Your Pet’s Microbiome:

Are Probiotics Good for Cats and Dogs?

National Pet Day, observed on April 11th, is devoted to pets who may not always receive the companionship and attention they deserve. While we cherish our furry family every day, this observance encourages us to assist orphaned pet companions. It can enhance their health and improve their chances for adoption.

Approximately 85 million (67%) of American families own a pet. Dogs and cats are the most common pets, with 53% of American households owning dogs and 35.7% of households owning cats.i

Animals, like humans, host trillions of microbes in their gastrointestinal tract, collectively known as the gut microbiome. While research on the microbiomes of household pets is limited, those of cats, dogs, and humans exhibit some fundamental similarities.ii

Microbiome analysis has revealed that the main types of probiotic bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of dogs and cats are comparable to those in the human gut microbiome.iii Research has also indicated that pets and their owners frequently share many of the same intestinal bacteria as their family pets.iv

While many factors can disrupt your pet’s microbiome, such as stress and a poor diet, the most common and severe disruption is a course of antibiotics. Common conditions treated with antibiotics include eye, ear, skin, and mouth infections. Antibiotics are also often prescribed for treating cats and dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).v vi

Antibiotics are often essential; however, overprescribing has become a significant global health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that infections caused by antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” rank among the leading international threats.vii Health research indicates that doctors regularly prescribe unnecessary antibiotics, and it has also been noted that overprescribing is relatively common in veterinary clinics.viii

Dysbiosis in Cats and Dogs

Like humans, when the microbiome in cats or dogs is unbalanced, a condition known as dysbiosis occurs. This condition results in symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, excessive thirst, and weight loss. Dysbiosis can also cause intestinal permeability or a leaky gut, leading to many other diseases.ix

Probiotics for Your Pet

Only a few published studies investigate probiotics in dogs, and even fewer in cats. Also, to illustrate the lack of research, very little has been conducted regarding what strains and dosages are appropriate for various health problems.

At Essential Formulas, we recognize that the main issue is not the strain, dosage, or number of Colony Forming Units. We understand that probiotics offer health benefits due to postbiotic metabolites. However, producing these metabolites requires time and is influenced by several factors, including the strains of bacteria, dosage, diet, and various lifestyle and environmental elements.

An article published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science made the following statement.

“Although probiotics are typically unable to colonize the gut, the metabolites they produce during their transit through the GI tract can ameliorate clinical signs and modify microbiome composition.”x

This statement highlights that postbiotic metabolites improve symptoms and regulate health. Symbiotic postbiotic metabolites found in the microbiomes of cats and dogs are also present in human microbiomes, including short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and others.xi

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics for Your Pet

We now understand how important a healthy gut microbiome is for human and animal health. I urge pet owners to consider the following essential points:

  1. Antibiotics: If your pet has had to take a round of antibiotics, consider giving them Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics for a while to help reestablish a healthy microbiome.
  2. GI Distress: If your pet exhibits gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, or bloating, consider giving Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics for a while.
  3. Stress: Stress has adverse effects on the microbiome and can also suppress the immune system (for example, if you put your dog in a kennel while you are gone on your two-week vacation).
  4. Maintain Good Health: Take proactive steps to help your pet(s) maintain a healthy microbiome by giving one capsule of Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics daily.
 
i Miller C. Pet Ownership Statistics. Spots.com. Feb 2, 2021. https://spots.com/pet-ownership-statistics/
ii Sutton S. Anatomy and physiology of the companion animal. In Long Acting Animal Health Drugs Products. Sept. 15, 2012; pp59-68.
iii Deng P and Swanson KS. Gut microbiota of humans, dogs, and cats: current knowledge and future opportunities and challenges. Br J Nutr. 2015 Jan;113(S1):S6-S17.
iv Song SJ, et al. Cohabiting family members share microbiota with their dogs. eLife. 2013;2:e00458.
v Bottley A. An Adjuvant Approach to Alleviating Reoccurring or Treatment-Resistant Symptoms of IBD in Companion Animals. J Vet Sci & Animal Husbandry. 2020 Aug 14;8(1):1-5.
vi Garraway K, et al. Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs and Cats. Today’s Veterinary Practice. Nov/Dec 020;10(6).
vii World Health Organization: Fact Sheets. Antimicrobial resistance. Oct 13, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
viii Barna M. Antibiotic stewardship slow to catch on among veterinarians — Stakes high for human, animal health. The Nation’s Health. November/December 2019, 49 (9) 1-18.
ix Morris G, et al. The Role of Microbiota and Intestinal Permeability in the Pathophysiology of Autoimmune and Neuroimmune Processes with an Emphasis on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Type 1 Diabetes and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2016;22(40):6058-6075.
x Pilla R and Schodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Front. Vet. Sci., Jan 14 2020;6:498.
xi Saettone V, et al.State-of-the-Art of the Nutritional Alternative to the Use of Antibiotics in Humans and Monogastric Animals. Animals (Basel). 2000 Dec;10(12):2199.