Probiotics Help to Maintain Intestinal Balance and Immune Health

Most breeders have at one time or other had dogs with loose stools or diarrhea. Even puppies can have soft stools. Not surprisingly, intestinal problems are one of the most common reasons for veterinary visits. Nutritional scientists at Purina studied the effects of a probiotic, or live beneficial bacteria, known as Enterococcus faecium SF68 to determine whether it would help to restore intestinal balance in dogs. Already research in livestock and humans had proved the benefits of probiotics. Purina Research Nutritionist Gail Czarnecki-Maulden, Ph.D., explains what leads to intestinal upset. "More than 1 billion bacteria are contained in one teaspoon of stool," she says. "These bacteria, otherwise known as microflora or microbiota, are essential for a healthy, stable intestinal tract and healthy immune system. Beneficial bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, lacto­bacilli and many species of enterococci, provide nutrients for intestinal cells, promote absorption of nutrients, and create a healthy intestinal environment and immune system that is primed and ready to fight potential pathogens." The intestinal microbiome, or the community of microflora residing in the intestinal tract, consists of a balance of beneficial and potentially harmful microflora. This microbiome is established early in life during puppyhood. Disruption of the microbiome can result in intestinal upset or diarrhea. More subtle signs of intestinal upset include poor skin and coat quality, development of inflammatory conditions, susceptibility to infections and failure to thrive. "Stress, travel, aging, environmental changes and even long-term antibiotic therapy can disturb the balance of microflora within the microbiome," Czarnecki-Maulden says. "Probiotics help to restore and maintain microflora balance during these times of stress." Probiotics, or live active cultures, have proved to be effective in humans and livestock. Specifically, numerous studies had shown the benefits of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68 in humans and livestock. Physicians prescribe probiotics to help establish a healthy microflora balance in infants, treat acute and chronic diarrhea, and prevent traveler's diarrhea and diarrhea associated with long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Probiotic use is linked to decreased allergies and atopic dermatitis in infants and fewer sick days in both infants and adults. Livestock consuming probiotics have better fecal quality and reduced mortality, and SF68 helped to decrease severity and duration of diarrhea and reduced pathogen shedding. Probiotic Trials in Dogs Few studies had evaluated probiotic efficacy in dogs. Purina conducted three studies to evaluate the benefits of Enterococcus faecium SF68 in dogs. In the first study, healthy Beagle, Labrador Retriever and Manchester Terrier puppies were fed either a control diet or the control diet supplemented with SF68. The diets were fed from weaning to 1 year of age. "We found that puppies fed SF68 had better fecal quality than puppies fed only the control food," Czarnecki-Maulden says. "When compared to the control puppies, the puppies fed the probiotic also maintained their vaccination titers longer and had higher levels of secretary IgA, an antibody found in secretions that plays a critical role in immunity." In a second study of elderly Beagles fed SF68 for six months, the hounds maintained higher fecal IgA than elderly Beagles fed a control diet. "Enhancement of IgA in this study indicates that ingestion of SF68 primes the immune system to respond quickly and effectively to external challenges," she says. Early probiotic supplementation was evaluated in the third study of Miniature Schnazuer, Shih Tzu and Labrador Retriever puppies. The dogs were fed either a control food or the control diet supplemented with SF68 from weaning to 1 year of age. Fecal concentration of beneficial bacteria — bifidobacteria and lactobacilli — was higher in puppies supplemented with SF68. "These pups had more stable micro­flora patterns than puppies fed the control food," says Czarnecki-Maulden. "This was reflected in better fecal quality throughout growth." The three studies indicate that supplementation of Enterococcus faecium SF68 promotes intestinal health and balance in both growing puppies and adult dogs. "We now know that the probiotic E. faecium SF68 can help promote a stable, healthy microflora balance and a healthy immune system in dogs," Czarnecki-Maulden says. Sidebar Fortiflora Offers a Nutritional Supplement for Dogs with Diarrhea Purina Veterinary Diets® Fortiflora® brand canine nutritional supplement, which is available exclusively from veterinarians, provides dietary management of dogs with diarrhea. The nutritional supplement is particularly helpful in treating dogs experiencing: • Stressful situations such as boarding or change in home environment; • Diet change or consumption of inappropriate foods; • Soft stools in puppies; and • Antibiotic therapy. Introduced in 2006, Fortiflora contains Enterococcus faecium SF68, a live beneficial probiotic, or bacteria, which has been shown to promote intestinal health and balance. Fortiflora helps to restore intestinal balance in dogs. SF68 works by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria and helping to protect the intestine from harmful bacteria and patho­gens. The intestinal tract of dogs is home to thousands of different types of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. In a healthy dog, these bacteria are in balance, and the beneficial bacteria help to protect the intestine from harmful bacteria. In dogs with diarrhea, the normal balance of bacteria in the intestine is upset, often contributing to the problem and prolonging the recovery period. Fortiflora with SF68 offers a way to re-establish normal intestinal balance and also promote a healthy immune system.