Beta-Glucans for Dogs
Beta-glucans are natural fibres derived from yeast that act as prebiotics — food for beneficial gut bacteria. In Biome Balance they support both digestive balance and immune health.
Biome Balance
Prebiotic fibres feeding the good bacteria in Biome Balance.
Prebiotic, probiotic — the difference in one line
Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are what those bacteria eat. Beta-glucans are prebiotics: naturally occurring fibres from yeast cell walls that pass through undigested and become fuel for the good bacteria already living in your dog's gut.
It's an unglamorous job and an easy one to skip, which is why plenty of products don't bother. But adding live cultures without feeding them is a bit like planting a garden and not watering it. In Biome Balance the beta-glucans arrive with the Bacillus strains they support, alongside pumpkin fibre and postbiotic compounds, as part of the Penta-biotic® blend.
The immune-system connection
Beta-glucans are among the more studied fibres in animal nutrition, and much of that research looks at immune function rather than digestion. That isn't as much of a leap as it sounds: a large proportion of immune tissue sits in and around the gut, so supporting the gut environment and supporting immune health are not really separate projects.
In Biome Balance the beta-glucans come from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast product that also supplies a mannan-rich fraction and postbiotics — several related components from one well-characterised source rather than an isolated fibre.
What are beta-glucans?
Beta-glucans are naturally occurring fibres found in the cell walls of yeast (in Biome Balance, from Saccharomyces cerevisiae). They function as prebiotics, providing fuel for the beneficial bacteria living in the gut.
Are beta-glucans safe for dogs?
Beta-glucans are a safe, natural fibre and are well tolerated by healthy adult dogs. As with any new supplement, introduce it gradually and check with your vet if your dog has a specific health condition.
What do beta-glucans do for dogs?
As prebiotics they feed the good bacteria in the gut, helping the probiotic cultures in Biome Balance establish and work effectively. They're also studied for their role in supporting a healthy immune response.
What's the difference between a prebiotic and a probiotic?
Probiotics are the live beneficial bacteria themselves; prebiotics are the fibres that feed them. You want both — adding bacteria without feeding them tends to get you less from a supplement than you paid for. Biome Balance includes probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics together in its Penta-biotic® blend.
Do beta-glucans help a dog's immune system?
They're studied for their role in supporting a healthy immune response, and the gut connection is a real one — a large proportion of immune tissue sits in and around the digestive tract. That said, this is nutritional support as part of a balanced diet, not a treatment for any illness. Speak to your vet about a dog who seems unwell or is repeatedly picking up infections.
Frankie & Paws supplements are complementary feeds for dogs, not medicines, and aren't intended to diagnose, treat or cure any condition. If your dog is a young puppy, pregnant, nursing, unwell, or taking medication, speak to your vet before introducing a new supplement.
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