Acidophilus for Dogs

Pro-biotic supplements are a boon for dogs suffering from problems associated with intestine complications such as diarrhea, dehydration, smelly stools, foul gas, gum diseases and foul breath. These dog health problems are usually the result of stress, illness or certain antibiotic or antifungal medications. Lactobacillus acidophilus for dogs is the powdered form of the lactobacillus bacteria. Since the digestion friendly bacteria in the dog's stomach is compromised by illnesses or stress, acidophilus helps in replacing the intestinal bacteria which can aid in digestion in dogs. Most of the acidophilus pro-biotic supplements also contain yucca, papaya and antioxidants such as Vitamin C.

Benefits

These supplements not only restore the natural activity of the intestine but also help the dog overcome a range of dog illnesses. The key benefits of acidophilus supplements for dogs include:

• A healthy digestive system.
• Diarrhea treatment and prevention.
• Yeast infections and urinary tract infections are completely cured by using probiotic supplements.
• Eliminating problems of foul gas and smelly stools.
• Intestinal putrefaction may result in constant bad breath which can be effectively reduced by acidophilus.
• Relieves muscular and arthritis pains.
• Prevents shedding and indiscriminate scratching caused by the stress related to the improper functioning of the digestive system.
• Antibiotics, antifungals and wormers can have some negative side effects which can be counteracted with these supplements.
• Improving the immune system of dogs.

Most of these commercial supplements contain extracts of papaya and yucca, both of which are anti-inflammatory. A natural deodorizer, yucca helps relieve muscular pains. In addition to this, papaya contains enzymes which aid digestion and resolve problems related to the digestive tract.

The Right Dosage

Well, the commercial variants of acidophilus supplements contain different number of live organisms per dosage. While the dosage is specified on the products labels itself, veterinarians recommend a daily dosage of 20 million to 500 million organisms per dose. For administering the dosage, mix the supplement into the food or feed it to the dog by an oral syringe. For puppies a daily dosage of two teaspoons of the powdered acidophilus and for the adult dogs four teaspoons per meal is considered appropriate. This may vary based on the supplement brands and whether you purchase them in powdered form or as capsules and pills.

Is Acidophilus Safe for Dogs?

It is completely free of the harsh side effects as it contains all natural ingredients. It is also a great solution for those dogs which are lactose intolerant and cannot be fed yogurt for correcting the troubled intestines. A word of warning though, it has been seen that in the first few days, the dog may suffer from mild abdominal cramping and diarrhea. This would however be resolved after weeks of use of the supplements.

If your dog is not suffering from problems related to lactose intolerance then one of the best alternative for acidophilus is yogurt. The healthy bacteria that aids in digestion are also present in these active yogurt cultures. Mix one tablespoon of yogurt with your dog's food to resolve digestion problems. Remember that although acidophilus is a natural supplement, it is not recommended for everyday use and cannot really be used indiscriminately. Make sure that you administer the dosage based on the recommendations of the veterinarian. You can obtain the pills or the powder form, from the local pet supply store or from the veterinarian.