Allie stopped eating when she was 16. Her owner, Dr. Elizabette Cohen says she went crazy trying to find a healthy diet for her beloved pet.
“Her problem is that she has a very sensitive digestive system and would suffer from upsets pretty often,” said Cohen, a New York veterinarian and popular radio show host. With a majority of a dog’s immune system residing in the gut, it was critical to address Allie’s digestive health.
Understanding Bacteria
Like humans, dogs and cats have short digestive tracts and a complex gastrointestinal (GI) ecosystem. Bacterial cells in their digestive tracts outnumber animal cells. In fact, they account for approximately 95 percent of the cells in the GI tract. As many as 500 different species of bacterial cells may be represented.
Some of these bacteria are beneficial, and some have the potential to be pathogenic. When the bacterial balance is disrupted, the result is often digestive upsets and loose stools
What Causes Bacterial Imbalance?
The intestinal microflora can vary from one animal to the next and is influenced by a number of things, including host species, breed, age, diet, environment, and geography. But beyond these variables, many factors can work to disrupt the bacterial balance:
* Disease
* Age
* Diet
* Stress
* Antibiotic therapy
Finding a Balanced Solution
“I prefer to treat her digestive problems naturally; however, it was challenging finding an effective natural solution,” said Cohen.
A growing trend in pet care is the use of probiotics and prebiotics to support digestive health.
* Probiotics are live, beneficial or good bacteria supplied in some form (treat or supplement) to the animal that provide a health benefit.
* Prebiotics feed (or support) the good bacteria, helping the good bacteria to grow.
“Probiotics provide the digestive system with good bacteria,” said Cohen. “These bacteria support the immune system and its function, produce important B vitamins and take up space in the intestines. This is important because this space could be taken up by disease-causing bacteria instead of the healthy bacteria.”
Allie is 18 now, and even though she has some issues common to older dogs, Dr. Cohen says she’s a healthier, happier dog because of the probiotics she’s given in supplement form.
“I am recommending Iams Prostora Max as a veterinarian, as a pet reporter, but most importantly, as a pet owner,” says Cohen. “Allie is extremely picky about what she likes to eat and she loves the taste of Prostora. I love it because I’m able to help support her digestive health naturally.”
Available through veterinarians, Prostora Max is the only probiotic that is derived from the canine gut. It nutritionally manages dogs’ digestive health, promoting a healthy microflora balance and a strong, healthy digestive system for overall health and well-being.
