Call to take part in the FCI Centenary Champion of Champions event
Half of the FCI Centenary Year has now gone by and we can already look back on two
very successful centenary events: the FCI Centenary Winner Show in Dortmund and
the FCI Centenary World Dog Show in Paris. The next major event, shortly to be taking
place, will be the Centenary European Show in Leeuwarden (NL). We would like to
take this opportunity of wishing the organisers every success.
The culmination of the Centenary Year will be the FCI Cynological Days, to be held
in Brussels on 11-14 November. We would like to recommend the following events to
member and partner countries: the symposium on 11 November and the FCI Centenary
World Champion of Champions (CoC) competition on 12 November 2011 (open to qualified
dogs), together with the Centenary Gala Evening (for delegates from national kennel
clubs and invited guests). We recommend exhibitors not to miss the FCI Centenary
World Champion of Champions event on 12 November. Entries for this event will be
accepted and processed by the Union Royale Cynologique Saint-Hubert in the period
5-30 September 2011. Reminder: Qualified dogs are those having gained a CACIB at
either the Brussels Show in December 2010 or at one of the Centenary shows (Dortmund,
Paris or Leeuwarden) in 2011. Also entitled to take part are all "FCI international
champions" (CIB and CIE). With the CoC event in Brussels a "once in a blue moon"
event, we hope to see as many qualified dogs as possible taking part. The more dogs
entered, the more interesting the competition will be. We are counting on your being
there!
Yours sincerely,
Hans W. Müller
FCI President
Gastro- intestinal upset : how can we prevent?
More and more people use a health drink on a daily basis. Now, prebiotics are also
used to boost dogs' natural defences.
Pro- or prebiotics?
Probiotics are a food supplement of live microbial organisms with a positive effect
on health. Prebiotics are indigestible food components, such as inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides,
which stimulate the growth and/or the activity of bacteria in the colon and thus
improve health.
Beneficial to microflora
The microflora of a dog's colon consists of a varied ecosystem of micro-organisms
that are extremely important for health. They can ferment proteins and complex carbohydrates
and convert them into short-chain fatty acids, among other substances. Prebiotics
can have a positive impact on the microflora during a change in nutrition or environment,
or the weaning of pups. The addition of prebiotics, such as in Viyo drinks, not
only stimulates the growth and the activity of beneficial bacteria, it also reduces
the odour of faeces and the cholesterol level in the blood, improves vitamin synthesis,
increases the uptake of minerals and boosts the immune system.
Short-chain fatty acids
Prebiotics do not have an adverse effect on nutrient uptake, digestion or evacuation.
On the contrary: they contribute to higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acids
in the faeces. These are beneficial to general health and have other specific positive
effects. Moreover, fructo-oligosaccharides can reduce the faecal concentration of
pathogenic bacteria.
Is there a difference between the intestinal flora in dogs and in humans? What is
the difference between Viyo Elite and yogurt (probiotics) or can we expect the same
effect?
At the moment there are about 30 known varieties of the bifido-bacterium (the most
known and main ingredient of the majority of human yogurt), and those in humans
differ from those in animals. So we are talking about host-specific bacteria. Where
the number of bacteria is concerned, there are a lot less bacteria in animals than
in humans. This results in a higher sensitivity of animals to diet changes as a
result of the creation of specific flora in function of the diet. Therefore the
best thing to do is to offer more than probiotics only to optimize the condition
of the gut. We may conclude that the most important reason to use products that
support the gut function is not only the fact that living bacteria (probiotics)
play a role in a healthy gut condition (the same effect results from prebiotics)
but that other nutrients stimulate the gut health like prebiotics and certain amino
acids. In short, supporting a healthy gut requires more than probiotics only and
a more complete formulation like Viyo Elite offers a better support of the gut condition
for pets.
Dr. Wim Van Kerkhoven – Viyo International
Website :
www.viyo-elite.com
