Lactobacillus / Lactobacilli

Brand

BENE-BAC Pet Gel
(manufacturer: Pet-Ag.,Inc.)

Availability

Gel tubes: 15 gm (or smaller).

Pharmacology

BENE-BAC, labeled as a small animal dietary supplement, is a probiotic that contains the following based on manufacturer description:

Live Lactic Acid Producing Bacteria: 10 million colony forming units per gram of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus casei.
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried L. plantarum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried L. casei fermentation product, vegetable oils, sugar, silicon dioxide, artificial color, Polysorbate 80 preserved with tertiary butyl hydroquinone.

Probiotics with live culture help to maintain a healthy gut environment whenever antibiotics are administered, particularly since antibiotics have the ability to kill off beneficial gut flora as well.

Indications

To help maintain or reestablish healthy gut flora needed for a healthy digestive system when antibiotic therapy is required.

Drug Interactions or Contraindications

None reported.
Check with veterinarian about appropriate use of probiotics when antibiotics are being prescribed for your pet rat.

Adverse Reactions

None reported.

Dosage Recommendations

1/4 of a gm. or 0.25 gms of oral gel. ¹²

Give PO (oral) during antibiotic treatment period, then 5-7 days beyond cessation; give 2 hour prior to or 2 hour following antibiotic treatment. ¹^, ²⁶^, ³⁴

*Note: there are varied opinions among veterinarians with regard as to when to begin probiotic treatment. Check with veterinarian at the time rat is placed on antibiotic therapy.

Considerations

An alternative to Bene-Bac, or lactobacillus granules, is to give acidophilus, or 1 teaspoon of yogurt unflavored or flavored containing live culture daily while on antimicrobials following the guideline: 2 hours before or 2 hours after antibiotic is given.
Read label for proper storing. Depending on brands some may require refrigeration, or storing at room temperature.