My Dog's Tummy Trouble: Forti Flora Fails, But a Russian Probiotic Steals the Show

Hello there!

If you've ever tried giving your furry friend a probiotic supplement like Forti Flora, you'll know it's been a staple in many pet owners' routines. However, since it's a non-Russian product, it's slowly disappearing from the market. You can still find it on some online marketplaces, but its authenticity is questionable, and vets are no longer prescribing it. Forti Flora has been replaced by a Russian alternative called Actiflora, which, although having a different composition, shares similar benefits.

In this review, I'll share my experience with Actiflora and how it worked for my pets.

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Packaging.

The supplement comes in a cardboard box containing 10 sachets, but you can also buy individual sachets at any pet store. I was surprised by how much the packaging resembles a standard pet supplement box.

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The front of the packaging features the brand name, product name, weight, and a picture of a dog, indicating the product's intended use. The design is pretty straightforward.

The sides have storage instructions, expiration date, composition, and manufacturer information. It's worth noting that the packaging is quite sturdy and should protect the contents during shipping.

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The back of the box has feeding recommendations and a description of the product's effects. I found the information to be helpful and easy to understand.

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As I mentioned earlier, the packaging contains 10 sachets, which are connected and look like a strip. The sachets are individually wrapped for convenience.

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I was surprised by how much the sachet resembles aluminum foil - it's sturdy and robust. On the front, the product name is clearly printed, while the manufactured date is embossed on the side. The design is quite functional and easy to use.

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The back of the sachet is blank, though.

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Each sachet has a central tear line for easy opening. This makes it easy to use the product without making a mess.

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About the product.

The product comes in a white, fine-powder form. When exposed to moisture, whether on food or any other surface, it quickly turns colorless and gel-like. The product is labeled as a synbiotic, meaning it contains both pre- and probiotics.

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Let's take a look at the composition:

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The composition includes a complex of lyophilized cultures of probiotic bacteria: Lactococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus durans; inulin; silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent).

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It's worth noting that the product contains dried, not live, bacteria. However, it's still recommended to store it in the refrigerator. I'm not sure how this affects the product, but I'll just roll with it.

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How to administer the product?

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When giving this to my dog, I followed the instructions to mix one packet with a small amount of food – either wet or slightly dampened dry food – or dissolve in water. The daily dose doesn't change regardless of the dog's weight or age.

The initial introduction period is 10 days. If needed, the course can be repeated.

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Since my dog weighs 1800 grams, I was instructed to give one packet a day. To make it easier, I divided the powder into two meals. However, if your dog weighs more, say 4 kilograms, the vet recommends doubling the dose for a noticeable effect.

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I've tried both methods – sprinkling the powder over the food or mixing it with water and administering it through a syringe. Both ways work.

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Of course, the simplest way is to just mix it with their food and ensure they eat it. But sometimes, dogs can be picky and refuse to eat or deliberately avoid the food with the powder on it. That's when the syringe comes in handy.

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It's actually quite easy to administer, as the powder isn't bitter or unpleasant for their taste buds.

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Administration.

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Interestingly, there's no officially recognized disease called dysbacteriosis in humans or animals, yet it's a real issue that both vets and doctors acknowledge.

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Research has proven that gut microbiome directly affects a dog's overall health!

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My vet told me that puppies with enteritis are often treated with this supplement as part of their treatment plan. It's not the only treatment, but it's definitely an important part of their recovery.

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My main experience with this product has been with my dog. We had an issue where her gut got messed up because we couldn't find the right antibiotic. But for some reason, probiotics or something like that weren't prescribed. In the end, it turned out that now, throughout her life, there can be occasional spasms in her digestive system. And to be honest, painkillers don't really work that well. But my dog isn't sleeping or eating, and neither am I. So, after running all the tests and spending a lot of money, we were prescribed Actiflorin. We give it to her for 10 days, then a break, and then another 10 days. Since she's getting older, we were told that we can keep giving her Actiflorin for the rest of her life because it won't harm her. That's how I started giving it to her, and the spasms went away, her digestion is good, and thank goodness!

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I couldn't say anything about loose stools, as the last time my dog had unformed feces was when we were using FortiFlora. But I think the effect will be the same. In that case, we'd need to figure out what's causing the loose stools. It could be a parasite, coccidiosis, or something else. In that case, Actiflorin would probably be insufficient.

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It's said that Actiflorin can help with an animal's appetite. But that's individual. I've seen cases where it worked, but with my dog, it doesn't seem to be the case. She's become a total picky eater with age.

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Value for money.

The price of this Russian product is more humane than Forti Flora was. I try to buy it from Vetapteka KZVS on the 15th of the month when they have a discount on all products. Sometimes I've bought Actiflorin on marketplaces, though. It's not hard to find the product, as it's pretty popular.

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The effect is there, and there are no side effects. I'd definitely recommend using it.