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, Oakland Park, FL] – 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