Prospects for the use of probiotic bacteria in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs.

Probiotic bacteria have been known for over a century. Probiotics are defined as direct feed microbials or microbial cell preparations with a beneficial effect on the health and well-being of the host. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus strains are used most frequently as probiotics. In recent years, their use has increased significantly in both human and veterinary medicine. These bacteria play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Lactobacillus and Enterococcus are capable of colonizing the alimentary tract in dogs. As a result, probiotic bacteria take an important part in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease.