Questions & thoughts about animal probiotics or something else?

Probiotics are defined as “live micro-organisms which, when ingested in sufficiently high numbers, have scientifically proven positive health effects on the intended animal species”. The positive effect is due to an improved balance and composition of the animal's intestinal microbiota.

Probiotic microorganisms are sold on the market today in different types of formulations such as food, dietary supplements and supplementary feed. Different probiotics differ a lot regarding their ability to survive in the various formulations (during manufacture and storage) and during transport down to the intestine via the stomach.

Animal Probiotics' bacteria are robust and have been shown to have a very good survival both during its manufacture and storage in current formulations, as well as during their journey through the stomach down to the intestine.

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that are not broken down and absorbed by the small intestine, but reach the large intestine in unchanged form. In the large intestine, they are used as nutrition by the probiotic bacteria and fermented. Examples of prebiotics are beta-glucans, inulin and pectin.

Products that contain both pre- and probiotics are referred to as synbiotics. The purpose of the combination is to have synergistic positive effects, by the pre- and probiotic working together. The prebiotic acts as food for the probiotic bacteria on their way down to the intestine and also favors the growth of them in place in the intestine and of other good bacteria.

Lactic acid bacteria is a collective name for a range of bacteria that mainly form lactic acid when they grow. The group includes lactobacilli, lactococci, Leuconostoc spp., pediococci and the yoghurt bacterium Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus.

Lactic acid bacteria are divided into families, genera, species and strains. Different strains of a bacterium can have very different characteristics and that is why they must be distinguished at the strain level.

In the gastrointestinal tract there is a complex ecosystem consisting of different types of bacteria, up to 1000 different species (or perhaps more). The total number of intestinal bacteria is estimated today to be between 1013 and 1014, i.e. more than the number of cells that make up the body. The number of bacteria is very sparse in the stomach and gradually increases along the gastrointestinal tract and is highest in the large intestine. About 60% of the dry matter in the dog's feces consists of bacteria.

Still, a large part of the intestine can be considered a black box, which contains many secrets. It is estimated that today only about 50% of all micro-organisms in the intestine have been mapped.

The composition of the intestinal flora is influenced by many factors; animal species, breed, age, diet, the environment where the individual lives, disease, medication, etc.

The gastrointestinal tract is sterile at birth, i.e. there are no bacteria there, but already within a couple of hours an intestinal flora begins to be established through the absorption of bacteria from the birth canal, faeces, the bitch's milk and the surrounding environment.

The composition of the intestinal flora is influenced by many factors; animal species, breed, age, diet, the environment where the individual lives, disease, medication, etc.

The gastrointestinal tract is sterile at birth, i.e. there are no bacteria there, but already within a couple of hours an intestinal flora begins to be established through the absorption of bacteria from the birth canal, faeces, the bitch's milk and the surrounding environment.

It is not the number of bacterial strains that determines whether a probiotic product has a positive effect or not. The decisive factor is instead that the probiotic product has a positive effect on an imbalanced intestinal flora, so that it comes back into balance. By creating an environment in the intestine where the good bacteria increase in number and the undesirable ones decrease in number, this effect is obtained. When using products containing several bacterial strains, there are even a risk that they may counteract each other.

Today, all of Animal Probiotics' products contain only one strain of bacteria. These strains have all been shown to increase the total number of lactic acid bacteria in the resp. animal gut.

It is very important that the probiotic is packaged in such a way that the product does not lose quality after the package is opened and also that it maintains the highest quality until the specified best-before date.

Today, probiotic powder products are very common on the market and when these are exposed to ambient air, they easily absorb moisture and are also exposed to oxygen. This greatly impairs the product's quality and effect. Some other probiotic products require low storage temperature and an unbroken cold chain, to maintain a high number of live bacteria.

Animal Probiotics today packages its probiotic products in moisture- and air-tight portion packs with a nitrogen gas atmosphere to maintain the highest possible quality of its products.

OnlyGoodDog contains the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum PC213 (DSM 32931), which was originally isolated from the intestinal mucosa of a healthy Swedish dog and then cultivated under carefully controlled conditions. In addition, the product contains prebiotics in the form of beta-glucans from oats and maltodextrins. In the large intestine, the beta-glucans act as food for the lactic acid bacteria, which helps them multiply.

Yes, OnlyGoodDog contains the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum PC213, which was originally isolated from the intestinal mucosa of a healthy Swedish dog.

In connection with each production of a new batch of OnlyGoodDog, the content of live probiotic bacteria is analyzed. Extensive storage tests, incl. specially developed stress tests where errors are detected earlier, ensuring a good storage stability. In addition, the properties of the probiotic strain are tested, so that these have not changed during production. The bacteria's activity is analysed, as is its ability to bind to surfaces, which is a key property that can easily be lost in the event of faulty production. Hygiene analyzes complement other analyses.

