In this post, I'm sharing the research I did on what probiotics are shown to be helpful for dogs with cancer, how to make your own probiotics in an Instant Pot, and why the probiotics I've been buying for myself are actually really good for dogs, too!
My friend Monca (also a shepherd owner) has been making probiotics for years, but I only just now got around to doing it myself. I've always wanted to make my own probiotics - particularly, a strain called L. Rhamnossus, because it's so good at killing nasty bacteria like e. Coli (scroll down and you'll see it's in the probiotic I take, and am hopeful it's being propagated with other strains in my Instant Pot)!
I was never able to figure out how to cultivate the Rhamnossus strain of probiotics, but I was sooo happy to see this really informative video with Dr. Eric Berg and Dr. William Davis, that shows how to make the L. Reuteri strain of probiotics, which has so many health benefits, both Dr. Berg and Dr. Davis raved about it. It is really good for digestion. I googled it, and apparently it's really good for dogs, too! Dr. Eric Berg says in this video that it's the most important microbe in your body - and it also has anti-cancer benefits, and slows down aging!
From google:
Lactobacillus reuteri is a beneficial probiotic for dogs, particularly beneficial for canine intestinal health and overall well-being. It can help improve stool quality and may be helpful in controlling intestinal infections. Some studies have shown it can also aid in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.
You can see another video showing how Dr. William Davis makes his probiotics, HERE. And I've embedded this video (plus the one including Dr. Berg) further down the page.
It's great to be able to make my own probiotics, because they can get pretty pricey - especially when you have multiple dogs! So, I started to experiment with making my own in my instant pot.
I have to tell you that I am still in the experimental phase of making this myself, using the TruNature brand (more about that type further down the page). I just use 3-4 capsules of it, in a batch, but it could be that I should use more or less, I haven't done enough experimenting. At some point I would like to consult with Dr. Davis about this. If you ever want to ask him quesitons, you can join his inner circle (I'd like to do that in the future... it's on my to-do list for when I have a little more time and money).
I was surprised to see that the only probiotic listed is Bacillus coagulans.
But according to google, this strain is important because:
Bacillus CoagulansRegularly providing your pet with beneficial germs helps to improve the intestinal tract by encouraging the growth of microflora and microorganisms that aid digestion and enhance nutrient absorption.
On the positive side, this Naturvet product has a good amount of really beneficial pancreatic digestive enzymes, which I believe are very important for cancer, because of the research I've read, from Dr. Nick Gonzalez.
Dr. Gonzalez learned about the importance of pancreatic enzymes, to treat cancer, from the research done by John Beard. Gonzalez learned about John Beard's research through his mentor, Dr. William Kelly, who cured his own pancreatic cancer with pancreatic digestive enzymes. You can see a speech with Dr. Gonzalez, talking about Dr. Beard's research, ON THIS PAGE.
John Beard's incredible research showed the connection between pancreatic enzymes and cancer. Apparently, the day the trophoblast (an embryo in later stages) stops growing rapidly, out of control (just like cancer cells do), is the day the body starts producing pancreatic enzymes. This was the case in all human and animal models he tested!
From Google:
The pancreas produces several essential digestive enzymes including lipase, protease, and amylase. These enzymes break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, respectively, helping the body absorb nutrients from food. If the pancreas doesn't produce enough of these enzymes, it can lead to pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (EPI), causing digestive problems.
I did a google search to see what types of probiotics are best for combatting cancer, and this is what came up:
Best Probiotic for Cancer PatientsThe most commonly studied probiotics for cancer patients include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These strains have been shown to improve immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve the response to cancer treatment.
I was happy to see that these 3 probiotic strains can be found in a brand of probiotics I had already been buying for myself! So, I just made a batch for my dog Kali (who has tumors), to use in her food, and will be giving some to my other shepherds as well.
I usually get it from Costco (23 cents a pill).... but was surprised to see it's actually CHEAPER on Amazon! (20 cents a pill)
To show you that yes, all these strains really are OK for dogs, just click on the links (aka the name of the probiotic, which is linked) and you can see research for yourself (will open in a new window). I also copied and pasted some of the brief summaries about the different probiotic strains, further down the page.
