Probiotics for Cat Lovers

Written by Diana Arnold, based on a talk given by Dr Euan Kilpatrick of Beach Street Veterinary Clinic, Frankston, Victoria to members of the Mornington Peninsula Cat Club

Probiotics

Dietary supplements, known as probiotics, can assist both people and their pets to maintain resistance to disease, enhance wellbeing, and the ability to properly digest food. They should be used every day, and at higher levels during periods of stress.

Imbalance or reduction of normal intestinal flora is caused by stress, including medication (antibiotics), surgery, exertion, temperature extremes, pregnancy and lactation, transportation and training (of animals). When disruption to normal bacteria occurs, people (and animals) can become unwell and suffer ill-thrift or illness, with symptoms which may include loss of appetite, diarrhoea, increased susceptibility to disease, and loss of weight.

When added to the diet, probiotics and prebiotics like beneficial bacteria and oligosaccharides are considered equivalent to taking antioxidants. They work by restoring the normal balance of intestinal flora, and provide an environment to improve healthy gut function. Intestinal bacteria can be classified into three categories: beneficial, harmful or neutral.

Beneficial Bacteria
Beneficial bacteria are normal and essential inhabitants in the gut of humans and animals. They promote good health by aiding in vitamin synthesis, protein synthesis, assisting in digestion and absorption, stimulation of immune response, and preventing colonisation of pathogens. The intestinal bifidobacteria count is known to decrease markedly in old age, a result of diminishing secretion of gastrointestinal juices.

Typical examples among the beneficial bacteria are bifidobacteria and eubacteria. Some are present in certain brands of yoghurt such as Jalna, Lesna, Vaali, and Yakult (check the label, as some yoghurts are only flavoured, thickened milk).

Detrimental Bacteria
A high meat diet in humans causes an increase in detrimental bacterial enzymes and subsequent increase in toxic metabolites, and is considered to be partly responsible for the increase in bowel and breast cancer. High fat diets stimulate high acid bile secretion which is postulated to be related to the high incidence of colon cancer.

Harmful bacteria, such as E.coli, streptococci, lactobacilli and veillonella, can be ingested causing diarrhoea, constipation, growth inhibition, hypercholesteraemia, hypertension, auto-immune disease, cancer, hepatic dysfunction and immune suppression. Indications are that the harmful effects of microflora on health are comparable to that of free radical formation. Pathogenic bacteria such as clostridia, staph. aureus, bacteriodacoea, proteus and pseudomonas also induce diarrhoea, hepatic coma, urinary tract infections, pernicious anaemia, meningitis, hepatic abscess, pulmonary abscess, vaginitis, endometritis, and promote secondary infections following injury, surgery, X-ray or other radiation.

Toxic compounds (metabolites) formed in the colon by harmful bacteria include ammonia (liver toxin), amines (liver toxin), nitrosamines (carcinogens), phenols and cresols (cancer promoters), indole and skatole (carcinogens), oestrogens (suspected carcinogens or breast cancer promoters), secondary bile acids (carcinogens and active colon cancer promoters), and algycones (often mutagenic).

Oligosaccharides
Fructo-oligosaccharides are short-chained polysaccharides which have unique chemical structures. They are actually undigestible carbohydrates which belong to the fibre group of foods, and are not absorbed by human (or animal) bodies. Oligosaccharides meet two specific requirements:

1. They are not digested by digestive juices, and
2. They are preferentially consumed by beneficial intestinal bifidobacteria in the colon.

Health Advantages
Oligosaccharides help to increase the population of indigenous bifidobacteria in the colon which suppress the activity of putrefactive bacteria and reduce the formation of toxic fermentation products, resulting in:
* Reduction of toxic metabolites and detrimental enzymes by 40% to 45% in 3 weeks
* Proliferation of bifidobacteria and reduction of detrimental bacteria * Prevention of pathogenic and autogenous diarrhoea
* Prevention of constipation by stimulating intestinal peristalsis and increasing faecal moisture content - benefits resemble those attributed to dietary fibre
* Protection of liver function by alleviating the detoxifying load on the liver
* Reduction of serum cholesterol due to changes in intestinal microflora
* Reduction of blood pressure by an average of 6mm Hg in human subjects
* Anti-cancer effects due to immunity enhancements by the cells, cell wall components, and extracellular components of bifidobacteria
* Production of nutrients, including vitamins B1,B2, B6, B12, nicotinic acid, folic acid and also promotion of calcium absorption

Benefits for Cats
Our cats can benefit greatly from the addition of beneficial bacteria and oligosaccharides to their diet. Often chronic intestinal problems can be remedied and general resistance to infections enhanced, obviating the necessity for frequent antibiotic treatment.
Oligosaccharides are available for cats in some premium foods, like Hills Feline WDA, and Biolac GOS milk supplement. Beneficial bacteria can be found in a new multi-strain probiotic, called Protexin, which is now available for animals and birds. It is a unique natural animal care product containing large numbers of different strains of live, beneficial gut bacteria. In fact, seven different strains of naturally occurring bacteria are included, all of which have been isolated from a wide range of food, plant, animal, bird or human sources. All strains found in Protexin are safe, non-toxic and free of residues. Your veterinary surgeon will advise on correct administration and quantities.

Glossary
Hepatic: Pertaining to the liver
Prebiotic: A non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacterial species already resident in the colon.
Probiotic: A live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal balance.
Synbiotic: A food product that contains both probiotic and prebiotic ingredients.