One of the most common ways that the ratio of friendly-to-harmful bacteria gets nudged out of balance is through the use of antibiotics. Of course, the use of these drugs is not always avoidable, especially if your dog or cat is fighting a serious infection.
Unfortunately, antibiotics are not able to distinguish between friendly and harmful bacteria, so when eradicating the harmful bacteria (the source of many serious infections), they also kill off a large number of friendly bacteria. This leaves your pet with even less of a defense the next time he is exposed to harmful microorganisms.
Chemicals in the water supply and soil can have much the same effect. They do eliminate many of the harmful bacteria your pet is exposed to; but they also upset the balance between good and harmful bacteria. In this way, chemicals can also have a negative impact on your pet's health.
Even a natural event such as aging can affect the balance of good and harmful bacteria in your pet's intestinal tract. Regardless of the cause, if your pet shows any of the signs of an unhealthy intestinal tract, this should serve as a red flag: It’s time to intervene and help your pet get his intestinal ecosystem back on the right track. Some of the most common symptoms of an unhealthy digestive tract are the following:
Flatulence
Constipation
Diarrhea
Sluggishness
Skin problems
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Probiotic Supplements for Dogs and Cats - Replacing Friendly Bacteria
One of the simplest and most effective remedies for poor digestion is to administer probiotics to your pet. Probiotics are supplements comprised of different kinds of friendly bacteria. The ingredients in them may vary from brand to brand, as do the methods of delivery. For instance, probiotics may come in capsule, paste, liquid, or tablet form. They may even be included in some brands of commercial pet food, although this is not considered the best source since, according to some studies, certain brands do not contain the amount or even the kind of probiotics that are stated on the labels. For this reason, supplements are considered the more effective way to go.
The Challenge
The performance and health of your livestock is dependent upon the proper balance of digestive tract bacteria. Newborn animals and newly-hatched birds enter the world with a sterile digestive tract, which is quickly populated with health-promoting bacteria and the much quicker growing, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, feed and environmental changes, birthing/laying, weaning, medication and transporting, among other common management practices alter the intestinal environment in ways that favor the disease-causing organisms of animals and birds of any age.
The Answer: Fastrack® Direct-fed Microbials — The Natural Way
The unique combination of natural, live lactic acid-producing bacteria, FOS, yeast, enzymes, vitamins and specialized proteins in the Fastrack® products helps to ensure a healthy digestive tract; enhancing the immune system and defending against pathogenic agents in the digestive tract. Specifically the health-promoting Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium in the animals ‘and birds’ small and large intestines utilize FOS.
Fastrack Probiotic Pack Organic Listed by OMRI
Conklin Company, Inc. has obtained OMRI Listing for Fastrack® Probiotic Pack as an organic feed ingredient. The Organic Materials Review Institute’s (OMRI) primary mission is to publish and distribute lists of materials allowed for use in the production, processing and handling of organic food and fiber.
Probably nothing is more difficult to measure than improvements in embryo transfer, as you have no check strip or control to measure against. Embryo flushing challenges the cow’s whole system. At Herbster Angus Farms, I feel we get 15 to 20 percent more embryos per flush and more number one embryos with the use of Fastrack® Direct-fed Microbials daily.
The performance and health of your livestock is dependent upon the proper balance of digestive tract bacteria. Newborn animals and newly-hatched birds enter the world with a sterile digestive tract, which is quickly populated with health-promoting bacteria and the much quicker growing, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Unfortunately, feed and environmental changes, birthing/laying, weaning, medication and transporting, among other common management practices alter the intestinal environment in ways that favor the disease-causing organisms of animals and birds of any age.