FAQs

We recommend giving your Protexin probiotic product a few hours after antibiotics so that the beneficial bacteria contained in the product are not killed by the antibiotic itself.

No. We do not advise using any product that has passed the expiry date on the package.

It is unlikely to cause harm to the animal but there is a chance that the ingredients may have become less effective after exposure to high temperatures.

No, they should be stored somewhere cool and dry – a cupboard is usually ideal.

All Protexin Pet products can be mixed with food or given straight to the animal. 

Protexin products should never be mixed with hot food or mixed with food prior to cooking as this will kill the beneficial bacteria (probiotic). We advise letting food cool to no more than ‘lukewarm’ prior to mixing in Protexin product.

The flavourings used in our products are all artificial, and do not contain any meat-derived proteins which may trigger an allergy.

No. We do not advise using any product that has passed the expiry date on the package.

Yes. Pro-Balance is suitable for cats and dogs.

No. Pro-Balance is free from Soya.

No. Pro-Balance is yeast free.

No. Pro-Balance does not contain wheat or wheat derivatives.

No. Pro-Balance is free from dairy.

No. Pro-Balance does not contain any meat flavouring however Pro-Balance is flavoured with artificial beef, ensuring palatability, compliance and suitable for pets with meat allergies.

Yes. You can safely use Pro-Balance even if your pet is taking another source of probiotics/prebiotics.

We advise ideally giving Pro-Balance and antibiotics a few hours apart.

Pro-Balance can be given at the same time as other medications (except for antibiotics: see above).

No. There are no contraindications with Pro-Balance and other medications (apart from administration timing with antibiotics). This means it is safe to use Pro-Balance even if your animal is taking other medications.

Pro-Balance chewable tablets are palatable and can be fed directly to your pet or crumbled and mixed with food.

Pro-Balance should never be mixed with hot food or mixed with food prior to cooking as this will kill the beneficial bacteria (probiotic). We advise letting food cool to no more than ‘lukewarm’ prior to mixing in Pro-Balance.

Pro-Balance is safe for long term daily use. If you are giving Pro-Balance to your pet to provide extra gut support during a specific event (e.g. kennels/cattery, during fireworks season, travelling) we would recommend starting a few days before the event and continuing for a few days after it has finished. Likewise, if using alongside of antibiotics, we would recommend continuing Pro-Balance for a few days after the antibiotic course has finished.

Pro-Balance should be stored somewhere cool and dry – a cupboard is usually ideal. If the weather is extremely hot and there are no suitable storage areas in your house that would be cool enough then you can store the product in a refrigerator.

Pro-Balance will last until the BBE (Best Before End) date printed on the packaging; as long as it is stored in a cool, dry place.

Pro-Balance is safe to be given alongside all other Protexin products.

It would not cause harm to your pet but there is a chance that the ingredients may become less effective after exposure to high temperatures.

Yes. Pro-Kolin can be mixed with food or given straight from the syringe

Pro-Kolin should never be mixed with hot food or mixed with food prior to cooking as this will kill the beneficial bacteria (probiotic). We advise letting food cool to no more than ‘lukewarm’ prior to mixing in Pro-Kolin

Pro-Kolin can be used in animals from 2 weeks of age, however we always advise to consult your veterinary surgeon first before using PK+ in animals younger than 8 weeks of age.

It would not cause harm to your pet but there is a chance that the ingredients may become less effective after exposure to high temperatures.

No. We do not advise using any product that has passed the expiry date on the package.

Yes. Pro-Kolin is suitable for cats and dogs.

No. Pro-Kolin is yeast free.

No. Pro-Kolin does not contain wheat or wheat derivatives.

No. Pro-Kolin is free from dairy.

As Pro-Kolin contains kaolin clay we would advise that you give the Pro-Kolin a few hours later than other medications (if this is difficult then a minimum of 1 hour later) to ensure the absorption of other medications is not reduced by the presence of the clay: there is only a very small risk of this occurring but it is important to ensure that your pet receives the maximum benefit of any medication they may be taking.

No. There are no contraindications with Pro-Kolin and other medications (apart from administration timings). This means it is safe to use Pro-Kolin even if your animal is taking other medications.

Yes. Pro-Kolin can be given to pregnant and lactating animals.

To administer the correct amount of the product use the handy wheel on the syringe plunger.  Rotate the wheel until it is to the right of the number representing the desired quantity to be administered (as indicated on the dose table printed on the packaging)

See diagram below showing the correct and incorrect position for 10ml. 

Remove the cap from the end of the syringe and press the plunger to deliver the product directly into your pet’s mouth; you can also mix the product in with your pet’s food. Ensure the nozzle is thoroughly cleaned and dried after each use and always replace the cap. 

We would recommend giving Pro-Kolin for 2-3 days (although it may be used for longer under instruction from your veterinary surgeon). Any animal with digestive disturbances lasting longer than 2-3 days should be checked by a veterinary surgeon. If your animal shows signs of being unwell then you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible.

Pro-Kolin should be stored somewhere cool and dry – a cupboard is usually ideal. If the weather is extremely hot and there are no suitable storage areas in your house that would be cool enough then you can store the Pro-Kolin in a refrigerator.

Pro-Kolin has a 2 year shelf life from the date of manufacture. Once open replace the lid and store in a cool dry area.

The best way to store Pro-Kolin is to ensure the syringe is wiped clean and replace the small white lid back on tightly

Pro-Kolin is safe to be given alongside all other Protexin products.

The microflora consists of various bacteria, protozoa and yeasts. These are distributed throughout the length of the gut and coexist in a symbiotic (mutual) relationship in the healthy animal. These micro-organisms can be health positive (beneficial), health neutral or health negative (potential to cause disease).

