Yogurt or probiotics...?? - Page 3

Your dog doesn't need to live on a probiotic supplement.  All healthy creatures have good dose of intestinal  flora, however, when we use antibiotics, or if we drink alcohol (obviously our dogs don't, hopefully!) or have a really poor diet, a lot of stress, over time our flora diminishes, this is when we need a boost.
As char said it helps to ward off many problems.  When a body is low in friendly bacteria, it can cause gas, bloating, bad breath, constipation and poor absorption of nutrients.  This is in humans, but I'm sure it causes many problems in dogs also.  So, it is just something to supplement if needed.

    Red Sable,,

           We agree...I was dealing with an issue with Prince's feet a while back and came across some research that suggested that probiotics have been used in dogs with allergies. Prince's problem appears now to have been a bacteria infection and is gone. However, I am not convinced he doesn't have a bit of an allergy to something environmental so I wanted to try a probiotic. I figured it can not hurt to try. Also, I have started to incorporate some canned food into his diet and wanted to avoid any intestinal upset in the process. I am not convinced that Prince needs a probiotic , I just wanted to see what others thought and I enjoy the research too.....


                Deanna.....: )

Hi Deanna, I PM'd you with the questions I sent to my vet and her answers. It should help.
Char

Ours have "EasiYo" yogurt sometimes, because they pester me when I am having some and make me feel awfully guilty if I don't share.  You buy it in a powder form (from health shops/UK shopping channel) and make up a litre at a time.  I give it to them as a treat, not for any beneficial purposes but can't see why if the "live" cultures are supposed to be good for us, why they can't be a bad thing for dogs as well.
Louise.

Hi Deanna,
I emailed my holistic vet. My questions and the answers my vet provided are below. I hope this helps!
Char

Is it true that probiotics are not beneficial because they don't get into the intestines? Many of the bacteria do not make it to the intestine and that's why they use billions of CFU (colony forming units) in the products. The pH of the dogs stomach is more acidic than in humans so even fewer make it to the intestines. There are those made specifically for dogs and the companies have to run simulated testing in that environment to show that they are able to get x cpu to the intestines. There are also products that use a new technology called microspheres. These allow the probiotics to make it with little degradation in the stomach to the intestine. One of these products is called Great Life.

Would you say that every dog should be on probiotics are just those with health issues? Probiotics are good for any dog or cat or person. They aid in digestion and assimulation of nutrients. Most of our food today is sterile because the USDA radiates all meat and vegetables, so there is no live bacteria on our food anymore.

I feed raw, so why is a probiotic still beneficial? It aids in digestion and we need all the nutrients we can get. You cannot control environment, ie herbicides, insecticides, chemicals in the house, etc......electromagnetic radiation, etc.....
Is yogurt of any real benefit or just a good source of protein? Both, but unfortunately most yogurt is now being made with GMO yeast and that is not so good. If possible, make your own.

I know that doctors and vets are now recommending that their patients with allergies, immune issues and recurrent infections take a probiotic? How does it help? the immune system is dependent upon a healthy gut ie intestine and digestive system. If the digestive system is working correctly, the immune system is at a better state.

I give my dogs acidophilus pills that I get at walmart.

alphadogs,  Acidophilus is only one kind of bacteria in the gut so using that alone does very little, if anything.  You might want to read some of the other posts on this thread.
The best,
char

just Rik's opinion, but a dog has a good digestive system or it doesn't. Yogurt and probiotics are for those dog's who do not and the owner looking for a solution.

I place as much emphasis on a good stool as I do hips and character. My dogs drink from mud holes, gobble cow patties and rabbit pills when off leash.

I do not tolerate and never have loose stools in an otherwise healthily dog (no parasites, giardia or cocci).

Rik

   Rik....Prince does not have what I consider loose stool. I would call it a bit softer than normal only with the TOTW and the canned fish....Prince too eats horse patties, cat patties, and rabbit poops lol....None of that seems to bother him, it only bothers me....: )

     I am still considering what the health benefits are of probiotics...thanks for the post.....


         Deanna...: )