Effects of a probiotic intervention in acute canine gastroenteritis--a controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a probiotic product in acute self-limiting gastroenteritis in dogs.


METHODS
Thirty-six dogs suffering from acute diarrhoea or acute diarrhoea and vomiting were included in the study. The trial was performed as a randomised, double blind and single centre study with stratified parallel group design. The animals were allocated to equal looking probiotic or placebo treatment by block randomisation with a fixed block size of six. The probiotic cocktail consisted of thermo-stabilised Lactobacillus acidophilus and live strains of Pediococcus acidilactici, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Lactobacillus farciminis.


RESULTS
The time from initiation of treatment to the last abnormal stools was found to be significantly shorter (P = 0.04) in the probiotic group compared to placebo group, the mean time was 1.3 days and 2.2 days, respectively. The two groups were found nearly equal with regard to time from start of treatment to the last vomiting episode.


CONCLUSIONS
The probiotic tested may reduce the convalescence time in acute self-limiting diarrhoea in dogs.
Petvett Ekeberg Small Animal Clinic, Ekebergveien 177, 1177 Oslo, Norway.
H K
HK
Herstad
B B
BB
Nesheim
T
T
L'Abée-Lund
S
S
Larsen
E
E
Skancke
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010376:Pediococcus / Q000254:growth & development; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome