Dr. Lönner, animal probiotics and the desire to help

Clas Lönner, founder of Animal Probiotics, is one of the country's leading probiotics researchers. We sat down with him to talk about gut health, country life and how he came to dedicate his life to helping animals and people feel good.

Already in 1988, Clas did his doctorate in the "Technical Microbiology" department at Lund University of Technology. Clas commitment to probiotics, the good bacteria that balance the intestinal flora, has been part of his everyday life and research efforts ever since. Not only is he one of the researchers behind ProViva, he has helped cancer patients improve their intestinal health and produced lactic acid bacteria, so-called starter cultures, for sourdough bread.

- It is only recently that public interest in probiotics has grown. It makes me happy that so many people see the value in maintaining good intestinal health – the benefits are so many, Clas begins enthusiastically. I will never forget when the very first people who started drinking ProViva called and thanked our probiotics for making them feel so good. A wonderful feeling.

Helping and benefiting is what drives Clas forward. That is the reason why he decided early on not to dedicate his life solely to research.

- Basic research is extremely important, but it is so often that something absolutely fantastic ends up in a book and then stays there. It will never benefit anyone. I want there to be an application, and in my case to animals and people's everyday life.

A golden hamster and fifteen horses later.

Clas and his family – wife Maria and the three daughters – today have several horses, two dogs and a stable cat. Animals are part of the family and the lifestyle, but it hasn't always been that way.

- I didn't grow up with animals. Or, well, my sister had a golden hamster. But one evening when I was studying for a master's degree in chemistry, a group of guys sat and talked. I heard myself say that it is a dream for me to start a family in the future, live in the country with a cow, some chickens and a lot of other animals. My friends laughed and of course I've been told this ever since, but today that's exactly how my life looks like. Although the cow did not become a reality, if you are to be careful.

It was when he met Maria, who for her part grew up on a traditional farm, that the vision of the future from that late evening hit home.

- She is incredibly good at seeing how the animals are doing, just by looking at them. And my daughters have also largely inherited this trait, it's cool to see. Especially for me as a researcher, who otherwise always looks for answers in science. Life together with Maria and the daughters has meant that a very strong feeling has been built up for the animals and their well-being.

The dog's immune system is located in the gut.

The family shares responsibility for the animals on the farm, Clas proudly talks about the responsibility the daughters and wife take. On the weekends, they often go away together and compete with the horses. Working so committed to the well-being of animals is rooted in a deep and genuine commitment.

- As an owner or a mother, it feels in the heart when one's animal is not well. I think a lot of people can relate to that. What not everyone knows is that many dogs, horses and cats feel unwell due to an imbalance in the intestinal flora. To a large extent, it has to do with how much we humans have changed our way of life and urbanized. We live in a fairly sterile environment and feed our pets commercially sterile feed. There are many dogs who have probably never sniffed a dead bird, for example. Maybe it sounds like something good, but for the dog's intestinal flora it is so important to come into contact with bacteria of various kinds, in order to stimulate the immune system, among other things.

Not "feeding" the gut with good bacteria leaves room for bad, disease-causing bacteria to move in.

How can an unbalanced dog gut express itself?

- The imbalance causes it for the dogs. The largest part of the dog's immune system is located in the intestine. With a well-balanced intestinal flora, the dog is healthier and feels better. This applies in general, in today's society, but it can be extra important to think about, for example, if the dog has stomach and intestinal disorders, problems with skin and fur or undergoes a change of environment, says Clas. But very many dogs today, and people for that matter, need to actively add probiotics to have a healthy gut.

The desire to help, mixed with an enormous stubbornness, was the background to his starting Animal Probiotics, then ProEquo, in 2004. The company took over a collection of probiotic bacteria intended for animals from the actor Probi, the company behind, for example, ProViva and Probi mage and also the company which Clas once upon a time helped start. Now Clas and his colleagues are investing in reaching more people with their animal probiotics.

- Our goal is to become one of the world leaders in animal probiotics. I am passionate about helping animals feel better, and about science. The most rewarding thing is to hear from pet owners that their dog, horse or cat feels better from eating our probiotics. And to see for yourself how well-being our own animals are; I am convinced that probiotics are an important part of them being so healthy.