Signs to look for
- foul-smelling stools
- frequent gas
- stool consistency changes often
Why it happens
Gut flora composition is set shortly after birth and does not shift much for life. Probiotics you feed cannot displace the incumbents and leave in the stool within 20 minutes to two weeks.
That does not make them pointless. While passing through they produce short-chain fatty acids and leave a positive change in the gut environment behind them.
The problem is food. Bacteria with nothing to eat start grazing on the mucus coat lining the gut, and as that layer thins it breaches, letting harmful bacteria and food particles through.
The sequence is this — supply soluble fibre consistently, and add probiotics on top when immunity looks like it needs help.
Signs that mean go to the vet
Most synbiotic products on the market contain very little prebiotic. Do not go by the label alone
Related ingredients
Related behaviour
General nutrition information. It does not replace a diagnosis or a prescription. If your animal has a medical condition or is on medication, talk to your veterinarian first.