Let’s Dispel the Myths About Probiotics for Dogs
by Christy Caplan
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October 4, 2016 
Welcome!
MitoMax: Top Three Myths About Probiotics #sponsored
All my readers can receive 10% off by using this coupon code- mylifewdogs when you check out. (I do get a few pennies if you buy something from Imagilin).
This is the second article in a series of stories about Probiotics. Given how much our three dogs benefit from probiotics, it’s time to dispel some common myths I read about online. There are so many that it is difficult to narrow them down to just three – but each of my dogs help address these three myths!
I believe this article may help to clarify and educate readers about MitoMax® probiotic for dogs and cats, my first post was about why probiotics. The next post will look at how probiotics help dogs with stressful situations (Halloween!).
Probiotics: Dispelling Myths!
- Probiotics should not be taken with antibiotics. (Talk to Bruisy!)
Some believe that antibiotics kill probiotics if taken together. It is true that antibiotics will kill both good and bad bacteria in the gut so it’s important to take probiotics during an antibiotic treatment to repopulate the gut. For example, Bruiser is on Tylan Powder for his Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). He has chronic IBD so MitoMax is something he takes every day to repopulate his gut.
The key is choosing the right probiotics together with antibiotic treatments. MitoMax uses the plant-based probiotics, Pediococcus acidilactici, that is much less sensitive to antibiotics compared to other commercially available probiotics, and the beneficial yeast, does not kill antibiotics in general. Therefore, MitoMax probiotics are able to survive through the antibiotics treatment to help with food digestion for better nutrition absorption when dogs and cats are under antibiotic treatments.
According to the Imagilin “Pediococcus Field Study” of dogs taking antibiotics/drugs – the study included 92 dogs that suffered from digestive disorders. Veterinarians reported that dogs recovered faster when dogs were treated with a combination of the conventional drugs and the Pediococcus product. 15 dogs suffering from digestive disorders showed recovery by administering Pediococcus product only.
2) More probiotic is better (My friend is convinced this is the case!)
According to the newsletter, “Expert Views” GI health & wellness, issue six from April 2012 – “the dose of a probiotic is usually expressed as the number of colony forming units (CFUs) which is a way of expressing the number of viable microbes per serving dose. Probiotic effects should be considered dose-specific. It is not possible to make a general recommendation about the minimum dose of probiotics that is needed for an effect.” The bottom line is different probiotics are effective at different doses and more CFUs are not necessarily better.
According to Imagilin, it is very important to have the right amounts of live probiotics at the time of application, and more than that, to have the right amounts of live probiotics survive through the stomach acids. Since most of the commercially available probiotics are very sensitive to the temperature changes, oxygen exposure, and stomach acids, it is not surprising that only very few portions of their 100 billion CFU probiotics can successfully reach the dogs’ and cats’ small and large intestines to have beneficial probiotic functions. MitoMax uses Pediococcus-based probiotics, which is more resistant to the oxygen, high temperatures, and stomach acids. It not only guarantees to have 1 billion live probiotics at the time of application but also has the most amount of live probiotics to go through stomach acids to convey the best health benefits in the dogs’ and cats’ small and large intestines to help the food digestions and immune responses. How cool is this!
3) Probiotic foods are better than probiotic supplements. (Worth it? All my dogs as they get a tablespoon of yogurt with each meal!)
All the hype is around “medicinal yogurts”, kefir and pickles -. The reality is if you need to use probiotics for specific purposes with clinical efficacy, you should research multiple animal probiotics that you can give your dog while they get their heaping tablespoon of yogurt with dinner for example. This isn’t optional if you have a dog with a digestive disorder.
Don’t believe everything you read!
Do your research – I added some papers and reports below that Imagilin issues that you can reference to learn more.
Resources:
- Testimonials
- http://www.imagilin.net/news.php
- http://www.imagilin.net/scientific-research.php
- The Expert Views newsletter
- Today’s Dietician
All my readers can receive 10% off by using this coupon code- mylifewdogs when you check out. (I do get a few pennies if you buy something from Imagilin).
Disclaimer: We receive a discount off our supplements from Imagilin as part of their blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I only share information about products that I believe in and already fit into our doggie lifestyle and routine. I was compensated for this post and the above discount code is an affiliate link.
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Great post! We’ve always been told to give probiotics with antibiotics for our pets, so that’s good!
Thank you so much! If you have questions, let me know!
Thank you for clearing the air about probiotics. It can be very confusing when you read conflicting articles. Will keep this in mind if any of my dogs have to receive antibiotics.
Absolutely! I also thought it was super confusing. They have great resources on their site.
We are not all that familiar with probiotic supplements so thank you for clarifying and for the add’l resources. I will be bookmarking this! 🙂
Thank you! If you have additional questions, please let me know.
