Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms: microbes, yeasts and bacilli.  Adding probiotics to your dog's and cat's diet is not only easy ~ it's smart!  

Kefir is our main source of probiotics.  It's a fermented milk drink much like yogurt except they differ in the beneficial bacteria that are in them.  Apparently it's easy to make ~ I wouldn't know.  I prefer the ease of grabbing mine from the dairy section when I'm at the store.  Plain for the dogs, strawberry for myself.

Here are a few of the benefits of the live and active cultures in Kefir:

• Supports digestive health, like pumpkin
• Improves immune system
• Assists in weight loss
• Helps alleviate lactose intolerance, IBS, Crohn's and colitis
• Replaces good bacteria that antibiotics wipe out
• Reduces flatulence

It all began with flatulence, my main and favorite reason for using Kefir.  Merlin has the WORST!

A younger picture of the culprit....

Somebody mentioned yogurt and I discovered Kefir while shopping.  After some label reading and quick research it is now a daily part of their diets.  It took a couple of months but we now breathe fresh air without worries at all times and are so thankful.  

I ran out a while back and then forgot to pick up more on a trip for groceries.  After a few days Merlin got stinky again.  A text was immediately sent asking Michael to pick some up on his way home from work.  We never miss a day now!

Antibiotics are necessary for killing off bad bacteria when your pet is sick.  While this is a good thing the massacre includes the good bacteria as well.  Therefore, giving them probiotics when they are sick replaces the good and helps them get back to normal quickly.