Lacto B™ is a probiotic for the maintenance of normal digestive
function in pets. A probiotic is a culture of 'friendly'
bacteria which grow in the gut forming a protective layer
and helping to prevent disease causing bacteria from attaching
to the gut wall.
Under normal conditions, the intestinal lining is completely
covered with friendly bacteria but these can become depleted
in conditions of stress, during disease and after antibiotic
therapy.
If your pet has recently suffered from a digestive upset,
your vet may recommend a course of probiotics. The bacteria
in Lacto B™ are highly active probiotics which only start
to grow when they enter the conditions found in the intestines.
The two strains in Lacto B are called Lactobacillus acidophilus
and Bifidobacterium longum. They each have their own preferred
site in the intestine and so do not compete with one another
for space. Lactobacillus acidophilus colonises the stomach
and the small intestine and Bifidobacterium longum naturally
occurs in the large intestine.
They are both very good at out-competing harmful bacteria.
Each gram of Lacto B™ contains 10 million Bifidobacterium
longum bacteria and 20 million Lactobacillus acidophilus
bacteria
Lacto B™ has been used successfully in cats, dogs, rabbits
and other small rodents. It is applied directly onto the
food or dissolved in water.
The case for the use of probiotics has been well documented
in animals for food production but there are also good reasons
to prescribe their use in dogs and cats.
All veterinary surgeons will recognise the syndrome of persistent
loose faeces in kittens and pups. Administration of a probiotic
such as Lacto B™ containing viable cultures of normal gut
commensals will promote the establishment of a layer of harmless
bacteria on the surface of the gut and help help to limit
this phenomenon; this is often referred to as competitive
exclusion.
It is also widely acknowledged that antibiotic therapy particularly
for digestive disorders will not only destroy pathogenic
bacteria but will also incapacitate the normal gut flora.
This will be replaced naturally over time but is the process
is speeded up with the supplementation of probiotic bacteria.
Hence the common recommendation by practising veterinary
surgeons, is for pet owners to feed natural yoghurt to
their convalescing cats and dogs.
