by Albert S. Townshend, DVM

Some of the most beneficial and natural supplements for pets include Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) – also known in human diets as probiotics which are the “good bacteria” essential to a healthy body. There are many advantages in maintaining optimum levels of the various types of normal, healthy bacteria found in the digestive tract. DFM are some of the most studied components of a healthy animal. We now know that they provide benefits beyond improving the digestibility of nutrients our pets consume.

A large portion of our immune system is in the intestinal tract and those “good bacteria” are an essential part of that immune complex. They make the body more resistant to the effects of infection from such organisms as Salmonella and E. coli, which have the potential of causing severe symptoms. In addition to promoting proper digestion of nutrients, those probiotics also produce valuable nutrients, including B vitamins and fatty acids that support the immune system.

All Holistic Select® dry recipes include Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) that are applied to the food after it has gone through the manufacturing process and cooled, so the organisms are not damaged by the heat. However, even those of us who enjoy a holistic lifestyle and diet need extra support at times, and your pet is no different in that respect. For those times when your pet needs extra digestive support, we developed two probiotics supplements.

Holistic Transition

Holistic Transition® is an ideal supplement to your pet’s food when transitioning from one diet to another, whether from one brand to another or from mother’s milk to solid foods. The additional DFM can reduce the risk of problems such as loose stools and diarrhea that are common in any change in pets’ diet.

Young puppies get great benefit from DFM early on because they establish active, optimum levels of good bacteria long before they would occur naturally. Holistic Transition has ideal levels of not one (many probiotic preparations sold even by veterinarians only contain one organism), but seven natural and beneficial bacteria at optimum levels.

Holistic Solution

Holistic Solution® contains the same seven organisms as the Holistic Transition supplement, but at increased quantities to help address more difficult problems. In addition, Holistic Solution contains the prebiotic Inulin to help nourish the live microorganisms (DFM), several digestive enzymes to improve digestion, and natural palatability enhancers to improve appetite.

It is important to have Holistic Solution on hand to immediately address stomach issues or anticipated stress on your pet, to bring them comfort sooner rather than later.

Holistic Solution supports:

- Digestion

- Immune function

- Appetite

- Balance of bacteria in the digestive tract
Optimum levels of the good bacteria can, in time, push out the bad bacteria; overgrowth of the bad bacteria can cause diarrhea and weight loss.

- Maintaining levels of live micro-organisms in pets taking antibiotics
Antibiotics kill the good and bad bacteria and have the potential of causing diarrhea. By re-inoculating the digestive tract daily, you are able to maintain a more normal level of bacteria and reduce the risk of loose stools.

- Natural calming of stress-induced digestive issuesThere are many pets that do not do handle boarding, grooming, or travelling very well and develop diarrhea in response. Supplementing your pet’s diet with the extra DFM in Holistic Solution several days prior to those stressful situations and continuing for several days after can reduce the likelihood of such issues.

- Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Research has shown benefits in humans with IBD

- Indiscriminate loose stools and diarrhea that pets sometimes experience from unknown causes.
Dogs and cats are notorious for getting into things they shouldn’t and that can lead to stomach issues or other potential problems. The initial few doses of Holistic Solution should begin to resolve the problem. If not, seek veterinary care immediately.

For more information, click here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Share