As pet food allergies become more prevalent, it is crucial to be vigilant about what goes into your dog’s food. Part of that includes carefully going over the pet food label to ensure that it does not contain an ingredient that could harm your beloved animal.
That said, you won’t be able to tell whether a particular ingredient is safe for your pup if you don’t know much about it. For example, Enterococcus faecium is common in many pet products, but what is it, and what role does it play in dog food? Read on to find out!
What Is Enterococcus Faecium?
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Good gastrointestinal (GI) health is one of the most important facets of our overall well-being. The agents responsible for good GI health are good gut bacteria known as gut microbiota. Scientists sometimes refer to gut microbiota as the “forgotten organ” in our bodies. Similarly, your dog requires an optimal balance of good gut bacteria in their GI tract to maintain a healthy gut environment.
Enterococcus faecium is a type of good bacteria that appear naturally in your dog’s gut. However, since the levels of these bacteria tend to fluctuate, pet food manufacturers add E. faecium to their foods to help dogs maintain a healthy balance.
The 5 Benefits of Enterococcus Faecium
The following is a breakdown of the benefits that E. faecium provides to dogs.
1. Alleviates Digestive Issues due to Illness or Stress
When your pup is ill or under stress, the balance between good and bad gut bacteria becomes disrupted, leading to issues like stomach cramps, diarrhea, gas, and bad breath. By feeding your dog a food that contains Enterococcus faecium, you will help alleviate the severity and duration of those clinical signs.
This probiotic is also beneficial to dogs suffering from chronic intestinal distress, as it replenishes their guts with healthy bacteria.
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2. Allows Safe Changes in Diet
If your pup has been eating a particular food for a long time, they will likely suffer from an upset stomach when you switch to another food. But if the new food has Enterococcus faecium in it, there is a good chance that the dog will not experience GI distress.
3. Promotes Better Skin, Coat, and Dental Health
An imbalance of bacteria in the stomach is one of the main causes of skin allergies, as gut health and a robust immune system are intertwined entities. By improving your pup’s gut health, you can reduce their susceptibility to skin allergies, resulting in better skin and coat. Probiotics like Enterococcus faecium also support dental health by inhibiting the actions of bad bacteria.
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4. Improves Quality of Life for Senior Dogs
One of the effects of aging is a weakened immune system, and up to 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut. Therefore, keeping the GI tract in good condition is arguably the best way of maintaining a robust immune system. Feeding your aging dog a food that contains Enterococcus faecium might help them remain healthier for longer.
5. Promotes Better Behavior
A sign of an ailing dog is behavioral changes. Sick pups can experience emotional issues, resulting in behaviors like excessive licking, irritability, and other obsessive-compulsive actions. By their overall health supported through maintaining a healthy gut, your dog will be less likely to develop bad behaviors.
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What Are the Side Effects of Enterococcus Faecium?
The main reason that E. faecium is the probiotic of choice in most pet foods is its ability to withstand extreme conditions, making it remarkably effective at maintaining good gut health.
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Unfortunately, the resilient nature of Enterococcus faecium can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics, as antibiotics do not discriminate between bad and good bacteria; they fight them all.
Therefore, elevated levels of E. faecium in the dog’s body can make the animal resistant to antibiotics. While promoting good bacteria is not a bad idea, it is crucial to practice moderation.
Conclusion
Enterococcus faecium is a safe ingredient for dogs. It is essential for keeping your pet’s digestive system in good condition, and the strength of your pup’s immune system also depends upon the state of their gut health. Therefore, diets with E. faecium are highly recommended for all dogs. Still, it’s important to discuss its usage with your vet, especially if your dog is on antibiotics.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
