Formulas for Life™ and P.B.F. Fiber FAQ

What is P.B.F. Prebiotic Balance Fiber ™?

Your pet needs bacteria in the gut for a variety of reasons, such as healthy digestion and gut function and bacteria from getting out of control. Having a diverse population of prebiotics provides nourishment for the gut bacteria, which in turn nourishes the entire body. This approach can be the first line of defense to helping to keep the entire body healthy.

Our Exclusive P.B.F Prebiotic Balanced Fiber ™ is a breakthrough nutritional advancement for optimized digestion and gut health. It promotes a healthy gut environment and enables absorption of desirable nutrients. Until recently the importance of the gut in overall health wasn’t understood. Today we know that the digestive tract goes far beyond just processing the food your pet eats. That’s why we developed our Lucy Pet P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber ™ Your pet’s gut plays a key role in natural immunity to disease, and maintaining a healthy gut can contribute to a healthier pet.

What is a healthy immune system?
A healthy immune system means that the immune system is able to respond appropriately when faced with different challenges. Every day your pet’s immune system is challenged by viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins and other pathogens. In addition stress and poor nutrition can also affect immune health.

How does P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber work?

Our P.B.F. blend delivers prebiotic fibers to nourish the billions of bacteria. Our prebiotic ingredients are resistant to digestion in the stomach and small intestine but are totally or partially fermentable in the large bowel. Prebiotics provide nourishment for the bacteria and the gut.
The P.B.F. prebiotics often results in a lower pH in the large bowel. The lower pH is the result of more short-chain fatty acid production. The major SCFA’s are acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and each has an important role in the gut and in host animal metabolism.

What is the difference between Prebiotics and Probiotics?

Dogs and Cats (like humans) have bacteria in the gut. The diet you feed them can help manage the types of bacteria to produce a more favorable environment for overall health. Prebiotics can play an important role because they help nourish the naturally occurring probiotic bacteria that is in your pet’s gut. Here is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics:

Prebiotics: A non-digestible food ingredient, (such as fiber) that supports a favorable environment for bacteria and cells in the gut wall of the digestive tract. Prebiotics enable the growth & activity of bacteria that populate the gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotic fibers ferment during digestion and grow bacteria in the gut (digestive tract). These bacteria add to any probiotics that naturally occur.

Probiotics: Probiotics are a dietary supplement containing live bacteria that adds to the bacteria normally present in the gastrointestinal tract. They are living organisms that must remain alive in order to work. Probiotics can be diminished or even die completely when exposed to heat, long periods of time, and acidity. If you see products with probiotics added, there is a possibility that by the time you use it, the probiotics may be dead and offer no digestive benefit to your pet.

Why is Fiber so important?

Until recently the importance of the gut in overall health wasn’t understood. Today we know that the digestive tract goes far beyond just processing the food your dog eats. That’s why we developed our Lucy Pet P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber ™

We all know that fiber is important because it promotes the movement of food through the digestive system, and produces consistent stools. However, new research shows that having a variety of fibers with a precise blend can produce an optimal environment in the digestive tract to create prebiotics to perform at their peak.

Prebiotics are fermentable fibers, also known as a resistant starch. Resistant starches are dietary fibers naturally found in foods like whole grains, and legumes such as beans, lentils, and peas.

Your pet’s gastrointestinal system uses acids, enzymes, and other secretions to break down food as it passes along. As the fibers break down and ferment, they produce prebiotic bacteria. Your pet needs bacteria in the gut for a variety of reasons such as improving digestion, keeping the body healthy, and helping other systems performing. The prebiotic fiber ingredients will ultimately encourage better nutrient absorption.

Will the P.B.F. fiber cause my pet to have gas?

Some pets will have a moderate increase in stool. Our formula adds quality fibers for specific dietary health benefits. The stool volume initially varies by a pet, due to the overall condition of the gut, including factors like stress, the current health of the animal, etc. When changing your pet’s diet, you may observe a slightly larger stool volume for the initial transition period. This is normal and your pet will adapt after a short period. If you see a significant change in stool volume during the transition period, it is best to take a slower approach to changing your pet’s food, to allow their digestive system more time to adjust to the new diet by slowing the transition amounts of old food to new food.

What is miscanthus grass and why do you use it in your formulas?

Miscanthus grass is a non-GMO, perennial warm-season plant grown and harvested in the USA. It is one component of our exclusive P.B.F Prebiotic Balanced Fiber™ blend because it is an excellent source of fiber not commonly used in pet foods. Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive tract, and we utilize miscanthus grass to compliment our variety of fibers to achieve prebiotics in the gut.

Grass also contains some nutrients for pets. You may have observed your dog or cat eating grass when they are outdoors or when it is available, in part because they simply enjoy it. Some will instinctually eat grass as a natural remedy to help soothe their stomach or aid in digestion.