We’ve been covering the causes and treatment of constipation in pets. Now, it’s time to move beyond making your pet’s movements regular to actually improving the health of the intestines with prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics and probiotics do not cure constipation, but they help prevent toxic effects of constipation and they support the immune system.
The gut is normally populated with a good and bad bacteria and yeast organisms, with the good being in the majority. When pets are constipated, the number of bad organisms increases. To repopulate a constipated pet’s intestines with good, healthy organisms that make vitamins and block toxin absorption, feed probiotics. Probiotics are not aggressive, but more like a healthy serenade, they soothe the intestines into the proper state. Examples of beneficial probiotic bacteria and yeasts are:
· Lactobacillus acidophilus,
· Lactobacillus. bulgaricus,
· Lactobacillus. thermophilus,
· Streptococcus bulgaricus,
· Enterococcus faecium, and
· Bifidobacterium bifidus.
Probiotics in low concentrations are found in yogurt or kefir. Some supplements have probiotics in high concentrations, and pets with gut problems, such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, or diarrhea need high concentrations. For healthy pets, supplementing with yogurt or kefir is sufficient.
To support the probiotic organisms, provide prebiotics, the nutrients that support probiotic organisms. Prebiotics are found in artichoke, asparagus, bananas, black beans, carrots, and barley. Prebiotics are also included in some supplements.
If your pet is ill enough to need high concentrations of prebiotics and probiotics, request a supplement from your veterinarian. Studies that evaluated "truth in packaging" claims found that supplements available at most retail and internet outlets did not contain either the number or type of organisms claimed on the label. Thus, they’d be a waste of money, but what’s worse is that your pet won’t be getting what it needs.
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