Product Name:  Vet Solutions Pro-Biolac Milk Replacement For Kittens, 50 gm

Recently, VET Solutions reformulated its puppy and kitten milk replacers. The new formulas are called Pro-Biolac for Puppies and Pro-Biolac for Kittens. The following is a quick summary of the important updates and changes from our original Puppy and Kitten Formulas.
Increased levels of protein and fat
The amounts of protein and fat have been increased in both Pro-Biolac formulas to more closely match the protein and fat levels found in queen's and bitch's milk. They contain optimum levels of protein and fat designed specifically for the different metabolic needs and growth rates of puppies and kittens. The major protein source is still milk protein which is easily digestible, providing adequate levels of essential amino acids required for growth. The increased levels of protein and fat exceed AAFCO minimums for these nutrients.
Added arginine, taurine, and arachidonic acid
Pro-Biolac for Kittens and Pro-Biolac for Puppies are fortified with added arginine to ensure that the amount of arginine provided by the formula exceeds AAFCO standards. In addition to the arginine supplied by milk protein, arginine is supplemented at a level of 1.25%.
Unlike dogs, cats have a dietary requirement for taurine. Taurine has been added to Pro-Biolac for Kittens to ensure proper heart and retinal development.
Cats are also unable to convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid in high enough levels to supply their daily requirement. For this reason, arachidonic acid is added to Pro-Biolac for Kittens in the form of both dried whole egg and cod liver oil.
Colostrum
Colostrum, the milk produced by a bitch or queen just after giving birth, contains important, disease fighting antibodies which are very large proteins. In the normal, mature digestive tract, intact large proteins cannot be absorbed. They are broken down by enzymes into smaller proteins and amino acids and absorbed that way. Neonates have the unique ability to absorb large proteins like antibodies for a short period following birth. In dogs and cats that "open" period is about 24-48 hours. This ability to absorb intact antibodies helps protect neonates from disease. Pro-Biolac formulas contain bovine colostrum at levels much higher than our previous Puppy and Kitten Formulas. While bovine colostrum is not ideal for puppies and kittens, it may provide some protection for those neonates that do not receive species specific colostrum.
DHA
Both Pro-Biolac formulas contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in increased levels compared to our previous Formulas because DHA has been shown in human infants to be integral to brain and ocular development. The DHA in Pro-Biolac is derived from cod liver oil.
Direct-Fed Microbials
Neonatal animals are born without normal intestinal bacterial flora which would protect the intestinal tract from colonization by pathogenic or bad bacteria. Within 48-72 hours of birth the intestinal tract is colonized by bacteria usually found in the environment (from birth canal, from mother's skin, etc.). This initial population of bacteria is small and easily upset by stress. It will grow rapidly, both in numbers and species, until the entire gastrointestinal system is well populated with stable bacterial colonies. Since neonates do not have these mature, stable bacterial colonies, they are very susceptible to all kinds of intestinal upsets which might lead to more serious, life-threatening problems. Orphaned and abandoned neonatal animals are particularly at risk for intestinal and other diseases as their lives are extremely stressful and their immune systems are not well developed.
The new Pro-Biolac formulas contain bacteria known commonly as probiotics. These are lactic acid producing bacteria known to be components of the normal intestinal flora of animals. The goal of adding bacteria to puppy and kitten formulas is to help establish a normal bacterial population in the gastrointestinal tract and to help prevent gastrointestinal upset by providing a constant source of bacteria to help maintain established colonies.
AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) prefers that these bacteria be called Direct-Fed Microbials instead of probiotics. This is why the bacteria in Pro-Biolac are listed in the guaranteed analysis as Direct-Fed Microbials.