Understanding Probiotics
In humans, the benefits of regularly taking probiotics (beneficial or friendly bacteria) are widely known. The good news is that probiotics are also available for dogs and cats to help manage digestive upsets caused by an imbalance in the gut flora (bacteria).
What Causes an Imbalance in Gut Bacteria
The gut is full of good and bad bacteria . It is normal to have both and the aim is to maintain an optimal balance. An imbalance can occur due to illness, stress, antibiotic therapy or dietary changes and can lead to digestive upsets such as diarrhoea, poor stool quality or excess gas.
Feeding a sachet of FortiFlora daily provides billions of friendly bacteria to help keep your pet's gut healthy but there are some situations when a probiotic can be particularly beneficial:
- At weaning and when going to a new home.
- Potentially stressful situations such as travelling, being hospitalised or going into a kennels/cattery.
- When taking antibiotics or changing diets.
- In pets with digestive upsets or soft stools.
Not All Probiotics are the Same
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Canine and Feline FortiFlora are highly palatable probiotic supplements formulated for cats and dogs of all ages, including kittens and puppies, that contain a strain of beneficial lactic acid bacteria called SF68. SF68 has been scientifically proven to help support normal intestinal health and balance, including helping increase levels of beneficial bacteria, decrease levels of potentially harmful bacteria and improve stool quality. Studies have shown it can minimise naturally occurring diarrhoea and promote healthy immune function.
The SF68 in FortiFlora has undergone a proprietary encapsulation process to protect the bacteria and assures that they remain alive and are released in the intestine in their active form.