What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that beneficially affect the host by stimulating the growth and activity of beneficial gut bacteria. Common prebiotics include inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS). These are products that are found in your animal's food.
Benefits of Prebiotics:
Enhanced Probiotic Growth: Prebiotics serve as food for probiotics, enhancing their growth and activity in the gut.
Improved Gut Health: Promote a balanced gut microflora by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Reduced Pathogens: Help reduce the prevalence of harmful bacteria by supporting beneficial bacterial populations.
Improved Bowel Movements: Enhance bowel regularity and reduce constipation by increasing stool bulk and water content.
Enhanced Nutrient Absorption: Improve the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
Modulation of Immune Responses: Prebiotics can positively affect the immune system by enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that have anti-inflammatory properties.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. Common strains include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus. These bacteria can be fed as supplements to your animals.
My favorite probiotics are Proviable and Fortiflora.
Check out my article on Proviable here.
Benefits of Probiotics:
Diarrhea Management: Probiotics help manage acute and chronic diarrhea by restoring gut flora balance.
Enhanced Digestion: Aid in breaking down food, improving nutrient absorption, and reducing gastrointestinal discomfort.
Enhanced Immunity: Strengthen the immune system by promoting the production of natural antibodies and stimulating immune cell activity. Fortiflora is commonly used in cats to help with Herpesvirus.
Allergy Reduction: Reduce the severity of allergies by modulating immune responses.
Competitive Exclusion: Inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria by competing for nutrients and adhesion sites in the gut.
Stress Management: Help mitigate stress-related gastrointestinal issues in animals, such as those caused by changes in environment or diet.
When prebiotics are combined with probiotics there is a synergistic effect between the two. Synergism means that the combination produces a combined effect greater than the sum of each of their separate effects. This means that effects on gastrointestinal health, immunity, and digestive efficiency is best when both pre- and probiotics are used. Veterinarians often recommend these supplements to promote optimal health in animals.
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