Have you ever thought about how the composition of the gut microbiota of your dog companion influences its mood, metabolism or immune system in addition to its digestion? Do you know how bacteria work in guts and how to keep the good ones inside?
As it is known, bowels are the home of our immune system. However, the composition and the quality of diet is often neglected not even when it comes to our dogs. Besides the food, also other factors influence the intestinal flora, such as medication, mainly antibiotics. Constipation, stress or chlorine in tap water aren't good for healthy intestines either.
Therefore, if there is an overgrowth of pathogenic microbes in the intestines due to circumstances, it will have adverse effects on the organism – not just the digestive tract itself. These unwanted organisms take nutrients important for the body and release bad toxins at the same time. Those pose burden to the immune system which doesn’t have to be strong enough to defend against viral or bacterial infections then. Consequently, the dog is more prone to diseases or it takes it more time to deal with them.
People expect that there are about 10 cells of various micro-organisms for one human cell in a body. The same applies to dogs (there was a study which confirmed that dogs’ flora is surprisingly similar to that humans) And the largest microbial communities live in large intestine. Besides taking part in immune system (non)functioning, those also influence the efficiency of food digestion, metabolism and even mood.
So, it’s clear keeping the dog’s intestines healthy is crucial. The best way to do that is always prevention. In this case, it means giving the dog proper food. It should be of high quality, easily digestible with balanced nutrients according to its current needs based on age, size, activity, the environment it lives in or a medical condition. Some dry dog food or functional treats even contain important lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus strain), the live non-pathogenic bacteria that colonize the intestines and therefore prevent pathogenic organism of attaching and multiplication.
Probiotics can also be administered to a dog in the form of special food supplements. It’s especially useful when taking antibiotics or other medication, before stress situations such as moving or when a family member leaves or arrives, but also when sudden changes in weather occur or food is changed. They are also useful when some medical conditions such as constipation, gassing, allergies or atopy occur.
Do you have any experience with probiotics for your dog? Have you observed any change after administering them, both when it comes to digestion or the overall medical condition or mood?
Choosing the right dog food is a beginning and the end of caring for your pet dog. We, as dog lovers, also know that quality dog food is not only positive for the health but also for the overall well-being of the animal. When choosing the dog food,...
Do you have any favourite books you would recommend your friends to read? Are any books about pets among those? Today, I will share with you the names of six books about dogs any animal lover shouldn’t miss in my opinion.
Who didn’t want an animal companion as a child? Keeping pets can be valuable experience for children. An animal companion also brings a lot of joy to the household. But taking care of a pet also brings many duties and responsibility. How to choose...
“You look so sad, you’re definitely hungry, here you are.” This is the sentence I often hear when my dog shows one of its dog faces. And he deserves “little something to eat” doing it before I even manage to do anything against that. To feed a dog...
Do you like travelling? And do you like travelling by plane? You don’t have to leave your dog or cat at home during your holidays. Some airlines allow small pets on the board if they are in a crate. What other conditions you have to meet?
We, as cat lovers, can’t get enough of cats and that’s why we also like to read books about them. Look at some of them you shouldn’t really miss.
Miniature dog breeds have specific requirements for nutrition and care in general. Their physical development is much faster. Besides from their subtle composition of body and jaws, it is therefore also necessary to take into account their fast...
It would probably entirely unnecessary to describe the appearance of the German Shepherd. Probably everyone, even non-dog-lovers, have seen the German series Inspector Rex.
Getting a cat doesn’t mean only buying a cat toilet, bowls, a bed and a couple of toys. You also have to realise that the animal will also need certain care and count with this already before getting it. Each breed has its own specifics. While some are...
The Persian longhairs have most likely descended from the Turkish Angoras, were bred in England at the end of the 19th century. Since then, they have undergone great changes, and today they have a much more compact body in comparison to the original...
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a dog, with which you will definitely won’t get bored. The owners say that it’s often a great adventure with them. They are mesmerising animals and they definitely can’t deny their wolf ancestors. What is typical for all...
Do you take your dog or cat regularly on trips and holidays across the Czech Republic? Is travelling with your dog or cat fun for you and not a horror? Have you got a destination in mind, where you’d like to stay for longer or you’re even planning a...
