A Review of Application Strategies and Efficacy of Probiotics in Pet Food

In companion animal nutrition, probiotics (direct-fed microbials) are marketed as functional ingredients that add value to pet foods due the impact they have on gastrointestinal and immune health of dogs cats. The nature beneficial effect each probiotic strain exerts depends its metabolic properties perhaps most importantly, arrival a sufficient number viable cells large bowel host. Pet food manufacturing processes designed improve safety prolong shelf-life, which is counterproductive survival direct-fed microbials. Therefore, prerequisite for effective formulation with an understanding conditions bacterial needs survive. aims this chapter are: (1) To summarize inherent characteristics strains used in commercial foods, (2) review recently published literature applications their associated challenges viability.