Review of Fermented Probiotics for Dogs
Switching to natural products to support health is a hot trend lately because science is showing they work. In the past, I’ve covered several different probiotics for dogs, but most were in pill or powder form. Now, there are fermented probiotics for dogs. It works great and dogs love it!
Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs
About 20 years ago, I remember asking my veterinarian about adding probiotics to my dogs’ meals. During our discussion, she flatly stated that research shows probiotics were useless and did not boost a dog’s overall health. Thankfully, science has caught up and veterinarians are now recommending probiotics, instead of antibiotics, for idiopathic (unknown cause) diarrhea in dogs.
Of course, veterinarians must rule out other causes, such as obstructions, intestinal parasites and disease during an examination, and make recommendations based on that. Usually, veterinarians will recommend metronidazole for diarrhea if no obvious causes are present.
Metronidazole is an antibiotic that calms the gut, and stops loose stool pretty quickly. However, a good dose of probiotics can do the same job as metronidazole. Not only have I witnessed it time and time again with my dogs, but my clients are also raving about probiotics for improving their dogs’ overall health.
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Best Naturally Occurring Dog Probiotic
Increased doses of probiotics can certainly halt diarrhea in dogs within a day or two, but adding probiotics to your dog’s daily meals can prevent it from happening in the first place. Probiotics are available in many forms, but it seems naturally occurring versions work best.
Several weeks ago, I added Answers Pet Food Raw Goat’s Milk to my Bull Terrier’s daily meal, and the difference in her breath was noticeable. My BT has chronic acid reflux, so I’m always searching for probiotics that work well. This product exceeded my expectations, and both of my dogs love it poured over their raw meals.
Answers Raw Goat Milk is fermented, which means microorganisms and bacteria have broken down the milk. Once dogs ingest fermented products, “these bacteria go to work pre-digesting the food, making it easier for your pet to assimilate nutrients. (Fermentation) also create(s) new vitamins, enzymes, and organic acids that simply aren’t present in non-fermented foods.” (Answers Pet Food, 2017). Believe it or not, this fermented product is odorless, and you’ll notice a difference quickly.
How to Use
Thaw the fermented food and pour the recommended amount over your dog’s daily meals. Use twice daily for best results. Dogs readily lap up goat’s milk with minimal, if any, digestive issues. Answers Pet Food offers fermented cow’s milk kefir and fish stock for dogs with allergies to goat’s milk. Start adding the food to your dog’s meals slowly, and witness the difference in your dog’s health!
