by Jennifer Chang, DVM, DACVIM
Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer a health benefit when administered in adequate amounts. The main effects of probiotics are inhibition of pathogens, immunomodulation, enhancement of the intestinal barrier, partial modification of the resident microbiota and nutritional benefits. Probiotics can be a beneficial component of therapy in a variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, acute hemorrhagic diarrhea and parvovirus enteritis. Most probiotic products are sold as dietary supplements and therefore not regulated by the FDA. This, in part, is why not all probiotics are created equal. Visbiome Vet is a high potency probiotic containing an 8-strain probiotic blend and 112.5 billion CFU per capsule. In comparison, the commonly used FortiFlora contains only 500 million CFU per packet, which contains more physical volume than a Visbiome Vet capsule. Some food, or rather probiotic, for thought when considering which probiotic to reach for in your patients.
