Right in my gut… 👀

Gut feelings? Maybe, but about 70% of the immune system resides there too! While an animal's gastrointestinal (GI) tract is obviously critical to its health and wellbeing due to its role of absorbing nutrients, its functions go far beyond that... A balanced microbiome is crucial to maintaining optimal gut health, as the microbiota can:

• Help block the attachment and colonization of invading enteric pathogens, including Salmonella and Escherichia coli;
• Support the utilization of nutrients in the diet and produce useful metabolic substrates, such as vitamins and short-chain fatty acids;
• Bolster immunity by maintaining normal physiological homeostasis.

  That is to say that if the normal balance of this microbiota becomes disrupted, it can affect the immunity and the overall health of the host animal. If the animal has been treated with antibiotics, has experienced a stress event, or has been faced with a diet change, its microbiota may not reach its stable point as it normally would with age. Luckily, it's possible (and advisable!) to support a healthy microbiome through probiotic supplementation.