The amount of added probiotic bacteria in the intestines decreases already after a few days after the end of the supply of probiotics. Therefore, it is important to have a continuous intake of probiotic bacteria, to ensure that the intestinal bacterial flora does not become unbalanced. Stress, hard physical activity, inadequate feed, medication (especially antibiotics) affect the intestinal microflora in a negative way. By giving OnlyGoodDog every day, you can maintain a favorable intestinal flora with many good bacteria, which have a number of health-promoting effects on your dog. Ordinary dog food, both dry and wet, is often sterilized and therefore free from both good (probiotic) and bad bacteria. Your dog therefore ingests far too few good bacteria, which leaves room for bad (disease-causing) bacteria to take up space in the gut.

OnlyGoodDog should be given as a supplement to the dog's regular food. One portion bag per day is preferably sprinkled over the dog's food. Either a whole portion bag is given at one time, or you divide it into two or all feeding occasions during the day. Dogs tend to think that OnlyGoodDog tastes good and are happy to eat it. If the dog is treated with oral antibiotics, e.g. with paste or tablets, OnlyGoodDog and antibiotics should be given on separate occasions, preferably at least two hours apart.

OnlyGoodDog is packaged in flexible portion bags. A bag is a daily dose that you either give at one time during the day or divide it into two or all times, when you feed your dog. One bag per day is recommended for all dogs, regardless of size, age or breed.

If your dog has an acute gastrointestinal disorder, eg diarrhoea, you should give two sachets of OnlyGoodDog twice a day, until the dog's condition has stabilised. Always contact your veterinarian if the animal develops a fever, stops drinking, has an affected general condition or has bloody vomiting and/or diarrhea.

It is always difficult to give an exact answer to this question, as each individual's gut flora is unique and as it also depends on the reason for taking a probiotic supplement. In case of abnormal stool consistency, the observant dog owner can often see an effect on the dog's stool after a couple of days. In case of other problems, such as with the weight and fur, it will take longer. A general recommendation is to give OnlyGoodDog for at least one month.

No, under normal conditions you can always feed OnlyGoodDog.

If the dog is treated with oral antibiotics, e.g. with paste or tablets, OnlyGoodDog and antibiotics should be given on separate occasions, preferably at least two hours apart.

If OnlyGoodDog is given to a dog that is in too good a hole, you should be aware that the dog's normal feed intake may need to be adjusted downwards, as OnlyGoodDog usually provides better feed utilization.

No, in our clinical studies we have not seen any negative effects when dogs have been treated with OnlyGoodDog, not even at a higher dosage than recommended.

However, in case of extensive gastrointestinal disorders or other acute problems, you should always contact a veterinarian!

Yes, there is no starting clearance for live bacteria or probiotics. Otherwise, the product only contains beta-glucans from oats and maltodextrins, which are commonly used ingredients also in commercial dog food and foodstuffs.

Yes, it is safe to give OnlyGoodDog to pregnant dogs, regardless of pregnancy stage, as well as lactating dogs

OnlyGoodDog is packaged in portion bags, so-called sticks, which are completely sealed and contain nitrogen gas. This is to protect the bacteria against moisture and oxygen, which reduce the product's durability. With this packaging, Animal Probiotics AB can guarantee that the product has a guaranteed content of live bacteria of at least 15 billion CFU at the product's best before date.

OnlyGoodDog contains a live bacterial culture of Lactobacillus plantarum PC213 (DSM 32931). The bacterial strain in OnlyGoodDog has been carefully selected by Animal Probiotics AB among several other strains taken from the intestinal mucosa of healthy dogs. The bacteria can pass alive through the stomach's acidic environment, is not negatively affected by bile or pancreatic enzymes, and can then establish itself and attach itself to the dog's intestinal mucosa. The above properties are very important for a bacterium to have a probiotic effect.

Skimmed milk and yogurt contain different types of lactic acid bacteria than OnlyGoodDog. These bacterial strains originally come from environments other than the dog's gastrointestinal tract and their ability to survive the passage through the stomach is often poor. Furthermore, there are no studies showing that these bacteria have the important probiotic property of attaching to the dog's intestinal lining.

Unlike skimmed milk/yogurt, OnlyGoodDog does not contain milk, which some dogs with sensitive stomachs can react to, but only maltodextrins, beta-glucans from oats (fibers that act as prebiotics) and the bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum PC213. OnlyGoodDog also has a significantly longer shelf life than skimmed milk/yoghurt and does not require cold storage.

OnlyGoodDog can be stored at normal room temperature until the best before date. To further extend shelf life, the product can be stored in the fridge or freezer.