In recent months, we've been repeatedly asked about the use of "probiotics" in tortoises and turtles. 

Probiotics are one of the fastest growing areas of the "health supplements" craze.  Basically,  probiotics are supposed to contain beneficial live bacteria that are indicated for use in restoring or maintaining healthy intestinal function.

Reptiles have intestinal bacteria that are unique to their own species. For many years, the recommended procedure of effectively treating "Sterile Gut Syndrome" (presented in a reptile) is to feed the reptile fresh, analyzed (clean, free of parasites) droppings from another reptile of the same species and subspecies.  This gives the animal the exact species of intestinal flora (good bacteria) normally present and needed to help restore proper digestion for it's unique species after the use of antibiotics, (which kill bad and good bacteria in the gut) or due to health problems (severe parasitic infestations, for example).

But this issue raises valid questions:  What (specific) bacteria are truly beneficial in the gut of a reptile? Are certain bacteria counterproductive to the normal bacteria present in a healthy reptile? Can over-supplementation be harmful?  Do "veterinary" or "human" probiotics truly address the needs of reptiles? Are probiotics all the manufacturers claim them to be? Do healthy reptiles actually benefit from, or require the use of probiotics in their diets at all? 

Many reptiles digest via hindgut fermentation, meaning they don't have the same type of digestive tract as humans and other mammals. In having a different type of digestive system, needs are of course going to vary.

The choice to use, or not to use probiotics for your animals is a choice we can neither recommend or criticize.

We've done some surfing, and found some surprising and interesting clinical research regarding probiotic manufacturer's claims.   We've included these links for those of you also interested in learning more about what the labels mean, and what is actually found in some products.

While certain bacteria/probiotics formulated specifically for reptile use by qualified nutritionists is promising, and may eventually prove to be very helpful for certain reptiles, research in this specific area of veterinary clinical nutrition is relatively new and ongoing.

Pros and Cons of Long-Term Probiotic Use in Green Iguanas

Microbiologic evaluation of commercial probiotics-Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Bacteriological evaluation of dog and cat diets that claim to contain probiotics-Canadian Veterinary Journal

Caveat emptor. "Probiotics" might not be what they seem-Canadian Family Physician

Probiotics research-Food Standards Agency-UK