Recently, there has been much ado about probiotics for humans and pets. It’s important to have a clear understanding of probiotics, their function, and which probiotics on the market perform as they should. It is no secret that advertisers are wily with their use of words and can lure the unsuspecting consumer in with cleverly turned phrases and allusions. For example, Forti Flora is claimed to be a highly recommended probiotic in the world of veterinary medicine. In fact, it may very well be highly recommended. As a consumer and pet owner, however, you should think twice before turning to Forti Flora to boost the digestive health of your personal protection dogs. A closer look at Forti Flora’s claims and the realities that are hidden by them will allow you to make an informed decision.
A Crash Course in Probiotics
All animals, both two-legged and four, have good and bad bacteria in their digestive tract. It is important to maintain a high number of good bacteria because they are what will fight off the bad bacteria responsible for a variety of digestive problems, like uncomfortable bloating, stomach upset, and even IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). A first-rate probiotic contains live bacteria (the good kind) and helps feed the already existing good bacteria. The more good bacteria is present, the better equipped your protection dog’s gut is to fight intestinal discomfort and illness. It is important that personal protection dogs maintain optimum health. It is also important to know that your dog’s digestive tract contains many different types of bacteria, with the stomach housing very few and different sections of the small intestine housing as many as four and even six different bacteria. Altogether, hundreds of bacteria strains exist. This simply cannot be a one size fits all scenario. Common sense dictates that an effective probiotic has a range of good bacteria to address the varied needs of a protection dog’s entire gastrointestinal tract. The CFU count or Colony Forming Unit Count reveals how many live bacteria cells are in a gram of a sampled product. The higher this count, the more effective the probiotic. Forti Flora does have a CFU count in the millions, and that may seem impressive. There are, however, other more effective probiotics available with a CFU count in the billions.
Natural Probiotics
Natural probiotics that have not undergone chemical treatment are the best choice for your protection dog. In raw form, goat’s milk contains many probiotics and is easier to digest. When raw, the lining of select cloven-hoofed and cud-chewing animals, known as tripe, has many enzymes and bacteria that aid digestion. Fermented kefir, derived from various milk sources, provides essential protein and bacteria. Fermented vegetables contribute to the bacteria count in the intestine and act as a prebiotic, encouraging the growth of existing bacteria.
Only Half the Battle
Knowing the positive traits to look for in a probiotic is essential to providing your protection dog with what he needs, but it is not enough. It is also important to look at traits to be avoided in commercial probiotics, traits that could even be harmful.
The Harsh Reality that is Forti Flora
If you are looking for personal protection dogs for sale, there are many criteria to consider, but none of more important than starting with and maintaining good health.
Numbers Don’t Lie
In spite of the fact that a higher CPU is best, Forti Flora has a fraction of the count of high-quality probiotics, with a deficit that numbers in the billions. This means that after a natural loss of bacteria to digestion, Forti Flora will have very few left to perform an adequate job.
Ingredients
Animal Digest, a top ingredient in Forti Flora, adds flavor through a processed animal protein that has been chemically altered. Unfortunately, the process, known as hydrolyzing, can reduce or eliminate the nutrients found in the original protein. Synthetics Of the thirteen ingredients in Forti Flora, nine are synthetic vitamins or minerals. These synthetic ingredients are not utilized by the body as readily as those in natural form. What’s more, they can actually interfere with nutrient absorption. Listed ingredients, such as synthetic antioxidants, may potentially inhibit the activity of other antioxidants that have been demonstrated to contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
Unsafe Farming Practices
The processing of some of Forti Flora’s ingredients most likely involves a genetically modified soy known as Monsanto, which accounts for ninety percent of soy grown in the United States. Hydrolyzed soy particles make dog food easier to digest. Most of the soy is sprayed with glyphosate while growing, to kill weeds. Traces of the chemical will persist in supplements made from soy that has been sprayed with glyphosate, even after processing. These traces of glyphosate can harm the good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract while leaving some of the more harmful bacteria alone.
The Safety of USDA?
If a dog food claims its meat comes only from USDA- approved facilities, odds are they are telling the truth. This does not mean it’s time to rest easy. A facility approved by the USDA can include fast food and regular restaurants, grocery stores and butchers, and even animal shelters.
Furthermore, an inspected facility does not imply that the meat from that facility has undergone inspection as well. These facilities source from dead, dying, and diseased animals, as well as those that have been euthanized. Additionally, these meats have to undergo disinfection with toxic materials known to be harmful, raising serious concerns. Your pet brings so many rewards to your life. When you first start looking for personal protection dogs for sale, plan on a future that involves taking a more natural approach and avoiding Forti Flora and other commercially produced probiotics. Remember the misleading claims of many manufacturers. Also, keep a higher CPU count in mind, avoid fillers, and consider a prebiotic for optimum health. Make a small investment of time and effort for a huge return of joy and peace of mind.
