Probiotics

[Krysta]

Hello Everyone,

I have heard nothing but good things about adding probiotics to dog food. I was just wondering what you all use, and what would be best to add to an Acana diet. Is probiotic yogurt good enough? Or should I go the supplement route? I've seen supplements at the local Pet Valu, but should I use health food store probiotics instead?

Thanks for yor advice!

Krysta

[lmcpug]

Hello Krysta!

I only use human grade probiotics/products.
I treat pet store packaged products as
suspect due to the lack of guidelines and
strict regulations that the industry has. 

Our personal fav's here with the Pugs:
Liberte brand Kefir and plain yogurt

there is a total ruckus if the yogurt treat
time is missed

However, one must be careful that a pet is
not allergic to milk;
If so there are yogurts made with goats
milk that can be substituted.
      
        
  

[blanche]

Krysta:
I don't use yogourt for a couple of reasons: I have one dog that is lactose intolerant, my homeopathic vet said that dairy is not great for most dogs and not part of their hereditary diet, yeast can really thrive with dairy and I don't think it's the best probiotic there is out there.

I use a couple of different ones.  I get lactose free, non dairy acidophilus capsules that I add to their food--company is Sisu and the product is called Dophilus or Dophilus Plus--I forget which.  There is also a good supplement that I use a lot (Pippin got it when he was here) made by Holistic Blend (I got it at Global) called Seagreens powder.  It's a probiotic, but also has other good stuff in it.

[Jane aka 71337]

Blanche, when you use the Sisu capsules, is it just one per day or less?

[blanche]

Blanche, when you use the Sisu capsules, is it just one per day or less?

I alternate the Sisu capsules with the Seagreens Powder.  Once a day--usually their morning meal.
Here's the link to the Seagreens Powder.  While Tank has some reaction to Flax, the dose is so small that I haven't seen a reaction with him on the Seagreens.

http://www.holisticblend.com/en/health-products/supplements/seagreens-powder/

And I give a full capsule of the Sisu when I give it--just put it on their food.  I ordered them online as I could get a larger amount.

I don't give them the capsules (made from corn starch)--but empty them into the food.  Here's the link:

http://www.nationalnutrition.ca/detail.aspx?ID=1307

[Jane aka 71337]

Thanks so much for the info Blanche!  Petsmart is no longer stocking the probiotic I have been using so I'm glad to find out about an alternative and especially one that is lactose free. 

[blanche]

I really like the Seagreens Powder, Jane.  The only reason I give the dogs the Sisu is that I have two dogs with pretty serious yeast issues and the Sisu does help with that.

But I'm really liking the Seagreens as a general supplement as it has digestive enzymes as well as being a probiotic.

[Jane aka 71337]

Do you give the Seagreens in addition to Missing Link or as a replacement?  Thanks for being patient with all the questions.

[blanche]

Do you give the Seagreens in addition to Missing Link or as a replacement?  Thanks for being patient with all the questions.

I haven't used the Missing Link in ages as it has too many things in it that Tank and Theo react to.  I replaced the Missing Link with the Seagreens.

[Krysta]

Thank you so much for all of the info! I think Seagreens will be perfect for us. I bought some of the Liberte yogurt and they are HUGE fans, but I can just see it spoiling fast since I only use a spoonful in their dinner meals. I could only find the large container at the grocery store, so it may be wasteful for us.

Thanks everyone!

[blanche]

Thank you so much for all of the info! I think Seagreens will be perfect for us. I bought some of the Liberte yogurt and they are HUGE fans, but I can just see it spoiling fast since I only use a spoonful in their dinner meals. I could only find the large container at the grocery store, so it may be wasteful for us.

Thanks everyone!

Krysta--I don't know if you are a yogourt eater--I'm a huge one.  And I add it to my cereal in the morning or you can stir fresh or frozen fruit into it for a snack.  Even jam added to it is pretty tasty.

I've never met a dog that didn't like yogourt.

[Kathy]

There is usually a small organic yogurt section in the refrigerator section and you can buy small containers in a pkg of 8. Or in some cases a 250 ml container.

[lizzthrasher]

I've always figured that dogs like yogourt because its already rotten!  Given how much dogs like stinky, rotten stuff, yogourt must seem like a total treat.

[blanche]

I've always figured that dogs like yogourt because its already rotten!  Given how much dogs like stinky, rotten stuff, yogourt must seem like a total treat.

Probably why they like cheese as well.  So you're not a yogourt person, Lizz?

[Krysta]

Krysta--I don't know if you are a yogourt eater--I'm a huge one.  And I add it to my cereal in the morning or you can stir fresh or frozen fruit into it for a snack.  Even jam added to it is pretty tasty.

I keep trying to like yogourt, but can only stomach so much of it. I dont mind it blended in a smoothie, but my blender is busted and I need a new one.