In recognition of the fact that supporting a puppy’s intestinal microbiome sets up their digestive and wider health for life, Animalcare is giving free pots of GI support product, Procanicare, to vet practices. Free pots can be claimed at the website.
“New puppy diarrhoea” will be a familiar concept to small animal vets. It is typically due to exposure to factors that are known to risk microbiome disturbance, such as diet change and going to a new home, at a time when the microbial population is at its more sensitive. This sign of the microbiome’s distress may be more significant than just a self-limiting inconvenience however, as many studies demonstrate that microbiome disturbances in early life can have a significant impact on health in adulthood.
It has been shown that dogs with more “sensitive” guts have a lower number of Lactobacillus bacteria in their commensal microbiome population. This may stem from early life, as the microbial population acquired (and/or assaulted) as a result of environmental exposure when young, is reflected in the composition of the intestinal microbiome long into adulthood.
It is also becoming increasingly clear that early colonisation of the gut coincides with a potentially time-limited period when the immune system is permissive to microbial instruction. Emerging evidence suggests that these changes last into adulthood too, creating a “window of opportunity” for immune education to occur, influencing resistance or susceptibility to disease later in life. This is further supported by human studies that demonstrate a strong link between disturbance to the intestinal microbiome in early life, and increased risk of diseases later in life, including respiratory, GI and metabolic disorders.
There is also a lot of evidence to support the important role of the intestinal microbiome in normal neurodevelopment – hugely important at a time when puppies are learning social and behavioural boundaries.
Proactively supporting the intestinal microbiome of young puppies is not only important for the health status now but also in their future.
James Beaumont, Marketing Manager at Animalcare says, “We often hear from breeders, new puppy owners and vets that puppies which have had Procanicare seem brighter, have firmer stools and less flatulence. With the evidence mounting that the adult intestinal microbiome is shaped in early life and knowing the important and varied vole that it has in wider health throughout life, we want to help vets proactively support the GI health of their youngest patients by providing Procanicare for them to trial, with no risk.”
Procanicare is the UK’s first “For dogs, from dogs” GI support product, containing 3 canine specific strains of Lactobacillus
bacteria. It has been shown that adhesion of gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria to epithelial cells of the gut is host specific. Procanicare is suitable for use in puppies (do not use in dogs that weigh <1kg) and its Lactobacillus species are proven to improve stool consistency, accelerate recovery following acute episodes of diarrhoea and improve well-being.
Vet practices can claim their free pot of Procanicare at the website.
