| Dogs need supplements just as much as humans | | | | money in the long run. |
| do. In fact, if their primary food is commercial pet | | | | Chronic health problems develop when the bad |
| food, dogs need supplements even more! | | | | bacteria maintain the upper hand in the GI tract |
| There are basic supplements that dogs require as | | | | over a long period of time. |
| they get older, like digestive enzymes, and others | | | | The Ultimate Probiotic |
| that they need throughout life, like omega 3/6 | | | | Some 25 years ago, researchers noticed that |
| oils, minerals, and probiotics. Why probiotics for | | | | feral animals not only ate grass, but pulled at the |
| dogs? | | | | grass. Delving into why, they discovered that the |
| Your Dog may Look and Act Healthy, But... | | | | dirt surrounding the root structure of grasses |
| Domesticating a dog is behavioral, but | | | | from organic soils were teaming with microflora |
| domesticating dogs' diet has led to a growing | | | | and bacteria that had a probiotic effect in the GI |
| health crisis. In order for a dog to be truly | | | | tract. |
| healthy, it needs to be fed a diet that resembles | | | | Appropriately, these microorganisms were |
| that of his wild ancestors, who hunt and kill fresh | | | | collectively named Soil Based Organisms (SBOs). |
| game. They supplement their diet by eating grass | | | | Let Them Eat Dirt |
| and dirt! More on this in a minute. | | | | It seems like the simple solution would be to let |
| The closest you are likely to get is a raw diet | | | | your dog eat grass. Most domestic dogs live in |
| consisting of free-range chicken, and grass-fed | | | | environments that do not provide these essential |
| meat that are hormone and antibiotic- free. To | | | | digestive aids. Lawns, and dog parks are treated |
| this basic diet add supplements that replace the | | | | with inorganic pesticides, fertilizers, and chlorine |
| grass and dirt. If you do that, your dogs will be | | | | from municipal water. These chemicals kill SBOs. |
| healthier, happier and live longer! | | | | SBOs vs Antibiotics |
| Perhaps the most powerful medical quotes of all | | | | Doctors know that antibiotics are toxic chemicals |
| time is completely ignored by American doctors | | | | that kill off both the good and bad bacteria, and |
| and veterinarians. | | | | yet they neglect to use probiotic treatments! If |
| "Fully 90% of all chronic disease is caused by an | | | | this is not bad enough, the side effects of |
| unhealthy digestive system" The Royal Society of | | | | antibiotic treatment to your dog are the |
| Medicine, Great Britain | | | | equivalent of being kicked in the groin. |
| Probiotic Supplements and Intestinal Balance | | | | Probiotics are live organisms natural to the |
| Dannons' highly successful advertising campaign, | | | | digestive system. SBOs are scientifically proven to |
| back in the seventies, suggested that the Hunzas | | | | resolve GI disorders and are essential to maintain |
| lived well over 100 because they ate yogurt- a | | | | intestinal balance. Since GI disorders develop as a |
| probiotic! Never mind that the air they breathed | | | | result of bad bacteria overwhelming good |
| nor the soil that grew their fruits and vegetables | | | | (probiotic) bacteria, the first course of action |
| and raised their meat was pollution-free, or that | | | | should be to restore the balance by administering |
| the yogurt the Hunzas ate had little in common | | | | SBOs. |
| with Dannon or any other commercial yogurt. Yet, | | | | A few doses of SBOs will quickly dispatch most |
| today there is fierce competition for your | | | | cases of GI upset before you could be seen by a |
| dairy-based probiotic dollar. Buyer beware! | | | | vet. Plus, when administering SBOs there is no |
| Briefly, commercial grade probiotics, like yogurt or | | | | need to withhold food or water! |
| acidophilus supplements, comes from cattle that | | | | Where can you get SBOs? |
| are not grass-fed, do not live in open pastures | | | | SBOs are not a prescription medication. They are |
| where they would exercise, breathe fresh air, and | | | | available on line, in a few select pet stores, and |
| get vitamin D from sun light. Instead, they live in | | | | from holistic vets. |
| close quarters, toxic environments: They are | | | | Culturing SBOs requires laboratory controlled |
| injected with growth hormones and antibiotics. If | | | | conditions, using strict scientific protocols. Much like |
| there ever was any nutrient value to this milk, it | | | | fermenting the finest beer or wine, the SBO |
| was destroyed when it was pasteurized and | | | | culturing process cannot be rushed. |
| homogenized. People and pets with dairy allergies | | | | While just about any SBO formula will be |
| are actually suffering from the effects of the | | | | beneficial, brands that consist of a variety of |
| care, feeding and processing of commercial dairy | | | | active SBO strains are more likely to quickly |
| cows. People who switched to organic milk find | | | | restore proper GI balance. |
| they are no longer allergic! | | | | CAUTION: Things Can Go From Better to Worse- |
| Resolving GI related problems that have not | | | | Temporarily! |
| advanced to chronic, is often as simple as giving | | | | As mentioned earlier, commercial pet food is hard |
| them a daily probiotic! Why? Digestion and | | | | to break down and digest. Consequently, it moves |
| elimination are time sensitive. Too short, or too | | | | slowly through the intestines. Most likely some |
| long, eventually leads to a health crisis. | | | | fecal plaque has adhered to your dogs intestinal |
| The more processed the food, the more difficult | | | | walls. Once it gets a toehold, it thickens over time. |
| it is for the digestive system to break it down. | | | | Even fairly young animals can experience some |
| This takes a huge toll on the colonies of good | | | | blockage as a result of this build up. |
| (probiotic) bacteria as they expend themselves in | | | | Regular administration of SBOs will slowly begin to |
| their effort to find and assimilate the small | | | | dissolve the fecal matter. During this clearing |
| amount of nutrient value. | | | | cleansing process, pathogens and microbes that |
| The good bacteria not only aid in nutrient | | | | were covered up with layers of fecal matter will |
| assimilation, they provide the balance against the | | | | be exposed and can cause episodes of diarrhea |
| bad bacteria. This balance is quickly upset when | | | | or vomiting. Depending on the buildup, it may take |
| your dog eats tainted food, or a bacteria laden | | | | a few months before it is completely removed. |
| morsel. Heat and just the slightest bit of moisture | | | | During this time you are likely to see your dog |
| (humidity) can quickly contaminate an open bag of | | | | reach new plateaus of happiness and energy. It |
| dry dog food. | | | | can overwhelm them until they adjust. |
| If you pay attention to your dog, you can see | | | | Most cases of diarrhea or vomiting are the result |
| the early warning signs, which may include loss of | | | | of long-term food choices that are not probiotic |
| energy, bad gas, bad breath, itchy skin, | | | | friendly, or gulping down a pathogenic laden |
| constipation, bouts of diarrhea or vomiting, and | | | | morsel. If you administer SBOs and your dog |
| loss of appetite. These are quickly resolved with | | | | does not show noticeable improvement within 12 |
| just a doses of probiotic supplements, and | | | | hours, take them to the vet immediately! |
| prevented with daily use. Prevention saves you | | | | |