Vet’s advice
That’s a question! You may have opened a veritable can of worms. Dogs begin life with a sterile intestinal system, but very quickly this becomes colonised by bacteria that collectively form the ‘microbiome’; an army of microorganisms that are essential for health and life, as they protect against pathogenic bacteria and are involved in digestion, the immune system and vitamin production. The canine small intestine can contain up to 700 different strains of bacteria, while the large bowel may be colonised by up to 5,000. Although each individual has a unique microbiome, a relatively small number of common bacterial groups are generally involved. The theory is that changes in the normal microbiome can cause gastrointestinal disease.
“Probiotics probably work but the market is largely unregulated ”
What are probiotics?
Indeed! What are they? They are supposed to be products that contain ‘healthy bacteria’ in a form that makes them supportive of the normal microbiome. But are they?
Probiotics have been under scrutiny in the EU since 2007 and few products have been approved because of a general lack of proof of efficacy. Since the term ‘probiotic’ implies a health benefit, its use has been banned by the EU since 2012. In the US, probiotics are classed as nutritional supplements (they help normal function as opposed to treating or preventing disease), so they undergo little regulation. Numerous studies have found poor packaging, misspelling of the names of microorganisms, misleading claims for numbers and types of bacteria and a lack of evidence for shelf-life viability. To sum up, probiotics must be:
Purchased from a reputable source Based on product efficacy research Safe (no viruses or transmissible bacteria) Able to survive passage through the gut Stable during storage
Labelled with actual microbial content Possess a guaranteed analysis of shelf-life viability
Proven to actually work
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• Do they work?
Well, maybe. Some people swear by them. But then they might also believe in Santa Claus. However, studies in humans have indicated the potential for treating gastrointestinal disease, while research in humans, dogs and cats has shown that individuals suffering from acute diarrhoea