Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization ( WHO) as live microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.¹ Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that are added to diets or used as supplements to modulate the growth or metabolic function of resident intestinal bacteria. Synbiotics are commercially available products that contain both probiotics and prebiotics. This article discusses probiotics for dogs and cats, along with prebiotics and synbiotics and their roles in promoting the intestinal health of dogs and cats. The Intestinal Microbiota Barry KA, Middelbos IS, Vester Boler BM, et al. Effects of dietary fiber on the feline gastrointestinal metagenome. J Proteome Res 2012;11(12):5924-5933. As with probiotics, the desired outcome after giving prebiotics is improvement of host health. 21 However, the specific aim of giving prebiotics is to promote growth and function of the beneficial bacteria already present in the gut. Intake of prebiotics can significantly modulate the colonic microbiota by increasing the number of specific bacteria and thus changing the composition of the microbiota. 23 Prebiotics are metabolized by the resident microbiota of the colon, which, depending on fermentability, will result in the production of the short-chain fatty acids butyrate, propionate, and acetate. 23 These metabolites will diffuse through gut enterocytes and provide either local effects (e.g., enhance the intestinal epithelial barrier, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, regulate intestinal motility) or systemic effects (e.g., provide energy for the host). 24,25 Apart from direct prebiotic effects, dietary fibers can have additional functions in the GI tract. Psyllium, for example, has water-binding and bile acid–binding properties that improve fecal consistency, increase the intestinal mucus layer, and have beneficial effects on cell proliferation in the intestinal tract. 26 Synbiotics Zyrek AA, Cichon C, Helms S, et al. Molecular mechanisms underlying the probiotic effects of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 involve ZO-2 and PKCzeta redistribution resulting in tight junction and epithelial barrier repair. Cell Microbiol 2007;9(3):804-816. Hart ML, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM, Webb CB. Open-label trial of a multi-strain synbiotic in cats with chronic diarrhea. J Fel Med Surg 2012;14(4):240-245.

Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concepts of prebiotics. J Nutr 1995;125(6):1401-1412. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to re-establish the normal microbiota. They are particularly effective when delivered together with a prebiotic, a source of nutrition that stimulates growth. Ingredients The most promising applications for probiotics are treatment of acute uncomplicated diarrhea, prevention of stress diarrhea, prevention of antibiotic-associated GI signs, and adjunct therapy for chronic enteropathies. The WHO definition of probiotics stresses that health benefits need to be demonstrated before a strain of bacteria can be designated as a probiotic. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate probiotics; therefore, no governing agency oversees the label claims of probiotic products. The most commonly used probiotic strains in commercial products are lactic acid–producing bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium species), which have traditionally been associated with health benefits. However, clinical studies have also demonstrated health benefits from other microorganisms, including specific strains of Escherichia coli 13 and yeasts (e.g., Saccharomyces boulardii), 7,14 which are also commercially available as probiotics.left detailing the nearest Australia Post outlet where the parcel can be collected during normal business hours. Garcia-Mazcorro JF, Lanerie DJ, Dowd SE, et al. Effect of a multi-species synbiotic formulation on fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy cats and dogs as evaluated by pyrosequencing. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2011;78(3):542-554. Aktas MS, Ozkanlar Y. Efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii as a probiotic in dogs with lincomycin induced diarrhoea. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 2007;51(3):365-369. The EU-registered probiotic Enterococcus faecium (DSM 10663/ NCIMB 10415) 4b1707, to help repopulate the intestine with beneficial micro-organisms. White R, Atherly T, Guard B, et al. Randomized, controlled trial evaluating the effect of multi-strain probiotic on the mucosal microbiota in canine idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Gut Microbes 2017;8(5):451-466.

Suchodolski JS, Jergens AE. Recent advances and understanding of using probiotic-based interventions to restore homeostasis of the microbiome for the prevention/therapy of bacterial diseases. Pilla R, Suchodolski JS. The role of the canine gut microbiome and metabolome in health and gastrointestinal disease. Front Vet Sci 2020;6:498.Give one capsule daily by mouth or as advised by your veterinary surgeon.Capsules can be given whole or opened and the contents sprinkled onto food. Stokes JE, Price JM, Whittemore JC. Randomized, controlled, crossover trial of prevention of clindamycin-induced gastrointestinal signs using a synbiotic in healthy research cats. J Vet Intern Med 2017;31(5):1406-1413. Refrigerated items:when you purchace a cold chain product, you accept the rare chance that goods will not be delivered in an ideal condition and that no compensation will be offered to replace