Dysbiosis is the condition of having a microbial imbalance on or within the body. This typically involves the health negative micro-organisms outnumbering the health positives.

Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”.

Probiotics have been shown to work by the following mechanisms:

• Competition for nutrients – within the gut beneficial and pathogenic micro-organisms will be utilising the same types of nutrients. This results in a general competition between bacteria for these nutrients. When a probiotic is administered there is an overall reduction in nutrients available for pathogenic bacteria and consequently this minimises the levels of pathogenic micro-organisms.
• Competition for adhesion sites – beneficial bacteria can attach to the gut wall and form colonies at various sites throughout the gut. This prevents pathogenic bacteria from gaining a foothold, resulting in their expulsion from the body.
• Improvement in digestion – probiotics have been shown to increase the efficiency of digestion and therefore provide an improvement in digestion.
• Lactic acid production – probiotics produce lactic acid which acts to reduce the gut pH, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, which prefer a more alkaline environment.
• Effect on immunity – probiotics have been shown to increase the levels of cell-signalling chemicals and the effectiveness of infection-fighting cells (white blood cells).

When choosing a probiotic for your pet or other animal it is important to identify the best product possible. When assessing probiotics it is important to check:

• Safety – the micro-organism chosen must be non-pathogenic and non-toxic. Within the EU all probiotics must be registered for use in an individual animal species. For example, Enterococcus faecium (NCIMB 10415) E1707 is registered for use in dogs.
• Viability – the micro-organisms within a probiotic product should remain viable during their storage. The probiotics should also be able to pass safely through the stomach so that they can colonise the gut. A good freeze-drying process will enable the product to be stored at room temperature throughout the duration of its shelf life. Microencapsulation will afford protection throughout the high acidity of the stomach.
• Sufficient numbers – the concentration of a probiotic must be such that inclusion rates provide a beneficial effect.
• Quality assurance – when manufacturing probiotic products high quality standards and processes are imperative. This ensures that the product meets label specifications and is also effective and safe to use.

There are no side effects associated with the use of probiotics. All EU-registered probiotics have to pass stringent safety trials before being approved for use in each species. It is not possible to give too great a quantity of probiotics as any excess will simply pass out in the faeces.

Yes, evidence shows that taking a probiotic at the same time as an antibiotic can reduce the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. For the best results give the probiotic at the opposite end of the day to the antibiotic. Where this is not possible give the probiotic at least three hours after the antibiotic. The probiotic will not affect the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

The main causes of dysbiosis in companion animals include:

• Antibiotic treatment
• Intestinal pathogens
• Dietary indiscretion (e.g. scavenging)
• Sudden change of diet
• Prolonged fasting
• Stress (e.g. travel, shows and kennels)
• Life-stage (e.g. weaning and old age).

The most common symptom associated with dysbiosis is diarrhoea. Other clinical signs that can be seen include vomiting, bloating, flatulence and borborygmi (excessive rumbling or gurgling noise that occurs from the movements of fluid and gas in the intestines)

A prebiotic is a non-digestible carbohydrate (complex sugar) which acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria and therefore stimulates their growth.

Preplex® prebiotic is exclusive to Protexin and consists of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and acacia (Gum arabic). This dual source prebiotic is of benefit across a larger area of the gut compared to a single source prebiotic.

We would recommend that Protexin products are stored in dry, clean conditions, out of direct sunlight and kept sealed once the original container has been opened in order to exclude moisture and thermal decomposition. The shelf life of Protexin products, if stored at room temperature, is 24 months

There are no contra-indications for the use of probiotics for pets and their use will always be of some benefit. In pets and animals suffering from long-term problems, prolonged use is indicated and no 'resistance' will develop to the probiotic micro-organisms.

Live yoghurt can be used to provide some live micro-organisms, however it has some distinct disadvantages when compared to Protexin products.

The concentration of live micro-organisms present in the yoghurt is unknown but will tend to be relatively low and will depend on the freshness of the yoghurt and the conditions in which it has been stored. After opening, the microbial concentration can become depleted. Compare this with the high and guaranteed concentration of probiotics in Protexin products.

The actual strains of micro-organisms contained within live yoghurts will tend to be chosen for taste and textural properties rather than a probiotic benefit. The micro-organisms contained within the yoghurt may not produce any probiotic benefit.

The syringes are five assembled components; featuring HDPE and LDPE plastics, as a result they will need cleaning and separating before recycling.

To find more about which type of plastics can be recycled in your area contact your local council. 

Unfortunately our blister packs can’t be recycled at the moment however we are looking into alternatives. 

Exciting recycling development 
The supplier of our blister packs has found a method of recycling these blister packs and we are currently in the process of setting up a trial at our manufacturing site with this supplier. The recycling process is quite involved as it requires separating the plastic from the foil layer. The manufacturer has found a method of processing the packaging into very small particles (like sand) where the materials then delaminate and can be split by weight into plastics and aluminium. The aluminium can be reused for many purposes, potentially even reused in the blister packs. The plastic, however, would only be used for down-graded purposes, e.g. drainpipes. The current trial of this process will only recycle our unused blister packs from the manufacturing process, however, if the trial is successful, the next stage would be rolling it out to local councils to take our customers blister pack waste. 

We've got our fingers crossed and we hope to update you all soon!

A good tip for checking to see if you can recycle any Protexin Pet packaging is to look out for the plastic-type number which is in a triangle, this number corresponds to a type of plastic. For example, a number 2 is HDPE, high-density polyethylene.

Using this information you can then determine if your council collect the plastic via curbside or local recycling centres.  

Unfortunately our sachet foil cannot be recycled at the moment, however we are looking into alternatives.