What are prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics?
Did you know that about 2 kg of bacteria live in our human body, with approximately 99% of them in our gut? The totality of gut bacteria is referred to as microbiota or gut flora. They ensure balance and well-being in our gut and also in the gut of our dogs. In this context, pre-, pro-, and postbiotics play an important role.
- Prebiotics are indigestible food components that are metabolized by certain bacteria in the gut. This, in turn, promotes the growth of "good bacteria" and thus supports the maintenance of a healthy gut flora and overall well-being.
- Probiotics are small microorganisms, essentially "good bacteria," that help restore the balance of the gut, for example, after taking antibiotics, during illnesses, or challenges with digestion.
- Postbiotics are preparations of selected inactive bacteria or yeast strains. The Epicor® Pets postbiotic contained in our Functional Soft Bites, for example, is derived from natural yeast fermentation. Postbiotics can actively support digestion and a healthy gut flora by promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
Postbiotics for Dogs
Contrary to common belief, postbiotics are not living bacteria or "food" for the "good bacteria." As the name suggests, postbiotics are inactivated or non-living bacteria or yeast strains. "Post" means "after life," which makes it clear that the microorganisms are no longer alive.
There are various postbiotics, all of which can be used differently as supportive treatments. Among other things, postbiotics are said to have the following properties:
- Maintenance of gut flora
- Strengthening of the body's own defenses
- Supportive healing effect in cases of constipation, colds, or inflammatory bowel diseases
Epicor® Pets Postbiotic
Discomfort, stomach rumbling, or challenges with stool quality - the Epicor® Pets postbiotic contained in our Soft Bites contributes to a healthy gut flora and strengthens the immune system of dogs. Derived from natural yeast fermentation, postbiotics can actively support digestion by promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria - for a healthy digestion, excellent stool quality, and good well-being.
Epicor® Pets Postbiotic is a registered trademark of Cargill, Inc.
Prebiotics for Dogs
As mentioned earlier, prebiotics are feed components that cannot be digested by the body's own enzymes of dogs. These are usually certain carbohydrates or fiber substances such as inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides. They provide nutrients for the "good gut bacteria" and can thus support their growth.
Natural prebiotics can be found often in →high-quality feed for dogs. They are derived from plant components or fruits and →vegetables such as carrots, chicory, artichokes, or apples.
Probiotics for Dogs
Probiotics for dogs are feed additives containing living or viable microorganisms. There are also some foods that naturally contain probiotic bacterial strains such as fermented vegetables like sauerkraut or certain types of yogurt. However, these contain only a smaller number of probiotic bacteria, which is why the potentially positive influence on the gut flora in dogs through feeding is still critically discussed.
Probiotics as dietary supplements contain a very large amount of bacteria. Moreover, these can usually be better absorbed by the body since they are protected from destruction by stomach acid. Probiotics for dogs come in different combinations of various bacterial strains. Typically, dogs receive probiotic bacteria as dietary supplements with their food after consultation with veterinarians or nutrition experts, which can help to balance the gut flora.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Für gute Kotqualität: Probiotika unterstützen eine gesunde Verdauung und sorgen für good Poop-Quality!
The Mechanism of Action
Probiotics are “good bacteria” that naturally thrive in the gut and are important for a healthy gut ecosystem. Prebiotics form the main food source for probiotics. They are found in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. When the “good bacteria,” i.e., probiotics, feed on the prebiotics, a natural fermentation occurs in the gut, and the resulting end product is postbiotics.
What advantages do postbiotics offer?
Postbiotics have a very high health value, as they consist of many different valuable substances such as amino acids, vitamins, short-chain fatty acids, minerals, antioxidants, and oligosaccharides. The advantage of postbiotics over pre- and probiotics is their reliable effectiveness. Depending on the prebiotics, their bioavailability changes, and probiotics are unstable in production processes because they are living microorganisms. In contrast, postbiotics are production-stable, and their health-promoting effect on the gut flora has been proven by scientific studies.
Why is a healthy gut flora so important for dogs?
Just like in humans, the gut also performs many important functions in dogs. The gut microbes and the associated gut bacteria are involved in the following tasks:
- Breaking down indigestible food components
- Absorbing and producing nutrients, e.g., vitamins
- Supporting →digestion and the immune system
- Defending against pathogenic germs
- Processing medications (activation, inactivation, or detoxification)
The gut flora, i.e., the totality of gut bacteria, is crucial for how well everything functions and how the (gut) health of your dog is. If digestion is not functioning well, we know ourselves that we simply do not feel well. The same goes for our dogs.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Genau wie bei uns Menschen, sorgt eine gesunde Darmflora für ein gutes Wohlbefinden und ist wichtig für die allgemeine Gesundheit!
When is it advisable to give my dog prebiotics, probiotics, or postbiotics?
Many factors inside and outside the body influence the gut flora. Certain influences can lead to the death of good gut bacteria and thus to an imbalance in the gut flora. The consequences can be disruptions in the functioning of the gut and thus, among other things, digestive problems or stomach pains. To prevent or counteract this, the gut bacteria can be strengthened with the help of pre-, pro-, and postbiotics.
Pro-, pre-, or postbiotic agents with antibiotics
Pre-, pro-, or postbiotic agents are often heard in connection with the administration of antibiotics. This is because antimicrobial medications (antibiotics) do not only kill the bad, disease-causing bacteria. Good bacteria also die due to the intake of antibiotics. Veterinarians may then prescribe preventively pre-, pro-, or postbiotic agents to support the maintenance of a healthy gut flora.
When should I take my dog to the veterinarian?
If your dog suffers from regular digestive problems, persistent discomfort, →stomach pains, or →the stool is often too soft or too hard, you should definitely seek the advice of your veterinarian. Mild postbiotic agents, such as high-quality functional snacks, can be fed without consultation with veterinarians, but they do not replace treatment by experts.
If your dog suffers from persistent health issues, it is important to have these clarified by veterinarians. Pre-, pro-, and postbiotic agents can then be administered as supportive treatment after consultation with your veterinarian.
