ADVANCED PROBIOTIC-PREBIOTIC TREATMENT
FOR CANINE DIARRHEA
Alvah C. Bittner, Ph.D, CPE and Jeff M. Smith
We recently explored the use of Pet Flora
[Vitality Science Inc,Fairmont, WV] an advanced probiotic-prebiotic
formulation for treatment of canine bacterial diarrhea. This
probiotic-prebiotic complex previously was found particularly effective
for the treatment of a wide variety of human GI disorders.[1,2] The
particular breadth of efficacy relative earlier probiotic treatments is
attributed to the unique complex of its 29 probiotic soil-based-organisms
(SBOs) and leonardite, a prebiotic mix of humic substances that differentially
enhance SBO proliferation.[1] Among conditions responding to this
probiotic-prebiotic complex were both: occasional diarrhea
(e.g., travelers); and chronic diarrhea such as associated
with IBS and Colitis.[2] The results of on-going studies addressing
human bacterial diarrhea together with anecdotal reports of
efficacy in treatment of canine and feline patients prompted
our study of canine diarrhea.
Bacterial diarrhea is one of the most common
maladies faced both by small-animal veterinarians and physicians working
in the third-world. In dogs and humans, a number of bacteria commonly
have been associated with diarrhea, including: Salmonella, C. perfringens,
and C. difficile. However, these and a variety of other organisms
also are not uncommonly a part of both healthy canine and human intestinal
microflora. Stool studies and related diagnostic approaches consequently
may not be particularly timely nor useful when faced with an accelerating
outbreak of diarrhea in a closed population either in a kennel
or closely packed village setting. Emphases consequently include immediate
treatment to limit the duration of diarrhea and other actions to limit
its possible transmission [particularly in the very young as untreated
diarrhea has been associated with up to 20% deaths in this group].
Ongoing studies of the advanced probiotic-prebiotic
treatment for addressing human bacterial diarrhea have indicated an
approximate halving of its duration. At one study site in the Ecuadorian
lowlands, for example, the probiotic-prebiotic treatment reduced diarrheal
duration from a modal <24 hours; whereas, the range for antibiotic
treatment was 48-72 hours (with either 7-day courses of Amoxicillin
or Ampicillin, or a Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim combination Clotrimoxazol).
In the highlands, with water-supply far more contaminated, the duration
with similar antibiotic treatment was 72-96 hours vs. >24 to 48
hours with the experimental treatment. Initial anecdotal reports of
the use of the experimental treatment -- in canine and feline companions
tentatively suggested that both companion species experienced
reductions in the duration of active diarrhea vs. more traditional
antibiotic studies. These reports augmented with the earlier
GI disorder studies altogether argued for the following exploratory
study.
Pet Flora (250mg BID) was administered to 10 dogs suffering
from bacterial diarrhea during a recent kennel outbreak. Affected
dogs, it is noteworthy, represented a sampling of the assortment of
Newfoundland, Golden, and other retrievers with a sprinkling of working
breeds that were sent to the kennel for training. This outbreak, representing
nearly half the kennel capacity, well-exceeded the potential for individual
isolation; hence, treatment had to be conducted in-situ. Given this
limitation, the kennel areas and animals were first thoroughly cleansed
and all animals were immediately administered Pet Flora (as
a prophylactic for those not showing any symptoms). It should be noted
that both food and water were made available to all past experience
suggesting that diarrhea could be readily controlled without these
traditional restrictions. No signs of diarrhea were seen after 12
hours observation this was certainly less-than the median of
the 24-to-48 hours typical with our traditional treatment (Neomycin
generic Biosol, 1.1cc/10kg, with food and possibility
water restrictions). This Pet Flora-Biosol difference in diarrheal
duration of was very-highly significant statistically (P<0.002,
2-tailed, Binomial Sign-Test).[3]
< The exploratory results reported above
of the advanced Probiotic-Prebiotic combination (Pet Flora)
are clinically as well as statistically significant.
Indeed, the duration of observed bacterial diarrhea in dogs was less
than half that experienced with the more traditional antibiotic approach
(that included removal of water and possibly food). These
results were, however, in general keeping with experiences in the
recently completed studies in human diarrhea patients (ages 2 to 65
yrs.). It will be interesting to see if the efficacy of Pet Flora
will analogously hold across IBS and other conditions where efficacy
already has been demonstrated in human patients[1,2]. The full generality
of the potential of an advanced probiotic-prebiotic for treatment
of canine bacterial diarrhea and other GI conditions remains to be
fully established. The considerable promise shown in initial results
certainly recommends practitioner exploration of the emerging technology
represented by Pet Flora.
References
1. Bittner, A.C., Croffut, R.M. & Stranahan, M.C. (2005)
Prescript-AssistTM Probiotic-Prebiotic Treatment for Irritable Bowel
Syndrome: Randomized, placebo-Controlled, Double-blind Clinical Study.
Clinical Therapeutics, 27(6):755-761.
2. Smith, C. Open Label Clinical Study of PrescriptAssistTM for Diverse
Chronic Conditions of the GI Tract (Report CS-01-05). Ft. Benton,
MT: Safer Medical, Inc.
3. Gibbons, J.D. (1988). Sign Tests. In: Encyclopedia of Statistical
Sciences, Vol 8:471-475. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons.
Alvah C. Bittner, Ph.D., CPE is a Research Team Leader with Bittner
& Associates, Kent WA & Professor, affiliated with Department
of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Jeff M. Smith is Owner, Rocky Mountain Retrievers, Missoula, MT &
President, North American Hunting Retriever Association, Fredericksburg,
VA
