Natural SIBO Treatment
SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth refers to increased intestinal permeability where the gut lining degrades, allowing toxins, undigested food.
SIBO Symptoms
Symptoms of SIBO include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss or inability to gain weight, stomach growling, stunted growth in a young dog, extreme hunger, eating stools, flatulence, stomach pain and discomfort, acid reflux, malabsorption issues, food intolerance and sensitivities. SIBO is also linked to skin problems, leaky gut, autoimmune disease, and diabetes.
Bacteria is Crucial
Bacteria is a crucial part of your dog's health and immune system as they allow your dog to digest food, absorb vitamins and remove waste from their bodies. However, these bacteria are only supposed to inhabit your dog's large intestine and colon and not the small intestine, which typically has low levels of bacteria. Unfortunately, bacteria can develop in the small intestine, which is SIBO.
What causes SIBO?
The causes of SIBO include genetic predisposition, chronic stress, dietary intolerances, medications (NSAIDS, antibiotics), or irritable bowel syndrome and and can easily be triggered by a highly processed diet that is also high in carbs.
German Shepherds are particularly prone to SIBO due to their low Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Deficiency, which weakens the gut lining and makes it easier for bacteria to develop outside of the large intestine and colon.
Chronic stress can cause SIBO because it disrupt the movement of nutrients throughout the digestive tract.
Dietary intolerances can also trigger SIBO and vice versa. Foods that contains lots of carbohydrates and that are highly processed, which strips the food of its's bioavailability, or the body's ability to absorb it and fiber, which is needed to feed the healthy gut bacteria.
Foods that trigger SIBO are high-FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disssacharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) and include fermented carbohydrates, dairy, garlic, onions, wheat, sugar alcohols, sweeteners, legumes, apples, pears, mangoes, grapes, peas and corn. These foods are high-starch and feed the excess bacteria in the small intestines, which intensify SIBO symptoms.
Medications that cause SIBO include NSAIDs and antibiotics because they disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut microbiome, can damage intestinal lining and alter the path of nutrients throughout the body.
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause SIBO because the slow motility of nutrients and bacteria through the digestive system creating pools of nutrients and bacteria that can overpopulate the small intestine and cause SIBO,
Conventional Treatment Plan
The conventional treatment plan for SIBO includes a 4-6 week course of antibiotics such as Tylosin, metronidazole or oxyteracycline. Additionally, lifestyle changes including diet and supplementation are recommended, which will be discussed later on, so read on!
The Problem with Antibiotics
While antibiotics can and should be used in certain circumstances, the benefits have to outweigh the drawbacks. Antibiotics kill off all bacteria and stop them from multiplying, which includes both good and bad bacteria and disrupts the gut microbiome..
Your dog’s gut need bacteria for proper nutrition, digestion, immune function and waste removal. You can read more about that here
Natural Sibo Treatment
Dietary Changes: A fresh, raw meat-based diet is often recommended. Avoid high-starch, grain-heavy, or heavily processed diets, like kibble or canned food.
Probiotics: Soil-based probiotics (SBOs) can be used to support a healthy gut and combat overgrowth.
Supplements: Digestive enzymes can be used to help improve nutrient absorption.
Soil-Based Probiotics (SBOs): A spore-forming, lactic-acid producing bacterial species that supports digestive health, promotes proper immune health, and alleviates symptoms of irritable-bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Saccharomyces boulardii: Is a healthy, beneficial yeast that can help manage acute or chronic diarrhea and support the gut barrier without worsening bacterial overgrowth.
- Digestive Enzymes: Help break food thoroughly in the upper GI tract, reducing the amount of undigested food available to ferment and feed unwanted bacteria
- Berberine: Found in goldenseal and barberry; targets diverse gut bacteria.
- Oregano Oil: Contains carvacrol and thymol, which are natural plant phenols, offering broad antimicrobial activity and promote gut health.
If your dog does have SIBO, natural SIBO treatment is an option. Stay away from all commercial kibble. Feed raw or home-cook and supplement accordingly. Your dog will thank you.
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