Long Term Probiotic Use

[HrseMom]

Hello all, wondering if anyone has their Doodle on long term Probiotics? I discovered this worked miracles for my dog. She's 4.5 has been on Animal Essentials (plant enzymes & probiotics). Helped with her sensitive digestive track as well as keeping her ears. She came to us with one side infected. Occasional common flare ups. 

Here is where it gets tricky. She's on a high grade grain free diet. Recently starting excessivily itching. The probiotic was the last item removed from her diet. It appears this may be her allergy! My holisitc pet food store thought it could be her food (salmon based) as I had not switched it up in awhile. That I hear can cause an allegros reaction to the protein. 

In short, I would really like to try another probiotic eventually. But need to get away from the current one. Any recs? Also, does anyone give one daily long term? Thank you!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say. I give iFlora daily to both doodles to keep their poos a good consistency (I think it was last Spring when I started). Recently, Oscar has been scratching more, ever since his last professional groom and since we've had a spell of cold, dry weather. Not sure if either of those things contribute to it, but its possible he's either reacted to a particular shampoo or is affected by the weather. I kind of doubt the probiotic is to blame, and doubt his food (Acana Lamb and Apple)  is either, but who knows? This discussion reminded me I need to start Oscar on Evening Primrose Oil to see if that helps.

Sorry, I said, 'Forti Flora' earlier, and meant, iFlora (I caught it early enough to edit it out). Forti Flora is the really bad stuff from Purina the vet often tries to sell for tummy problems.

[HrseMom]

Thanks for your response. Hopefully we will all learn from this post. I first started with her skin. Shampoo, dryness of the season. Fleas? Though I doubted it, regularly treated. Did she pick something up at the Groomer? If it were something like a mange, can that be transmitted from grooming tools? I have been watching her after meals the last couple of days. She eats x2 daily. Gave (2) different formulas of food with pumpkin, to hopefully avoid an issue as this is a cold turkey off her other food. She started scratching directly after her meals. Tonight, I removed the probiotic. So far, no itching. Her tummy does not appear as warm/lighter reddish color to the skin either. I am trying to eliminate all options before calling the vet. She will tell me to do the same, so suspect I am just getting a head start here :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Calla has been scratching like crazy for weeks now. I give her an Allegra sometimes which helps a bit. It seems worse this year than usual. I'm hoping it calms down soon. Her food hasn't changed and I don't think that it has anything to do with it.

[HrseMom]

So could be dry skin? I did see a small rash, but that could be from scratching. He skin does not look too dry otherwise. Friend of mine mentioned Mane & Tail used as a leave in conditioner. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Dry skin or allergies here I think. I have to constantly be on the alert for the dreaded hot spots lately.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I really sincerely doubt that the probiotic could be the cause of the itching. 

I do give JD daily probiotics long term, as he needs them for a digestive disease. He gets a human probiotic, VSL#3. 

He also has allergies, Atopic Dermatitis, which have been reliably diagnosed via skin testing by a veterinary dermatologist. The probiotics do not affect his allergies, nor do they cause any itchiness.

As far as recommendations go, Proviable DC is an excellent probiotic for dogs.

[HrseMom]

I believe that Karen. Perhaps its the type I am using. It's plant based. I can tell she has environmental "outdoor allergies" in season. Clear runny nose on occasion. I really want to avoid conventional medication if we can do it naturally. I am going to look at changing up with probiotic. Atoptic Dermatitis was on the list of skin disorders for itching too :(. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If she has Atopic Dermatitis (which is environmental, seasonal, inhalant, or "outdoor" allergies), there are very few treatment options. Neither probiotics nor digestive enzymes will help in any way. The most "natural" treatment is desensitization or immunotherapy injections, and you must do skin testing first. The only other options are immunosuppressant drugs. For mild cases, you can treat the symptoms with the Omega 3 fatty acids DHA & EPA from fish oil supplements, GLA from evening primrose oil supplements, antihistamines, special shampoos, and OTC anti-itch sprays. 

[HrseMom]

Thank you for the tips Karen. Taking one step at a time. This all came on so suddenly!

[Kathy (Ellie & Oliver)]

We give our doodles Gentle Digest probiotics. You can buy the capsules on Amazon. A three pack of 60 capsules in each bottle for $22. When our dogs were having stomach and poop issues, the vet gave the dogs FortiFlora which is made by Purina. When I saw that it was made by Purina, I knew I had to find an alternative, and besides FortiFlora is so expensive. I posted my concerns in the Food Group and Karen suggested a few brands to try. I researched Gentle Digest probiotics and the reviews were positive. The cost was reasonable. (25 cents a day per doodle) Our dogs have been on Gentle Digest for about a year.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Gentle Digest is an excellent product. I buy the capsules at a local privately owned "boutique" type pet supply store. JD gets them every day.

[HrseMom]

Thank you again Karen! We will give it a try.