Probiotics

[Busysqrl]

Hi all,

When giving Abs, at what point do you all start giving the probiotics to replentish the good bacteria in the gut? I've read a lot on the internet and there seems to be two camps . . .

1. Probiotics should be given during the course of the Abs, but not given at the same time as the Ab as you don't want them in the gut at the same time to prevent the Abs from fully doing their job. So you'd give Abs morning and night and then probiotics in the middle of the day.

2. Probiotics should only be given at the end of the Ab treatment to ensure the full effectiveness of the Ab.

What's the general concensous around here? :thankyou

[island rehabber]

I follow method #1, myself. However with Baytril I do not give probiotics at all simply because I have never had a squirrel get GI distress from Baytril. Now Clavamox or Albon is another story....:shakehead I have used Benebac and acidophilus between dosing of meds.

[Busysqrl]

Thank you IR, I'm adminstering Sulfatrim and although I don't notice any GI upset, I would still like to give the probiotics just as insurance. For a UTI, would you go 7 or 10 days on the Sulfatrim?

[island rehabber]

Thank you IR, I'm adminstering Sulfatrim and although I don't notice any GI upset, I would still like to give the probiotics just as insurance. For a UTI, would you go 7 or 10 days on the Sulfatrim?

I would go the full 10 :thumbsup.

[Busysqrl]

OK, will do, thanks IR!!!:grouphug

[momma2boo]

Want to hear something strange? My vet (Dr. Emerson) says that squirrels don't require probiotics when taking ABs. She says it doesn't affect them the same way it does us. :dono

I still give it to mine ... all the time, as a matter of fact. Even if it doesn't help them ... it helps me. LOL

[mugzeezma]

Want to hear something strange? My vet (Dr. Emerson) says that squirrels don't require probiotics when taking ABs. She says it doesn't affect them the same way it does us. :dono

I still give it to mine ... all the time, as a matter of fact. Even if it doesn't help them ... it helps me. LOL

The reasoning behind giving probiotics is that the 'good' bacteria will prevent the 'bad' bacteria from taking over. Antibiotics are only somewhat selective and will kill of both populations.
I was told by the vet at Willowbrook that probiotics should be used during and after.
I guess it depends on who you want to listen to and which book you want to read. Even vets don't agree all the time.
That's the theory though
up to you

[momma2boo]

The reasoning behind giving probiotics is that the 'good' bacteria will prevent the 'bad' bacteria from taking over. Antibiotics are only somewhat selective and will kill of both populations.
I was told by the vet at Willowbrook that probiotics should be used during Aand after.
I guess it depends on who you want to listen to and which book you want to read. Even vets don't agree all the time.
That's the theory though
up to you

I just find it interesting that she would say they don't need it. I still err on the side of safety. It won't hurt anything to give it to them and might even help. So, they get it every day.

[mugzeezma]

I just find it interesting that she would say they don't need it. I still err on the side of safety. It won't hurt anything to give it to them and might even help. So, they get it every day.

I know little about microbiology but don't the probiotics found in yogurts really only work with lactose?
I was in search of bunny bugs for my Cottontails and found that there are some 55 types of bacteria that inhabit the gut for fermentation. some of these are far to unstable to be introduced except in a cecal tea.
Squirrels do not have quite the same system but they do have a small hindgut.
I think that if the animal is on formula then the yogurt cultures would help. Anything else and you would need bacteria that breaks down more specific things like cellulose. I really don't know and besides where would you get something like that?

THe important thing is you don'y have diarrhea and if you are concerned...probiotics can't hurt.

[momma2boo]

I know little about microbiology but don't the probiotics found in yogurts really only work with lactose?
I was in search of bunny bugs for my Cottontails and found that there are some 55 types of bacteria that inhabit the gut for fermentation. some of these are far to unstable to be introduced except in a cecal tea.
Squirrels do not have quite the same system but they do have a small hindgut.
I think that if the animal is on formula then the yogurt cultures would help. Anything else and you would need bacteria that breaks down more specific things like cellulose. I really don't know and besides where would you get something like that?

THe important thing is you don'y have diarrhea and if you are concerned...probiotics can't hurt.

I put multidophilus in the Boo Ball recipe.

[Busysqrl]

Good disussion ladies. MB2 - my vet tech said something similar. She said the introduce good bacteria everytime they groom themselves. Hmmm that didn't ring completely true so I decided it can't hurt and will likely help so why not? I understand 'they' are coming out with a new provoking that will have a tonote types of good bacteria than has previously been available.