Elise and I were talking this morning about a puppy, and the issue of improving the immune system came up. I was reminded what the good people at Scarlet Sage told me about probiotics and searched out a few articles. Here's some GOOD info, reprinted from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Probiotic-Immune-System&id=3303538
You can read the rest of the article on their page.... but in a nutshell, add probiotics to your food, and that of your companion animal, for optimal health!
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The most powerful and important aspect of the immune system involves the body's probiotic bacteria. The human body houses more than 32 billion beneficial and harmful bacteria and fungi at any particular time. When beneficial bacteria are in the majority, they constitute 70-80% of the body's immune response.

This takes place both in an isolated manner and in conjunction with the rest of the immune system.

Probiotic colonies work with the body's internal immune system to organize strategies that prevent toxins and pathogenic microorganisms from harming the body. Probiotics communicate and cooperate with the immune system to organize cooperative strategies. They stimulate the body's immune cells, activating the cell-mediated response, the humoral response, and indirectly, the body's exterior barrier mechanisms through immunoglobulin stimulation. Three decades of medical research has indicated that probiotics stimulate T-cells, B-cells, macrophages and NK-cells with smart messages that promote specific immune responses. They also activate cytokines and phagocytic cells directly to coordinate their intelligent immune response.