Vision Statements: Industry leaders provide a look behind the curtain to discuss their company values and goals in this first-person sponsored essay series.
For almost 100 years, Nestlé Purina PetCare has been on the forefront of pet nutrition innovation. As our scientists discover new innovations, an important focus of our research is the ecosystem that lives inside the body. Why? Because we believe the next generation of medical advances will come through modulating the billions of microorganisms that comprise the gastrointestinal microbiome. At Nestlé Purina research facilities, we’re learning more every day about the connection between the microbiome and pet health. When the microbiome is balanced, the pet thrives, reaping benefits that contribute to energy balance, metabolic regulation, and better gut epithelial, immune, and behavioral health. Conversely, when the microbiome is out of balance, the resulting dysbiosis can be connected to diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and anxiety.
At the Nestlé Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, scientists have spent decades working with probiotics, and today have a culture collection of more than 3,000 probiotic strains. This collaboration between human and pet health research led to important insights about how specific probiotic strains work in different species. Enterococcus faecium SF68® is the strain in the No. 1 probiotic supplement recommended by veterinarians,* Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora® Canine and Feline Probiotic Supplement, which supports GI and immune health. Bifidobacterium longum BL999 is the probiotic strain found in our Calming Care supplement, which was recently launched for use in cats as well as dogs that exhibit anxious behaviors. BL999 targets the gut-brain axis, sending signals through the enteric nervous system to the brain stem via the vagus nerve to alter anxious behavior.
Probiotics can also be fed in conjunction with prebiotic fibers, which fuel the beneficial bacteria in the GI tract and stimulate production of short-chain fatty acids to promote mucosal health and support host immune function. FortiFlora® SA Synbiotic Action, which combines the benefits of SF68 with psyllium fiber, is Nestlé Purina’s first synbiotic supplement.
At Nestlé Purina, our mission is to help pets live their best life possible — a mission we share with veterinarians everywhere. As we continue exploring the new frontiers of microbiome modulation, we will continue to promote nutrition innovation.
For More Info: purina.com