Why is it important to support your pet's gut health?

The gut microbiome is made up of microorganisms (such as bacteria) that help keep every cat and dog's digestive and immune systems health - with wide-ranging impacts on the rest of their body.

Supported immunity

Good bacteria in the gut compete against other potentially harmful bacteria, making it harder for them to multiply and less likely they’ll cause issues for your pet.

Regulated behaviour

Research is increasingly showing a link between the gut microbiome and some neurological and behavioural disorders. [1-5] Therefore, keeping your pet’s gut balanced could support theirmental wellness. It could also help them avoid stress-related diarrhoea during periods of upheaval (such as kennelling).[6,7]

Better digestion

Research shows probiotics can lead to a general improvement in stool quality in most dogs.[8] There’s also good evidence probiotics can help with a range of gastrointestinal issues, from basic diarrhoea[9-13] to more serious conditions such as parvovirus.[14]

Inside Petbiotix®

Petbiotix® is Protexin’s unique and scientifically developed gut-boosting blend of prebiotics, probiotics and clinically proven postbiotic strains that help support the natural balance in your pet’s gut and keep them full of life.

Explore our Ingredients

Top tips for taking care of your pet's gut health

BALANCED DIET

A complete, balanced diet that includes adequate fibre and is tailored to their life stage will help support and maintain your pet’s gut and whole-body health. For more help and advice, read our article here.

FEEDING ROUTINE

Sticking to a consistent feeding routine could help you spot any changes in your pet’s appetite that might indicate a health problem faster. It can also help make sure they’re not getting too many non-healthy treats throughout the day.

REGULAR EXERCISE

If you’re a dog owner, regular walks are essential for your dog’s physical health and mental wellness, including their digestion. It’s best not to walk them straight after a meal, though. Like us, they need plenty of time for their dinner to go down.

References

1. Mondo et al. (2020) Gut microbiome structure and adrenocortical activity in dogs with aggressive and phobic behavioural disorders. Heliyon. DOI10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03311

2. Ambrosini et al. (2019) The gut-brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases and relevance of the canine model: a review. Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00130

3. Jeffery et al. (2017) The association of specific constituents of the fecal microbiota with immune-mediated brain disease in dogs. PLoS One. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170589

4. Kubinyi et al. (2020) Gut microbiome composition is associated with age and memory performance in pet dogs. Animals. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091488

5. Garcia-Belenguer et al. (2021) Gut microbiota in Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy: Effects of Disease and Treatment. Animals. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113121

6. Kelley et al. (2012) Effects of Varying Doses of a Probiotic Supplement Fed to Healthy Dogs Undergoing Kenneling Stress. Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine. 10:3 205-216

7. Rose et al. (2017) Efficacy of a Probiotic-Prebiotic Supplement on Incidence of Diarrhea in a Dog Shelter: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. DOI10.1111/jvim.14666

8. Lee. AH et al. (2022) Dietary supplementation with fiber, “biotics” and spray-dried plasma affects apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and the fecal characteristics, fecal microbiota, and immune function of adult dogs. Journal of Animal Science 100(3). DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac048

9. Kelley et al. (2009) Clinical benefits of probiotic canine-derived Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7 in dogs with idiopathic diarrhea. Veterinary Therapy. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-31198

10. Herstad et al. (2010) Effects of a probiotic intervention in acute canine gastroenteritis – a controlled clinical trial. Journal of Small Animal Practice DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2009.00853.x

11. Gomez-Gallego et al. (2016) A canine-specific probiotic product in treating acute or intermittent diarrhea in dogs. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, efficacy study. Veterinary Microbiology. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.11.015

12. Nixon et al. (2019) Efficacy of an orally administered anti-diarrheal probiotic paste (Pro-Kolin Advanced) in dogs with acute diarrhea: A randomised, placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical study. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15481

13. Schmalberg et al. (2019) A randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial of a probiotic or metronidazole for acute canine diarrhea. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00163

14. Arslan et al (2012) Therapeutic effects of probiotic bacteria in parvoviral enteritis in dogs. Rev Med Vet-Toulouse, 2(163), pp.55-9

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