune system

* block the colonization of pathogens in the digestive tract

* inhibit the growth of bad bacteria

* produce beneficial metabolites

*Helps good digestion (no GAS!)

REMEMBER: A good balance of probiotics, prebiotics and fiber is ESSENTIAL for good digestion

-A good balance of prebiotics (fuels probiotics) and probiotics, and fiber is CRITICAL for optimal digestive health.

– Poorly digested protein can lead to gas and bloating.

-A proper mix of soluble, insoluble, fermentable and non-fermentable fiber sources can prevent stomach upset

-Stools are heavily impacted by unbalanced fiber sources as well as food digestibility.

Since 2008, we’ve seen the biggest changes in dog food recipes due to supply chain issues. Many dog ​​food companies sell to larger companies (losing control over quality control), or reduce the price or change ingredients without informing the consumer. I can’t tell you how many people I talk to every day (out of the blue on social media) who tell me, “I’ve been feeding XXX for so many years and now my dog ​​is itchy, he smells bad and n don’t like food or vomit or struggle with formed stools (a big deal for those of us who pick up every morsel that comes out – so the less and firmer the better!)

For those struggling to find a dog food company that is still private, doesn’t cheapen their ingredients, and actually improves their food while the rest of the pack declines, I recommend checking out this range of foods I have been trusted for over 24 years. Best news: the food is affordable and you feed LESS than other brands – almost 1/2 – so you SAVE in the end! (I actually met a person who fed 6 cups a day of a “cheap” food when they could give 2 quality/premium food!) As a breeder, I get asked all the time what food I recommend and why. Well, that’s just part of the reason my confidence factor has gone up with this food over the years. Every time the economy changes, they get better. And now we have a LAMB formula too!!!

Here’s how to be a savvy shopper when it comes to looking for probiotic-containing kibble:

Species specific mix

• Most probiotics on the market came from cows as they were intended for use in cows, pigs and chickens.
• The probiotic strains selected for Life’s Abundance foods are ideal for supporting the canine or feline gastrointestinal tract because they are sourced from healthy dogs and cats.
• One strain does not do enough in the gut to provide the full benefits. With both the upper and lower GI to consider, as well as all the different functions of the various probiotics, from absorbing nutrients to moderating the stress response, there is no such thing as a probiotic organism. miracle able to do all the work.

Look for warranty

Here’s a secret: Seeing probiotics listed on a label can give a false sense of security because many times they aren’t guaranteed. Without this guarantee listed in the guaranteed analysis, there is no way of knowing if the probiotics will still be viable when your dog or cat consumes them. The warranty covers the entire shelf life of the product.

THIS TYPE OF INGREDIENT IS IDEAL FOR SENSITIVE STOMACHS, LEAKY BOWEL SYMDROM AND ALLERGIES! (add to that the excellent enzymes needed to properly digest the food eaten!)

So why wouldn’t a brand just go ahead and offer the guarantee, you ask? We can’t speak to anyone’s motivations, but there are a few things to consider:

• Getting live probiotics into dog and cat food is not easy. To ensure their survival, they must be dusted after cooking. This equipment is incredibly specialized and not all manufacturers have it. In the vast majority of cases, probiotics mixed in before cooking will not survive. Yet, they may still appear on the label, which looks appealing to consumers.
• Making a guarantee puts the brand’s reputation on the line with customers and regulators. For Life’s Abundance, when an ingredient is as vital to health as probiotics, we believe it’s important to offer you this guarantee.
• Because a guarantee equals an endorsement, brands wouldn’t want to stand behind lesser quality ingredients.

Don’t (never) forget the fiber

What you might not know is that to be at their best, probiotics need a partner to fuel their health-enhancing adventures. That’s where fiber comes in. “Need more fiber” is a familiar pop culture joke whenever someone finds themselves irregular.
Yet, how many times have you considered this truism for your dog or cat? Even beyond stool quality, prebiotic fibers play an important role:

• Much more than just stool quality, when adequate fermentation of dietary fiber is achieved, fiber feeds probiotics.
• When it comes to fiber blends in pet foods, it’s easy to get it wrong and much, much harder to get it right. Consequences can include gas, digestive upset, poor nutrient absorption, and loose or irregular stools.
• Because dietary fiber is so essential to gut health and plays such a huge role in overall nutrition, Life’s Abundance has put years of work into creating custom blends.
• There is an overwhelming amount of nuance that makes the difference between a passable or decent nutritional outcome and an exceptional nutritional outcome. One of these factors is fiber fermentation. Even poorly fermented fiber can produce what looks like good stool. Life’s Abundance understands these nuances and engages world-renowned experts to improve the quality of the fiber blend.
• ***WARNING, as many dog ​​food formulas add “empty” fiber which is in no way beneficial except to fill out their food which was higher in species-appropriate nutrients and ingredients prior to CHANGING their formula. TIP FOR PET PARENTS: Keep your label off your dog food and check it every year!

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