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Beat the Summertime Blues by Keeping Pets Healthier, Less Stressed During Vacation Season

Purina Veterinary Diets® FortiFlora® brand Canine and Feline Nutritional Supplements can help alleviate gastrointestinal upset in pets who must adapt to family vacation plans.

ST. LOUIS, MO, March 31th, 2008 — Families everywhere will soon begin planning summer vacations. For those with pets, that also means arranging for Rover's and Fluffy's accommodations. Traveling with the family, staying at a kennel, or being cared for by extended family or friends all may disrupt a pet's normal routine. As pet owners know, this can trigger unintended — and unpleasant — gastrointestinal (GI) problems in the form of diarrhea.

Most pet owners face diarrhea issues with their dog or cat at some point, usually when life gets out of sync. Fortunately, there is a way to help manage these situations so that pets can stay healthier and owners can relax and enjoy their vacations.

Sprinkling relief

Purina Veterinary Diets® FortiFlora® brand Canine and Feline Nutritional Supplements have proven to be effective in managing dogs and cats with diarrhea, much to the relief of pets and their owners. FortiFlora nutritional supplements are the first and only branded probiotic supplements produced by a major pet food manufacturer that are available exclusively through veterinarians.

Since they were introduced in 2006, veterinarians throughout the United States have used FortiFlora nutritional supplements to help manage intestinal health in their patients. FortiFlora is a dry product, sprinkled on a pet's food once a day, which contains probiotic microorganisms that are proven to promote normal intestinal health and microflora balance in dogs and cats of all ages.

The proprietary microencapsulated probiotic microorganisms in FortiFlora are delivered in guaranteed levels and have a protective coating to withstand handling, processing and storage. The coating doesn't just protect the viability of microorganisms during these stages; it also helps ensure that FortiFlora survives through the pet's stomach and into the small intestine. In other words, microorganisms are sure to arrive alive in the part of the animal's GI tract where they can do the most good.

It's about balance

When eaten regularly, probiotics can have beneficial effects on intestinal balance to help promote good health. Yogurt with live cultures is one example of a human food that provides probiotics.

In dogs and cats, studies have shown that probiotics can help promote a normal balance of bacteria that live in the intestines. In addition to stress associated with traveling and boarding, this balance can be altered by health issues, diet changes and use of medications, such as antibiotics. When things get out of balance, diarrhea can occur.

"FortiFlora is easy to use, and pets seem to enjoy the way it tastes. Animals appear to accept it very well," said David Barno, DVM, Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital, Aloha, Oregon. "We've seen a lot of success with FortiFlora in helping return pets to intestinal health quickly."

Randy Kemper's dog, Gizmo, a 2-year-old Shi Tzu, is one of Barno's patients that found relief from chronic diarrhea after using FortiFlora. "Gizmo really attacks his food on the days I add FortiFlora," says Kemper. "I'm glad we've found something that he likes and that likes his GI system. It's good to see him enjoying food again."

Pet owners should ask their veterinarians whether FortiFlora could help keep their dogs' or cats' GI systems in balance — especially during the hectic summer vacation season. For more information about FortiFlora, pet owners can visit www.purinaveterinarydiets.com or call 1-800-879-1266.

About Nestlé Purina

One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company produces Purina Veterinary Diets®, nutritional aids formulated for the dietary management of dogs and cats with certain health problems. Each diet provides a proper balance of total nutrients while meeting special dietary needs. They are available exclusively through veterinarians.

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