So, probiotics are a powerful support for the animal’s body. Let’s figure it out: probiotics are tiny living microorganisms/bacteria (yes, bacteria can also be beneficial; beneficial bacteria include bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, enterococci, and some strains of Escherichia coli). These bacteria influence the microflora of the digestive system, strengthen health, and maintain balance. Essentially, these tiny living bacteria and microorganisms are already present inside us and inside your pets, but sometimes their numbers decrease due to diseases, immune system conditions, poisoning, external and internal factors, and parasites, and that’s when probiotics are needed. By increasing the number of live bacteria, you positively impact your pet’s health, improving its vitality and the functionality of the digestive system. The probiotic label states “For life,” or more simply, “Life/For life.” Why is that? Remember that when there are serious health problems, animals and we, including, are prescribed “antibiotics,” and antibiotics mean “no life/against life” (these medications got their name from their property; they “kill” all bacteria). Unfortunately, antibiotics cannot tell if a bacterium is beneficial, so they stop its growth, which is the disease source. Therefore, it is essential to take probiotics after antibiotics, so to speak, to implant your body with live bacteria. But let’s say at the moment you don’t have the opportunity to buy a ready-made probiotic complex. What should you do? How can you help your pet at this time? In one of the articles about “Proper Nutrition for Pets,” “Raw Food Diets in the Animal World,” etc., we have already mentioned that animals can be given low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir—these products contain bifidobacteria that possess therapeutic and preventive properties. With regular use of probiotics in your pet’s diet, you will be able to improve the animal’s gastrointestinal tract function, boost immunity, help in the absorption of more trace elements and vitamins, and cope with food allergies and diarrhea. A bit of history: Did you know that Nobel laureate Ilya Mechnikov (researcher of lactic acid bacillus) noted in the early 20th century the beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria on overall health and increased lifespan? Another researcher, Roy Fuller, essentially provided the definition of probiotics that is still used today: “A live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance.”
People now think of probiotics as groups of bacteria that live in the intestines and help animals absorb more nutrients and trace elements by digesting their food better. These come in the form of veterinary drugs, feed, and dietary supplements for animals. As mentioned above, probiotics are life-giving microorganisms, so it is very important to have a sufficient quantity of them in the intestines of young animals, as microbiotopes create a normal, full-fledged microflora in the animal, strengthening the biological barrier and boosting immunity. Additionally, the industrial production of probiotics for animals incorporates the enzyme Immunobacterin-D. Immunobacterin-D helps keep an animal’s gut bacteria in balance by colonizing the intestinal epithelium. The intestinal epithelium is a layer of cells made up of cells that have reached the end of their development. These cells come from the proliferation of intestinal stem cells at the base of the intestine. Because of this, processes happen that are harmful to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and pathogens. These processes cause endogenous lactobacilli to grow. Immunobacterin-D also consists of such bacteria as xylanase, protease, Bacillus subtilis, amylase, and Bacillus licheniformis. It’s easier for pets to digest food that has probiotics and immunobacterin-D in it. This stops pathogens and fungi from growing in the food, lowers the risk of toxin poisoning, lessens the chance of diarrhea and the severity of diarrhea caused by eating these foods, and more. In the world, research is constantly being conducted, and reports are being published on the importance of probiotics in the daily lives of animals. The healthy lifestyle of both humans and pets is gaining popularity, and with it, the promotion of health through beneficial bacteria is also developing. Animals have probiotics, which improves their digestive systems and overall health. For example, probiotics can lower inflammation in the body, keep glucose levels in check, make the animal less likely to get sick, and boost its immune system. In any case, when selecting a probiotic for your pet, be sure to consult with a veterinarian, study the application and benefits of probiotics in the animal’s diet, expand your knowledge, and stay with us.
