Purina launches two-step FortiFlora diarrhea response kit

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements has introduced the FortiFlora Diarrhea Response Kit, a two-step system designed to help manage occasional diarrhea in dogs and cats. The kit is available now without a prescription.

The kit combines FortiFlora Response stick packs, formulated with kaolin and pectin to help firm loose stools, with FortiFlora sachets for daily digestive support, according to the company.

The two-step system works as follows:

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary SupplementsStep 1: Pet owners administer a FortiFlora Response stick pack every eight hours for up to 72 hours to help firm loose stools and soothe the pet's gastrointestinal tract. The liver-flavored powder contains kaolin and pectin, can be mixed with food and does not require pills or paste, the company said.

Step 2: Pet owners switch to daily use of the included FortiFlora sachets to help maintain intestinal balance. The sachets are formulated with the probiotic strain Enterococcus lactis SF68 and are intended to support digestive and immune health after diarrhea has resolved, according to Purina.

Purina recommends that pet owners continue daily use of FortiFlora after completing the kit to help maintain digestive and immune health.

"No one wants their pet to be uncomfortable, and diarrhea can be stressful for pets and owners," said Martha Cline, DVM, DACVIM, a veterinary nutritionist at Purina. "The FortiFlora Diarrhea Response Kit gives pet owners a clear, two-step plan, rooted in the same probiotic veterinarians have trusted for 20 years."

Cline also offered guidance for pet owners on when to contact a veterinarian about a pet's diarrhea:

• Monitor for additional symptoms, including vomiting, changes in appetite or energy, or diarrhea that does not improve within three days or worsens at any time.
• Characterize the diarrhea by noting its frequency and whether blood, mucus or straining is present. Purina's Fecal Scoring Chart can help pet owners describe symptoms to a veterinarian.
• Bring a fecal sample to a veterinary visit to help screen for parasites, a common cause of diarrhea in dogs.
• Ask a veterinarian about a temporary switch to a highly digestible or fiber-enhanced diet.

The FortiFlora Diarrhea Response Kit is available for dogs and cats through Amazon, Chewy, VetDirect.com or veterinarians. Each kit includes a size-appropriate number of FortiFlora Response stick packs and five FortiFlora sachets.