Protexin Pro-Kolin vs Pro-Kolin Advanced: What's the Difference?
PawPicked is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from links on this page.
Two Protexin pastes sit side by side on Amazon with almost the same name, and it is easy to assume one is simply the bigger tub of the other. They are not. Pro-Kolin is listed for dogs and cats in a 60ml syringe. Pro-Kolin Advanced is listed for dogs only, in a 30ml syringe, with a longer set of added ingredients. The choice comes down to who is in your house, how much paste you want to keep, and whether the extras on the Advanced label mean anything to you.
Everything below comes from the two Amazon.co.uk listings. Where a claim is the maker's, it is described that way.
The two listings side by side
| Pro-Kolin | Pro-Kolin Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Listed for | Dogs and cats | Dogs |
| Syringe size | 60ml | 30ml |
| Flavour | Artificial beef flavouring, described as meat-free | Artificial liver flavouring |
| Probiotic | Enterococcus faecium | Enterococcus |
| Prebiotics | Preplex (fructo-oligosaccharide), acacia gum | Preplex, pectin |
| Binding agents | Kaolin | Kaolin and montmorillonite |
| Other listed extras | Microcrystalline cellulose, dextrose, soya oil | Psyllium, beta-glucans, taurine |
| Storage | No refrigeration required | Cool, dry place; fridge on very hot days |
| Amazon.co.uk rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 15,426 ratings | 4.7 out of 5 from 12,651 ratings |
Both come with a dosage wheel on the plunger. Pro-Kolin's listing calls it vet-recommended, while the Advanced one is sold under the Protexin Veterinary name. The ratings are close enough that they should not decide anything.
What the extra ingredients are claimed to do
The Advanced listing describes a paste that supports the gut, soothes the gut lining and firms up runny poos. It splits the work between several ingredients. The probiotic is there to help promote good bacteria, Preplex feeds those bacteria, and pectin is described as soothing the lining. Psyllium, a soluble fibre, is said to affect intestinal transit time, and kaolin and montmorillonite are called natural binding agents. Beta-glucans and taurine are listed as immune support.
Pro-Kolin's listing is simpler. It leans on the probiotic, the prebiotic and kaolin as a gentle binding agent to help firm stools. It also mentions pectin and fibre in its composition, so the gap is smaller than the bullet points suggest. What Advanced adds is psyllium, montmorillonite, beta-glucans and taurine.
Whether those additions make a visible difference to a particular dog is not something either listing can tell you. They are maker claims, and the listing figures are ingredient lists, not trial results. If your dog has loose stools that keep coming back, the answer is a vet visit, not a more elaborate paste.
Species is the clearest dividing line
Pro-Kolin is the only one of the pair listed for cats as well as dogs. If you share a home with both, that matters, because one syringe covers both animals according to the listing. Advanced is a dog product. Do not assume it can be shared with a cat, and ask your vet before giving any supplement to a cat that is unwell.
Flavour, soya and sensitivities
Neither paste is a natural-flavour product. Pro-Kolin uses artificial beef flavouring and Advanced uses artificial liver flavouring. Pro-Kolin's listing makes a point of calling its flavour meat-free, and says that suits pets with meat allergies. That is the seller's claim about the flavouring, and a dog with a diagnosed allergy should still have the product checked by a vet.
Soya turns up in both. Pro-Kolin lists soya oil in its composition, and the Advanced listing carries an allergen note that says soy may be present. A dog that reacts to soya is a reason to read the pack carefully before buying either.
One more oddity: the Advanced listing's ingredients section is almost empty, so its ingredient detail comes from the bullet points rather than a full composition panel. Check the pack once it arrives.
Size, storage and how long a syringe lasts
Pro-Kolin gives you twice the paste. Advanced is the smaller syringe, and its listing mentions giving it up to three times daily. A 30ml syringe will go faster in a large dog or a long bout of upset than a 60ml one. The sensible way to compare value is to divide each pack's price by the number of days it lasts at the dose on the pack for your dog's weight, rather than comparing sticker prices. Check the current price on Amazon before you do the sum.
For storage, Pro-Kolin's listing says no refrigeration is required. Advanced's says to keep it cool and dry, clean the syringe after each use and replace the cap, with the fridge as an option on very hot days. Neither is awkward, but Advanced asks slightly more of you.
Real drawbacks of each
- Pro-Kolin: smaller ingredient list and no extras such as psyllium or taurine; contains soya oil; artificial flavouring.
- Pro-Kolin Advanced: dogs only; only 30ml per syringe; soy may be present; thin ingredient information on the listing itself.
- Both: these are digestive support pastes, not treatments, and neither listing can promise your dog's stools will firm up.
For more on how pastes compare with other formats, see our powder versus paste comparison. The full write-up of the dog-only version is in our Pro-Kolin Advanced review. If the problem is a bout of diarrhoea rather than a supplement choice, start with what to do at home and when to call the vet. This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
Which one to buy
Choose Pro-Kolin if you have a cat as well as a dog, you want the larger syringe, or you would rather keep the formula simple. It is also the one to look at if the "meat-free" flavour matters to you.
Choose Pro-Kolin Advanced if you only need it for a dog, you like the idea of the added psyllium, montmorillonite, beta-glucans and taurine, and a 30ml syringe will last you long enough. Its rating is slightly higher on a smaller number of ratings, which is not a reason to pick it on its own.
If you are still unsure after reading both, ask your vet which they would use. They know your dog's history, which no listing does.
Products in this article
Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.