Effect of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68 on presence of diarrhea in cats and dogs housed in an animal shelter

J Vet Intern Med. 2011 Jul-Aug;25(4):856-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.0738.x. Epub 2011 Jun 20.

Abstract

Background: Beneficial effects of probiotics have never been analyzed in an animal shelter.

Hypothesis: Dogs and cats housed in an animal shelter and administered a probiotic are less likely to have diarrhea of ≥2 days duration than untreated controls.

Animals: Two hundred and seventeen cats and 182 dogs.

Methods: Double blinded and placebo controlled. Shelter dogs and cats were housed in 2 separate rooms for each species. For 4 weeks, animals in 1 room for each species was fed Enterococcus faecium SF68 while animals in the other room were fed a placebo. After a 1-week washout period, the treatments by room were switched and the study continued an additional 4 weeks. A standardized fecal score system was applied to feces from each animal every day by a blinded individual. Feces of animals with and without diarrhea were evaluated for enteric parasites. Data were analyzed by a generalized linear mixed model using a binomial distribution with treatment being a fixed effect and the room being a random effect.

Results: The percentage of cats with diarrhea ≥2 days was significantly lower (P = .0297) in the probiotic group (7.4%) when compared with the placebo group (20.7%). Statistical differences between groups of dogs were not detected but diarrhea was uncommon in both groups of dogs during the study.

Conclusion and clinical importance: Cats fed SF68 had fewer episodes of diarrhea of ≥2 days when compared with controls suggests the probiotic may have beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / parasitology
  • Cat Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cats
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diarrhea / parasitology
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dog Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Dogs
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Enterococcus faecium*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage*