If you're a pet owner, you understand the joy a companion animal brings to your life. Of course, you want the best for your pets. In many ways, dogs and cats are a lot like us. They suffer from some of the same health issues that humans do, including arthritis, cancer, obesity and diseases of the heart, digestive tract, liver and kidneys, and they're also prone to digestive issues.

As any pet owner who's come home to “surprises” left on the carpet can attest to, dogs and cats can have temperamental digestive tracts. And we’ve all heard stories about the dog that sneaks snacks from a low-lying garbage can. Additionally, humans have a tendency to indulge pets with treats or leftovers from the dinner table and not surprisingly, a dog or cat's digestive tract can get out of balance very quickly.

Like humans, the digestive tract of dogs and cats is home to many diverse bacteria, some of which are beneficial. In the best of all possible worlds, a dog or cat has enough good bacteria to protect them from unfriendly invaders like harmful bacteria and parasites. Unfortunately, this balance can break down especially if your pet eats the wrong thing, takes antibiotics or is exposed to a stressor like boarding in a kennel. Even chemicals found in the water that your pet drinks can affect the balance of good bacteria in their guts. Imbalances in an animal's gut flora can result in a number of intestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting or constipation.

MAINTAINING A HEALTHY BALANCE

Some veterinarians recommend probiotic supplements for dogs and cats that have taken antibiotics to help restore a healthier intestinal balance. Taking antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, is a common cause of diarrhea in animals. Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infection, but they also destroy the gut-friendly ones too! When good bacteria are wiped out, pets become more susceptible to infections. One species of gut bacteria called Lactobacillus acidophilus is a common bacteria naturally found in the guts of dogs and cats. This species of bacteria plays a role in maintaining healthy digestive function and supports a healthy immune system. As with humans, a significant portion (about 70%) of a dog or cat's immune system lies in their gut, so keeping a pet's gut healthy may help support immune health as well.

Some animal shelters routinely give shelter dogs probiotic supplements to support their digestive health when transitioning them to a new environment.

Dogs and cats aren't the only animals that may benefit from probiotic support. Probiotic supplements with Lactobacillus acidophilus have been shown to help horses break down and absorb nutrients while helping to maintain a balanced digestive tract.

PROBIOTICS SPECIFICALLY FORMULATED FOR ANIMALS

When choosing a probiotic supplement for your pets make sure you're choosing a quality one. Natren offers a unique gel based probiotic formulated specifically for dogs, cats and horses – CANINEDOPHILUS, FELINEDOPHILUS and EQUIFLORA, designed under the direction of a German veterinarian. The gel formula makes it easier to apply directly into an animal's mouth. GASTRO VEGI-DOPHILUS is a powdered pet probotic that can be easily stirred into the food or water of dogs, cats, birds, horses and even farm animals.

With Natren probiotics, your pets are getting live bacteria manufactured in a facility that abides by medicinal food grade Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). To maintain potency and ensure the bacteria you give to your pets are viable, Natren stores their probiotics in nitrogen flushed, air-tight, amber glass bottles so the bacteria aren't broken down by moisture and light. Natren also offers powdered options that mix easily with food and probiotic syringes that you can place directly into your pet's mouth. Natren probiotics are easy to administer to all of your animals. Your pets enjoy the benefits of a healthier balance of gut bacteria and you get the reassurance of knowing you're giving your pets the best probiotic available.

NATASHA'S HEALTH TIP

“Pets can benefit from probiotics too! Do you know that cats, dogs, even our backyard chickens have many of the same bacteria as we do? Research has shown that L. acidophilus based probiotics can be just as beneficial to our pets’ digestive and immune health as they are to our own.”