Prebiotic Digestive Aids For Sporting Dogs
PREbiotics target the crucial digestive system, a power center for peak performance, endurance, hydration, recovery and appearance.
Good digestive health provides support in three areas - 1) maximized nutrient and protein absorption 2) improved immune function through optimal levels of digestive beneficial flora1 and 3) diarrhea prevention to maintain peak health for peak performance.
Maximum feed efficiency means that vital nutrients will not be lost due to poor digestion, ensuring enhanced protein absorption for sustained food fuel.
Probiotics may be more familiar to the general public, due in large part to the marketing efforts of yogurt manufacturers.
A crucial part of the digestive process, they are live microbial food additives intended to aid the digestive system by introducing beneficial bacteria.
These beneficial bacteria are a boon to digestive health, however, many do have limitations not experienced by prebiotics, such as their sensitivity to light, heat and their ability remain active while traveling through the digestive system.
PREbiotics do not have these sensitivities and can act as a catalyst for some probiotics, increasing the chance for these beneficial bacteria to survive and flourish.
They also have the capability to augment viability of probiotics in the colon for greater growth rate of the healthy bacteria that minimize the growth of bad bacteria2.
The proper bacterial balance within the digestive system means that the beneficial strains can predominate over potentially harmful strains.
It has become accepted that the colonic microbiota (digestive bacteria) play an important role in the maintenance of animal health.
Especially with natural health proponents, awareness has been building on the importance that feeding the right food assures that they maintain good health, prevent disease, prolong life and reduce medical intervention.
Feed manufacturers are producing foods that are less processed; contain fewer ingredients that are not a natural part of animal diet and adding vitamins and minerals to enhance health.
However, there are numerous factors in modern life that contribute to absorption problems, meaning they don't get the benefit of all the good ingredients.
Stress, travel, change in diet, antibiotics - all of these things can upset digestive balances and interfere with absorption.
Indicators of poor digestion can be diarrhea, gas, poor weight gain, overeating, poor immunity, sluggishness and less than optimal appearance.
Adding prebiotics encourages the proliferation of beneficial bacteria so an animals' digestive system is less susceptible to external influences.
Prebiotic use and its effect on odor control is a bonus benefit!One of the main contributors to odor is the lack of absorption of protein, which passes through the digestive system and ends up in the animal waste.
Since prebiotics set the stage for a balanced digestive environment, animals can naturally process food and protein thoroughly, meaning less protein in the waste and less odor.
Additionally, when foods are processed correctly, there can be a reduction in waste output over time, a real boon to kennels confined to small spaces.
Prebiotics are used and occur in foods for humans and are gaining popularity in their own right as a dietary factor that has great health benefits and the potential to increase health, performance and life span for sporting dogs.
References: 1.
2002 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J.
Nutr.
132:1717S-1719S, June 2002 Effects of Supplemental Fructooligosaccharides and Mannanoligosaccharides on Colonic Microbial Populations, Immune Function and Fecal Odor Components in the Canine Kelly S.
Swanson, Christine M.
Grieshop, Elizabeth A.
Flickinger, Neal R.
Merchen, and George C.
Fahey, Jr.
2.
British Journal of Nutrition (2005) Application Of Inulin-Type Fructans In Animal Feed And Pet Food J.
M.
A.
J.
Verdonk1*, S.
B.
Shim2, P.
van Leeuwen1 and M.
W.
A.
Verstegen2, 93, Suppl.
1, S125-S138 The Authors 2005
Good digestive health provides support in three areas - 1) maximized nutrient and protein absorption 2) improved immune function through optimal levels of digestive beneficial flora1 and 3) diarrhea prevention to maintain peak health for peak performance.
Maximum feed efficiency means that vital nutrients will not be lost due to poor digestion, ensuring enhanced protein absorption for sustained food fuel.
Probiotics may be more familiar to the general public, due in large part to the marketing efforts of yogurt manufacturers.
A crucial part of the digestive process, they are live microbial food additives intended to aid the digestive system by introducing beneficial bacteria.
These beneficial bacteria are a boon to digestive health, however, many do have limitations not experienced by prebiotics, such as their sensitivity to light, heat and their ability remain active while traveling through the digestive system.
PREbiotics do not have these sensitivities and can act as a catalyst for some probiotics, increasing the chance for these beneficial bacteria to survive and flourish.
They also have the capability to augment viability of probiotics in the colon for greater growth rate of the healthy bacteria that minimize the growth of bad bacteria2.
The proper bacterial balance within the digestive system means that the beneficial strains can predominate over potentially harmful strains.
It has become accepted that the colonic microbiota (digestive bacteria) play an important role in the maintenance of animal health.
Especially with natural health proponents, awareness has been building on the importance that feeding the right food assures that they maintain good health, prevent disease, prolong life and reduce medical intervention.
Feed manufacturers are producing foods that are less processed; contain fewer ingredients that are not a natural part of animal diet and adding vitamins and minerals to enhance health.
However, there are numerous factors in modern life that contribute to absorption problems, meaning they don't get the benefit of all the good ingredients.
Stress, travel, change in diet, antibiotics - all of these things can upset digestive balances and interfere with absorption.
Indicators of poor digestion can be diarrhea, gas, poor weight gain, overeating, poor immunity, sluggishness and less than optimal appearance.
Adding prebiotics encourages the proliferation of beneficial bacteria so an animals' digestive system is less susceptible to external influences.
Prebiotic use and its effect on odor control is a bonus benefit!One of the main contributors to odor is the lack of absorption of protein, which passes through the digestive system and ends up in the animal waste.
Since prebiotics set the stage for a balanced digestive environment, animals can naturally process food and protein thoroughly, meaning less protein in the waste and less odor.
Additionally, when foods are processed correctly, there can be a reduction in waste output over time, a real boon to kennels confined to small spaces.
Prebiotics are used and occur in foods for humans and are gaining popularity in their own right as a dietary factor that has great health benefits and the potential to increase health, performance and life span for sporting dogs.
References: 1.
2002 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J.
Nutr.
132:1717S-1719S, June 2002 Effects of Supplemental Fructooligosaccharides and Mannanoligosaccharides on Colonic Microbial Populations, Immune Function and Fecal Odor Components in the Canine Kelly S.
Swanson, Christine M.
Grieshop, Elizabeth A.
Flickinger, Neal R.
Merchen, and George C.
Fahey, Jr.
2.
British Journal of Nutrition (2005) Application Of Inulin-Type Fructans In Animal Feed And Pet Food J.
M.
A.
J.
Verdonk1*, S.
B.
Shim2, P.
van Leeuwen1 and M.
W.
A.
Verstegen2, 93, Suppl.
1, S125-S138 The Authors 2005
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