PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, SYNBIOTICS AND PET WELLNESS

For decades, scientific research has focused on fighting “bad” bacteria in the body, primarily through the use of antibiotics.  Unfortunately, antibiotics are not selective in the kinds of bacteria they kill; “good” bacteria are killed along with “bad” bacteria.  In addition, “bad” bacteria are becoming “super” bugs and developing resistance to many commonly prescribed antibiotics.  Antibiotics can also cause numerous adverse side effects.

More recently, there has been a shift away from fighting “bad” bacteria in the body in favour of promoting “good” bacteria primarily through the use of the “biotics” which include prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics. The “biotics” can be incorporated into the diet as a preventive, used on a long-term basis without encountering the side effects seen with antibiotics, and are viewed as a more holistic approach to maintaining health than are antibiotics.   “Biotics” enhance and support a healthy bacterial population, whereas antibiotics disrupt this balance.

Prebiotics are defined as nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of beneficial bacteria in the colon that improve host health.  Dietary fibre is the most common prebiotic found in the diets of dogs and cats.

Probiotics are defined as live (viable) beneficial bacteria, which upon ingestion in sufficient numbers have been shown to exert health benefits to the host.  It is very important that both parts of the definition are met in order to call a product a probiotic.

Synbiotics are defined as a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics that beneficially affect the host.  The rationale for synbiotics is that the prebiotic is used to improve the survival of the probiotic organisms.

The use of synbiotics to enchance intestinal health

A two-point approach to maintaining GI health can be achieved through the use of snybiotics.  When prebiotics and probiotics are administered simultaneously, the prebiotic can be used to increase intestinal survival of the probiotic organism.  Beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, are able to utilize prebiotics as a source of nutrition, whereas pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli, are not.

Although research on the use of the “biotics” in dogs and cats is lagging behind that performed on humans, it is becoming increasingly clear that many of the same health benefits that “biotics” provide to humans also occur in dogs and cats.  As more studies are performed in dogs and cats, the potential use will increase.  Although the need for antibiotics will still exist in some patients, it is hopeful that the use of “biotics” will lessen our reliance on antibiotics for promoting and maintaining health in our companion animals. 

Many of the prescription diet foods that are recommended by the Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic for your pet are rich in these ingredients.