Feed the “good guy” bacteria in your dog’s gut to help him get the most out of his food.

Adding supplemental Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteruim bifidum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, or other probiotic organisms to your dog’s diet is almost always a good idea.

This will support the resident micro flora that are always present in your dog’s gut, enhancing digestion and absorption of nutrients, supporting detoxification and elimination processes and helping to boost his immune system.

The digestive system is the largest immune system organ in the body; roughly 70 percent of the body’s immune cells, entrecotes, goblet cells, and other immune waters reside in the mucosal linings of the intestinal tract.

Probiotics work in concert with these immune warriors by producing special enzymes and other chemicals that support immune functions at many levels. Probiotics will also help keep populations of “bad guy” pathogens, like Salmonella spp, and Escherichia coli, in check.

One of the fundamental rules of holistic pet care is to always remember that no two animals are alike. Your dog may look and behave like others, but his (or her) inner nature is different from any other dog.

What you can do:

• Give your dog a probiotic supplement that offers a variety of strains of beneficial bacteria.
• Nourish those good guy bacteria with a probiotic supplement.
• Monitor your dog’s weight, the condition of his coat, his energy level, and the quality of his Dailey stool for signs that his diet needs to be adjusted in some way. What works well for some dogs may not benefit another dog in other circumstances.