Soil-based probiotics and why they are best for your dog
Have you ever looked outside and seen your dog eating grass and soil, or watched your cat lick some dirt out of the potted plants? This is usually because your pet is lacking in some kind of nutrient, specifically soil-based organisms (SBOs), causing them to want to seek out other resources to recover whatever they are low in. No worries, simply adding a soil-based probiotic to your pet’s daily diet should help with symptoms like pica, diarrhea (chronic or intermittent), constipation or to give while your companion takes antibiotics. There are so many options out there for supplements, especially probiotics, this article will explain why soil-based probiotics are best for dogs and what kind of brands you should be purchasing.
Let’s start with the first simple question. What is a probiotic?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are proven to aid in the gut’s digestive properties, by interacting with the body’s microbiota, which lives in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Gut microbes help in the digestion of food as well as aid the body’s immune system, influence overall brain function and health, as well as enhance immune response, and improve the integrity of the GI barrier. When we or our pets take a probiotic, it introduces new microbes to our gut. This good bacteria helps to create health-promoting metabolites that will interact with the pre-existing gut flora, improving the GI tract’s abilities to digest food, process nutrients, and have healthy bowel movements. A healthy gut is also thought to aid in having a healthy mind.
What is a soil-based probiotic?
The soil-based probiotics (or SBOs) are microorganisms, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans, that are found in soil, unlike the most common strains, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which come from dairy and are found in the majority of most NON soil-based probiotics that are found online. These two organisms can also be found in foods like fermented drinks and yogurt.
These SBOs are different from their probiotic counterparts because they are spore-forming. This means that they form an outer shell that protects the microorganisms from heat, stomach acid, and medications like antibiotics. Actually, because of this protective barrier, many antibiotics are made from SBOs!
Can my dog just eat dirt?
For millennia, dirt and its soil-based organisms have been a part of our bodies' GI tracts and especially our pets’. Like mentioned earlier, your dog eating dirt isn’t a bad thing, it’s just their way of trying to get SBOs into their body to make up for whatever they are deficient in. That being said, eating some dirt out in the yard isn’t going to cut it; providing a supplement of a SBO is the best way to incorporate healthy flora to your pet’s gut.
This is because unfortunately for us today, so much of the public soil and other places we take our pets are sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers which can greatly affect and actually kill SBOs. Unless you have your own garden or only buy organic groceries, you won’t get SBOs from your normal vegetables at the store because these have been treated for insects and had most of the dirt and other particles washed off.
Why are soil-based probiotics best for dogs?
SBOs have been proven to help many dogs that other Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus type bacterias have failed to improve. Besides picking up where a different probiotic left off, SBOs are far quicker and more effective at rendering positive results compared to traditional probiotics.
What is in a soil-based probiotic?
Many soil-based probiotics use the two bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans, as their main probiotic ingredient. Because these organisms are found in the soil and not derived from fermented dairy, they are ideal for pets and people with lactose intolerance.
There are many different kinds of SBO probiotics on the market, and while supplements are not FDA regulated, there is one brand worth mentioning. The product Safe Guard is one that uses the Bacillus subtilis and coagulans bacteria.
In addition to using the Bacillus subtilis and coagulans, Safe Guard includes the other soil-based duo of Fulvic and Humic acid.
As an organic matter decomposes, Fulvic acid is released into the ground. This substance is high in antioxidants and is a natural source of pre- and probiotics. Fulvic acid helps the body absorb nutrients and balances the stomach's natural microbiomes.
Humic acid is an important addition in our daily soil-based probiotic. Because it is getting harder to obtain enough minerals from food, incorporating a substance like Humic acid will be significantly beneficial. It is rich in minerals and trace minerals that are difficult to find in a typical daily diet.
If you’re just starting your pet off on a probiotic, try not to worry if at first there’s some change in stool conditions that are potentially unfavorable. This can be normal when starting a new supplement or incorporating a change in diet. Give the product time to level out in the gut. Thankfully, SBOs have a shorter acting time and can render positive results in as little as a few days, as opposed to traditional probiotics which can take weeks before seeing a change in stool conditions and bloating.
Why Safe Guard is truly the safe option.
Safe Guard probiotics include the spore forming duo of Bacillus subtilis and coagulans which work together as a hardy and long lasting pair that can withstand conditions many other formulas struggle to. It works by forming a hard outer shell that protects the bacteria from stomach acid and heat, allowing it to reach other parts of the GI tract that the dairy based probiotics struggle with. This healthy probiotic bacteria will promote the formation of good gut microflora which will help with the absorption of nutrients and water as well as improve irritable bowel conditions and constipation.
If you’re doing your own research on probiotics for your dog and want to give one a shot, try Safe Guard. This soil-based probiotic will surely improve your pet’s overall GI health and hopefully their happy gut will also reduce any noticeable anxiety and stress.
Remember, a happy gut is a happy dog!