Efficacy of an orally administered anti-diarrheal probiotic paste (Pro-Kolin Advanced) in dogs with acute diarrhea: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical study

Nixon, Sophie L.; Rose, Lindsay; Muller, Annika T.

Treatment with the ADPP compared to placebo in dogs with acute, uncomplicated diarrhea led to a decrease in the duration of diarrhea and a decrease in the requirement for AMI because of non-improvement or deterioration. Existing evidence suggests that probiotics can exert a beneficial effect on gastrointestinal health in dogs. 16 Probiotics have been shown to accelerate the resolution of nonspecific acute diarrhea, [41] [42] [43] improve the outcome of parvoviral enteritis in puppies, 46 Compliance with the ADPP was high and comparable with the study diet. Fewer than 3% of owners involved in the study were unable to administer either the study diet or the ADPP or placebo pastes. In order for the study to accurately reflect field conditions, dogs that missed doses of the ADPP or placebo were not censored in the analysis, provided they had not missed >2 doses on a single day and providing the dosing interval did not exceed 24 hours. Our results should be interpreted in the context of limitations in the study design. First, it was assumed that the placebo paste would have no effect on the outcome of acute diarrhea, but differences in the macronutrient profile of the ADPP and placebo could have influenced the duration of diarrhea. For example, the fat content of the placebo was slightly lower than that of the ADPP (39% and 42%, respectively). A low-fat diet is commonly recommended in dogs with acute diarrhea because of the effect of dietary fat on gastrointestinal motility and the possibility that undigested fat in the colon could exacerbate diarrhea. [50] [51] [52] [53] However, the small difference in fat content between the ADPP and placebo was deemed unlikely to affect clinical outcome in the context of the total dietary intake of macronutrients.