Doggie digestion is a subject near and dear to my heart — thanks to my dog Moose and his very sensitive stomach.
According to a recent article in Scientific American, GI issues are one of the top problems dog owners bring to the vet’s office (skin issues are tops on the list, according to a professor from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville). I can believe it! There’s a wide range of stuff that can cause gastrointestinal distress — everything from “garbage gut” (getting sick after eating stuff they shouldn’t) to parasites to infection and more.
Some vets have turned to probiotics to help soothe upset tummies. Probiotics are the so-called “good bacteria” that live in the digestive system. These bacteria aid in digestion and may even help the body fight off infections.
A study from University College Cork in Ireland found that treatment with probiotics helped canine patients recover from diarrhea forty percent faster than those who had no treatment. Still, not all vets are on board — there just isn’t enough evidence yet to support the case for probiotics being beneficial for dogs. (However, there is evidence out there that probiotics DO help certain farm animals like pigs and chickens… and humans, too!)
If you want to try probiotics with your pup, there are some products on the market from companies like Purina and Proctor & Gamble. But you can also try good old plain yogurt — when Moose had his most recent stomach distress, the vet reminded me that plain (unsweetened, unflavored) yogurt might be useful.
This time, I’m not sure it made a difference. Moose’s tummy trouble lasted for a good month, and the yogurt didn’t seem to improve things. Take that as you will — it can be one more tiny piece in the probiotics puzzle.