More and more people use a health drink on a daily basis. Now, prebiotics are also used to boost dogs’ natural defences.
Pro or prebiotics?
Probiotics are a food supplement of live microbial organisms with a positive effect on health. Prebiotics are indigestible food components, such as inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, which stimulate the growth and/or the activity of bacteria in the colon and thus improve health.
Beneficial to microflora
The microflora of a dog’s colon consist of a varied ecosystem of micro-organisms that are extremely important for health. They can ferment proteins and complex carbohydrates and convert them into short-chain fatty acids, among other substances. Prebiotics can have a positive impact on the microflora during a change in nutrition or environment, or the weaning of pups. The addition of prebiotics not only stimulates the growth and the activity of beneficial bacteria, it also reduces the odour of faeces and the cholesterol level in the blood, improves vitamin synthesis, increases the uptake of minerals and boosts the
immune system.
Short-chain fatty acids
Prebiotics do not have an adverse effect on nutrient uptake, digestion or evacuation. On the contrary: they contribute to higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in the faeces. These are beneficial to general health and have other specific positive effects. Moreover, fructo-oligosaccharides can reduce the faecal concentration of pathogenic bacteria.
