I switched Roger recently from the Large-Breed Puppy to the Adult Six Fish.

Poops are less runny, even though he's eating more of it per day. As in, a whole cup more.

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

 Quote: dana martin

...helps regulate the flora and fauna of the digestive tract...

What fauna? :shocked:

"Good" bugs, "bad" bugs ( bacteria).

Antibiotics meant to kill bad ones and probiotics to replenish good ones.

"good bugs" and "bad bugs" are all flora. Fauna usually means something different, it needs more than probiotics to control - traps and snares, guns, that kind of stuff

It took my dog's digestive tract a LONG time to get used to Orijen. I didn't like how "urgent" it made him, or the gas, so I started feeding the same company's Acana line. No more GI troubles.

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

"good bugs" and "bad bugs" are all flora. Fauna usually means something different, it needs more than probiotics to control - traps and snares, guns, that kind of stuff

You're right. It's true that many (or most) have adopted a definition of "flora" that includes bacteria, and as that Wikipedia entry declares, flora is synonymous microbiota and microflora. (Then what are microbiota? Why the two terms?)

Actually, I personally consider “flora,” not "fauna," to be the more misused term for gut bacteria. Why we call something both "bugs" and "plants" is beyond me.

If flora means plant life (from Flora, the goddess of flowers) and fauna (from Fauna, some relative of Faunus, spirit of the forest) animal life, then I guess everyone gets to decide whether bacteria are animals or plants. They lack nothing to fall into the “animal” category, as far as I know, except for not being multi-cellular.

I think.

But if we accept being single-celled as separating bacteria from the fauna group, then don't we have to separate them from the flora group for the same reason, (because I think both groups include the term "multi-celled" in their definitions)?

Then, we'd probably have to drag out the obsolete term monera, which some guy dreamed up in the 1800s when microscopy came to light to give these new (to us) beings a category of their own other than the two "living" categories then being used (animal and vegetable, as in "animal, vegetable, and mineral").

But yeah, many (or most) do accept a definition of flora that includes microorganisms. They don't really fit very well, but there you go .... it's a weird world.



eta
I very much like this further clarification, however:
"Fauna usually .... needs more than probiotics to control - traps and snares, guns, that kind of stuff ..."

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/04/2011 04:34 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: ana kozlowsky

"good bugs" and "bad bugs" are all flora. Fauna usually means something different, it needs more than probiotics to control - traps and snares, guns, that kind of stuff

Oops, sorry. It's just a phrase that I've coined over the years talking to patients. Yes, to replace good "bugs" or bacteria.

One more question sense he already has a runny stool,and its the same brand just a different protein should I still mix it.

Yes, and you should start with a VERY SMALL MEAL after a fast.

Then wait to see the poop results.

TOTW for now and will try Fromm if I can find it

 Quote: Daniel Fernando

TOTW for now and will try Fromm if I can find it

I don't get it.

I've read back through the thread thrice and can't figure out where this fits into the thread.