By Dr. James Chen, DVM, DACVN — Reviewed by The Veterinarian’s Bag Editorial Board Zesty Paws Vet Strength canine probiotic — one of the brands audited. Of the five criteria we use to judge a canine supplement, the fifth — full dose transparency — is the easiest for an owner to check and the one…
By Dr. Sarah Mitchell, DVM — Reviewed by The Veterinarian’s Bag Editorial Board Ear examination during a canine wellness check. There is a deep intuition in the supplement world that “live is better.” A probiotic, the reasoning goes, must be alive to work — alive to colonize, alive to compete, alive to confer benefit. Heat…
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor an endorsement of any specific product. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before introducing any supplement to your dog’s regimen. The evaluation criteria discussed here have not been evaluated by the Food and…
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before introducing any supplement to your dog’s regimen. The information discussed here has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and no product is intended to…
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before introducing any supplement to your dog’s regimen. The pharmacokinetic concepts discussed here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and no product is intended…
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet or introducing any supplement. The statements discussed here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and no product is intended…
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Oral and dental disease in dogs requires professional veterinary assessment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian before introducing any supplement or changing your dog’s care regimen. The information discussed here has not been evaluated…
If the gut microbiome is an organ, the short-chain fatty acids are among its most important hormones. Produced when commensal bacteria ferment dietary fiber in the colon, acetate, propionate, and butyrate are far more than metabolic waste — they’re signaling molecules that shape intestinal barrier function, immune tone, and even systemic metabolism. For a veterinary…
The premise sounds counterintuitive: that a dead bacterium might do what a live one can’t. Yet the science of heat-killed, or tyndallized, lactobacilli is one of the more compelling chapters in the postbiotic story. The immune system doesn’t, in fact, require a microorganism to be alive to recognize it. It recognizes molecular patterns — and…
The colony-forming unit (CFU) is the currency of the probiotic industry. It’s on every label, it drives every marketing claim, and it steers purchasing decisions. “50 billion CFU!” “100 billion CFU!” — bigger numbers are meant to mean better products. But a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence points to an uncomfortable truth: the CFU printed…