Pro means For. Biotic means Life.

Probiotics, sometimes called “friendly bacteria,” are beneficial microorganisms that naturally inhabit the human digestive system.

You already have billions of bacteria living in your gut. Some are harmful (pathogenic), but many are beneficial. Keeping a balance between the good and the bad bacterial is critical to maintaining good health. Probiotics help keep bad bacteria and yeast from growing in your intestinal tract, and confer many other proven benefits to you, including vitamin production and keeping your immune system healthy.

Probiotic bacteria in our pets bodies are essential to maintaining good health, as proven by many years of scientific research! Normally you have an abundance of friendly bacteria, but certain circumstances can lead to a depletion of these essential microorganisms.

Why do some probiotics need to be refrigerated and others not?

Probiotics are live cultures and are generally unstable at temperatures over 75 degrees. HOWEVER, the temperature inside the body is well over 75 degrees, not to mention that the probiotics would have to pass through hostile stomach acid and bile to get to the intestine. So what is the answer? The answer is to buy a probiotic supplement that contains stabilized strains of bacteria. The fact is, a probiotic that requires refrigeration is a red flag that it is not stable and will die on impact with the body. Make sure you read the label of any probiotics to be sure that the probiotics are stabilized. Also be sure that your probiotic contains prebiotics such as FOS.

Major Factors Affecting Your Pets Natural Balance of Friendly Bacteria:

Stress opens the door to disease

The extent of the damage to the protective barrier depends on the nature of the stress experienced by the animal. Major (birth, lactation, weaning and surgery) or chronic stresses (being left alone often, pain, itching/biting insects) do more damage than minor, everyday stresses (occasionally being left alone or a vet visit). Probiotics can be used preventively in either case by simply choosing the correct balance of probiotics. If an animal does get sick, the more concentrated forms can help the animal recover. How? When an animal becomes ill, the digestive tract shuts down and all available resources are directed to the immune system.

Age

Studies have shown that over time, the body becomes less efficient at digesting food and maintaining high levels of probiotics in the intestines.

Diet

Everything from eating sticks and grass, to dietary changes experienced when being boarded or even just you being gone for the day can rock the delicate balance of good bacteria which opens the door to less-than-optimal health. Add to that poor diet choices of highly processed pet foods as well as unfiltered water and water from the tap that has chlorine in it. Also stress filled environment and you can quickly understand why protecting your pet's immune system, healthy digestion, and overall good health is so important.