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Debbie · Guest

Prebiotics basically provide an energy source for the good probiotic bacteria (they feed the bacteria) - as well as providing a suitable intestinal environment (acid) that promotes the growth of probiotic bacteria.

These prebiotics (Fructo-oligosaccharides and mannon-oligosaccharides = simple sugars.) not only provide the right environment for probiotic bacteria - but they can also help fight against bad (pathogenic) bacteria. Pathogenic bacteria like to attach themselves on to the intestinal wall (see below) - to prevent themselves being washed out of the gut.

However, they prefer to bind to the saccharides - so if they are present in the diet - the pathogenic bacteria attach to them - and not the intestine - and are swept out of the gut along with the food.

Prebiotics are added routinely to some commercial rabbit foods (not chinchilla pellets as yet). Fructo-oligosaccharides are however, found in fruit, so maybe the odd small slice of apple will not go amiss. They are also now added to some brands of powdered probiotic.

Benefits of Probiotics

By adding probiotics to the chins usual diet (or drinking water) - you are encouraging certain species of beneficial bacteria - which help to "push out" the more harmful species.
Good bacteria (probiotics) produce enzymes which help the digestive ability of the animal (chinchillas are hind-gut fermenters - which rely on a bacterial balance in their caecum to help digest their food).
Good bacteria also provide a barrier against invading pathogens (bad bacteria).
Digestive upsets are very common during times of stress (i.e. weaning for instance) - and it is during these times where using probiotics may be of great benefit.
Antibiotics kill all bacteria (good and bad) - and additional usage of probiotics will re-establish a micro-flora.
Detrimental (bad) bacteria such as E. coli attach themselves to the intestine wall (on certain attachment sites) by the means of hair-like structures (called fimbriae). However, certain species of good bacteria block these attachment sites - so the pathogens cannot stick!!
Bad bacteria produce enterotoxins - there is some evidence that good bacteria can neutralise these toxins (subject to further research).
Lactobaccilli (a species of probiotic bacteria) produce lactic acid - which changes the PH of the gut to a level that is not so easily tolerated by harmful bacteria.
Research has shown that lactobaccilli has helped to increase white blood cell counts in animals that are given probiotics. This may aid the development of the immune system.

Probiotics are especially recommended for use when an animal is ill, stressed or undergoing antibiotic treatment. They can simply be purchased in a powder form and added to drinking water, with little fuss or bother, when necessary.