I'm glad Ginger is OK but find it odd how slow most vets and doctors are at accepting probiotics. Personally I don't think the fact that a cat doesn't get diarrhea after ABs should mean that probiotics aren't a good idea. A good gut flora is important for so many things. I will try to find the link again, but a while ago I found a website about 'friendly' bacteria. They are beginning to discover that different strains have different functions in the body - an important one is keeping 'bad' bacteria at bay, but others support health in lots of other ways. I can't remember all the things but some of them helped the body fight cancer, some help to excrete waste products, others help assimilate vitamins etc.
I saw this thread once and it convinced me to keep taking them myself!
http://www.innvista.com/health/nutrition/biotics/proborg.htmThis is the list of what just one strain does
L. plantarum has many significant uses including:
Preserving key nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants
Manufacturing vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, vitamins A and K, and short chain of fatty acids
Helping to produce “lactolin”, a natural antibiotic
Contributing to the destruction of moulds, viruses, and parasites
Eradicating such pathogens as Staphylococcus aureus from fermented food
Helping to maintain healthy cholesterol and triglycerine levels
Increasing the number of immune system cells
Providing protection from such environmental toxins as pesticides and pollutants
Reducing toxic waste at the cellular level
Stimulating the repair mechanism of cells
Synthesizing the anti-viral amino acid, L-lysine
Producing glycolytic enzymes which degrade cyanogenic glycosides
Eliminating toxic components from food including nitrates