Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs & Cats: Enhancing Gut H

Can Probiotics Be Consumed with Food?

Yes, probiotics can be taken alongside food. They are resilient to stomach acid and bile salts, allowing the active probiotics to survive the journey through the digestive tract along with your meal. They won't be destroyed en route and will reach the intestines where they are needed most.

Can Human Probiotics Be Given to Cats?

No, it's not advisable to give human probiotics to cats. Human intestines host a vast array of around 400 different types of bacteria, totaling about 10 trillion in number. Cats, on the other hand, have a significantly smaller number of intestinal bacteria, so human probiotics are not suitable for them.

Why Do Cats Experience Diarrhea or Soft Stools When Switching Foods?

Most cats, excluding the common street cat, are the result of inbreeding to maintain pure bloodlines, which often leads to numerous genetic defects. This is why many cats suffer diarrhea when changing their food. Cats do not absorb proteins directly; instead, they require digestive enzymes to break down proteins before absorption. These enzymes have an adaptation period, so when a cat switches to a new type of food, the intestinal bacteria are unaccustomed to it, leading to a "battle" within the gut, which often results in diarrhea. Probiotics can help stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, aiding the bacteria in adapting to the new food. This process can take up to 1520 days, so diarrhea upon changing food is quite normal.

Why Don't Cats Experience Diarrhea When Switching to Domestic Cat Food?

Many cats do not suffer diarrhea when switching to domestic cat food, unlike with imported brands. This is because domestic cat food, often made with lowerquality ingredients, can actually cause more diarrhea and soft stools. To prevent this, manufacturers often add large amounts of veterinary antibiotics to the food to suppress diarrhea and soft stools. Due to stricter regulations on human antibiotics, excess production is sold to domestic pet food factories, as these products are not tested for antibiotics. So, this is not due to advanced technology, but rather because you are essentially giving your pet medication daily.

Why Are Many Probiotics Ineffective?

The term "probiotics" generally refers to "live probiotics," which require advanced scientific technology to extract. For instance, the Japanese probiotic drink Yakult, which is one of the most advanced and largest probiotic technology holders and developers in the world, contains 100 billion different live bacteria per bottle. This product has been around since 1930, while it was only until the early 21st century that a few factories in China could produce it. Many domestic probiotics merely carry the name without any real effect.

Probiotic supplementation is not a lifelong necessity. It's typically used during times of stress or when symptoms like diarrhea occur, such as when changing food, moving, visiting the hospital, getting vaccinated, or taking medication. Once the body returns to normal, probiotics can be discontinued. Probiotics are not a cureall; if there are pathological changes, such as intestinal tumors or gastrointestinal bleeding, immediate medical attention is required. Additionally, probiotics have specific storage requirements; liquid probiotics must be kept refrigerated. If you find a liquid probiotic that is not chilled, it's likely that the bacteria are dead. While the probiotic content in yogurt is limited, it can still provide protein and is somewhat effective, but it cannot replace probiotic supplements.