Those of you who use probiotics...

[misterW]

What brand do you use? Tell me about their price and your experiences.

My experiences are as follows:

My 2 year old, Eva, was recently put on antibiotics and for the first time, they gave me some probiotics along with it -- packets of Fortiflora probiotics.

Within several days, I noticed a difference in her -- her coat was softer and she smelled better. She also scratched less. Now, I also made a diet change around this point as well, so it is possible that may have affected things as well, but I noticed that when my packets ran out, she started itching more (she has a history of skin issues).

I want to make probiotics a regular part of her diet, but the packets are expensive -- more than a dollar/packet.

I saw a container of Miracle Dog probiotics on Amazon, which was much cheaper.

So, what have your experiences been? Any recommended brands? Brands to stay away from?

[Lucy Dog]

Feed human probiotics... no need to pay extra for the dog stuff. LisaT can give some very good advice regarding some recommendations if you get in contact with her.

The itchy coat and the smell may be due to the diet. What are you feeding her?

[DanielleOttoMom]

I'm interested in probiotics myself.... For my dogs and my family. I will have to keep watch on this thread!
I'm really wanting to know brand and thoughts or your review on what you are currently using.

[misterW]

Well, the coat is not itchy or smelly right now. Right now, she eats rice and chicken/beef/venison (whatever meat is available) + raw venison w/ bone + dog food (4 Health) when I haven't had time to prepare her a better meal. However, prior to this, she was eating mostly dog food supplemented with the occasional venison w/ bone. The coat become a bit smelly during the past summer, after she was on some anti-biotics. This is one reason I suspect the probiotics to be a part of the reason for her improvement.

[misterW]

Originally Posted by Lucy Dog

Feed human probiotics... no need to pay extra for the dog stuff. LisaT can give some very good advice regarding some recommendations if you get in contact with her.

How do I get in touch with her?

[Lucy Dog]

Originally Posted by misterW

How do I get in touch with her?

She might come along and see this thread, but if not, her user name is "LisaT. Just send her a private message.

If you want to know about probiotics, she's who i'd speak to. Well, she is who i spoke to.

[LisaT]

Ha! My ears are burning!

for my girl, I found that Solaray's multidophilous 12, from the refrigerated section of the health food store, worked very well for her. So did Philips Colon Health from Costco. In general, I look for something with acidophilous, bifidous, and bulgaricus. I tend to stay away from dog products, they often have unwanted ingredients in them.

Here is an old sticky about probiotics in general: Let's talk about the Benfits of Probioitics Some of the links to old threads no longer work though.

[Lucy Dog]

Yep... those (Solaray's multidophilous 12) are the probiotics I'm using for Lucy's acid reflux. I pick them up at whole foods and they've been a big help.

[Freestep]

I use ProBios powder--actually marketed as a livestock supplement, it also has dosage information for dogs, cats, exotic birds and reptiles. I even take it myself and if I have a GI upset it clears it right up! It's inexpensive and has a long shelf life. A 240 gram container is about $7-10 depending on where you buy.

[Jax08]

Probiotics are Your Dog's Best Defense Against Disease

Research shows that dogs have different flora than us. Make sure what you buy has the right ones or you are just throwing your money away. If you want to know about probiotics and digestive enzymes, talk to Carmen (carmspack). She's a walking encyclopedia!