I know how helpful probiotics can be, but with so much conflicting information it’s hard to know what’s what. Thanks for such a comprehensive and helpful article.
Thanks for commenting and they’re great for senior dogs! 🙂
I have had several vets recommend probiotics with antibiotics to me. We give them to Eve in general too for her sensitive tummy.
Excellent! I’ve seen such a difference with Bruiser.
We haven’t tried this brand yet, but have 2 others that we use.
Cool – I think there are lots of great brands to choose from!
Love seeing links to actual research! Kudos!
Thank you so much! I appreciate that.
What a helpful and informative post! My veterinarian prescribes probiotics for my pet rats when they’re on antibiotics, too.
Thank you! Yes – MitoMax is also for cats and birds too. Excellent!
Ruby hasn’t need any antibiotics for anything, but we would definitely also include probiotics. Though we are off to the vet this morning for what I think is a hotspot so she may be prescribed some today in which case I will definitely use your code!
On a funny note, I am so not a yogurt person. I really don’t eat dairy, but yogurt is especially gross to me. Ruby doesn’t get a heaping spoonful of yogurt a day and if she did, Brian would need to be on deck for that one! LOL
Let me know what you vet said about probiotics? I’m sorry Ruby has a hot spot — Sherm gets those and he has to wear a cone from time to time! LOL! Forget the yogurt!
Thank you for the post! I agree that too much probiotics (or anything at all) is not good
Thank you for commenting!
We use probiotics for maintaining good gut health for ourselves but also for our IBD kitty – they make a huge difference.
I use Florastor for myself and I’m super grateful to have it on board!
Great post, I give Layla an Organic Lebanese white cheese which has probiotics and she loves it, the vet said it is all good 🙂
Thank you! That’s awesome! I didn’t know about Lebanese white cheese so I’ll add to the list.
I agree with you when I was working with the vet they would prescribe probiotics to be accompanied with the antibiotic so the gut doesn’t go through too much stress. All my dogs get a spoon of yoghurt in their meals keeps their tummies well
Excellent – sounds like you’re on the right path! Thank you!
When I first started fostering Piper, she arrived really under the weather and ended up having a series of digestive issues over a couple of months. She was also on Tylan powder for a short time and her poor gut was a mess! I wish we had been advised at the time about using probiotics in conjunction with the treatments she was going through to address all of her issues. We did use probiotics and yogurt after the treatments ended to help restore gut health but from your post, I gather we might have been able to expedite her healing if we’d incorporated probiotics earlier. She still has a sensitive tummy so it might be good for us to work daily probiotics into her diet.
Sweet Piper! I didn’t know about probiotics either until I picked up Florastor as a client a few years back. I think it helps just as maintenance too as they get older….
Great research & resources! I first used probiotics prescribed by our Veterinarian when Icy had a GI problem & was taking antibiotics. That’s why myth #1 really shocked me! I’m so glad you found a great product that helps Bruiser! Great video, & I love that it has subtitles, very helpful! Definitely sharing.
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Thank you so much! Appreciate you sharing and so glad these myths helped clarify some things about using both probiotics with antibiotics!
We use probiotics daily in the form of kefir
I’ve heard Kefir works well for both humans and dogs!
Probiotics are a great thing in any dogs diet I wonder if they work for cats too?
Yes! In fact the probiotic MitoMax is for dogs AND cats. There are great testimonials on their site for cat parents — check those out for sure.
We are a probiotic family…all of us! Great article.
Thanks! I know I benefit from taking one day!
This probiotic sounds great! I totally agree with what you have to say. Probiotics and antibiotics can be used together (unless there is a specific reason not to within a given circumstance). The good gut bacteria is fighting alongside your dog’s immune system to get rid of the problem.
Thank you! Yea – the immune cells are working so hard as it is! At least that’s the case with my dogs!
A canine nutritionist recommended probiotics for Mr. N when he was recovering from pancreatitis and on antibiotics.
I’m so sorry to hear N had to go through pancreatitis but glad probiotics were on board.
I completely believe in the benefit of probiotics! Thanks for this “myth busting” post…it helps me better understand the benefits and how to get the most out of probiotics for my dogs.f
Absolutely – hopefully one of these three helped answer some questions!
My dogs aren’t on antibiotics, but the next time one of them is prescribed antibiotics, I’ll have to ask the vet about probiotics. My mom uses them herself and she thinks they have played an important part in staying healthy.
I think they’ve made a big difference in my gut health for sure and I get sick LESS!
Probiotics made such a difference for my last Cocker who had IBS, I am a firm believer that right ones can make a big difference. I am glad you called attention to this, as the more pet parents who know the better.
I have heard so many different things about probiotics, so this was great to read!
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