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG , Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterïum breve
Certain strains of bacteria, known as Lactobacillus acidophilus and
Lactobacillus paracasei is a probiotic bacteria that can benefit dogs, particularly in managing digestive issues and improving overall health. Studies have shown its effectiveness in reducing diarrhea, itchy skin (atopic dermatitis), and improving immune function.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a probiotic strain that may be beneficial for dogs, particularly in supporting digestive health and potentially mitigating atopic dermatitis. While research in dogs is ongoing, studies suggest LGG can positively impact stool quality, reduce diarrhea, and even influence immune responses in atopic dermatitis.
Bifidobacterium lactis is a type of probiotic that can benefit dogs by supporting their digestive health and overall well-being. It's part of the broader category of Bifidobacteria, a group of bacteria known for their beneficial effects on gut flora.
Bifidobacterium infantis is a probiotic bacteria, and like other Bifidobacterium species, it can be beneficial for dogs. While it's more commonly associated with human infant gut health, it can be part of a broader probiotic mix that supports canine digestive and overall health.
(Lactobacillus saliverius) Lactobacilli inhabit commonly all parts of the dog intestine [11], ranging from 104 to 108 CFU/ml and among them Lactobacillus acidophilus is dominant [12]. Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus salivarius are reported being a part of health canine intestine [13].
Bifidobacterium bifidum: B. bifidum helps the dog's digestive tract break down food and absorb nutrients while fighting harmful bacteria.May 6, 2024
Your dog's gastrointestinal tract and brain are in constant contact, and proper microorganisms in the intestines can help with mental and emotional regulation. The bacterium called bifidobacterium longum, commonly known as BL999, is at the forefront of this discovery.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9983181/
Lactobacillus reuteri is a beneficial probiotic for dogs, particularly beneficial for canine intestinal health and overall well-being. It can help improve stool quality and may be helpful in controlling intestinal infections. Some studies have shown it can also aid in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.
Lactobacillus casei is a beneficial bacterium, considered a probiotic, that can improve a dog's overall health and well-being, particularly in supporting digestive and immune function. It helps prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and can improve the production of Lactobacillus acidophilus, a common probiotic in canines.
According to a 2021 study published by PubMed, lactobacillus plantarum is beneficial for dogs of all ages. Research has shown that it can help improve gut health in dogs of all age groups - puppies, adult canines, and senior dogs alike - as well as reduce anxiety and manage diarrhea.
Specifically, the bifidobacterial core gut microbiota of cats and dogs were obtained considering only those bifidobacterial species with a prevalence of ≥80%, leading to the identification of 13 core taxa in dogs, of which Bifidobacterium breve (average relative abundance, 18.11%), Bifidobacterium magnum (13.17%), Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum (11.30%), Bifidobacterium adolescentis (5.82%), Bifidobacterium bifidum (3.86%), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (3.45%) coupled with a novel putative bifidobacterial species, i.e., Bifidobacterium pseudolongum_new_subsp. (15.28%) (see below) as the most prevalent and the most abundant bifidobacterial species of the canine gut microbiota (see Table S4). Conversely, using the same criteria, just seven bifidobacterial species represented the bifidobacterial core gut microbiota of cats, i.e., B. adolescentis (24.61%), B. breve (9.18%), Bifidobacterium pseudolongum_new_subsp. (8.18%), B. longum subsp. longum (6.87%), B. dentium (4.29%), B. animalis subsp. lactis (2.68%), and Bifidobacterium crudilactis (1.17%).
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are a type of prebiotic that can benefit dogs by supporting a healthy gut microbiome. They are indigestible carbohydrate chains that act as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, like bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. XOS can help improve digestion, nutrient absorption, and potentially boost the immune system.
The BEST PROBIOTICS for your DOG'S gut? | Vet Explains
If you didn't get a chance to see the videos with Dr. Berg and Dr. Davis, here they are again:
Fix Your Gut with ONE Microbe