What probiotics do vets recommend for dogs

Probiotics for Dogs

Have you ever taken a probiotic? If youve ever eaten yogurt with live cultures, the answer may be yes. The term refers to beneficial or friendly gut-dwelling microbes (bacteria and yeasts). There are billions of them in the gastrointestinal system of all animals, and they aid in the digestion of food, fight off potential pathogens, make nutrients and vitamins, and bolster the immune system. The word itself is derived from the Latin word for (pro) and the Greek life (bio). Probiotics for dogs are a nutritional tool to consider for the health of your best friend.

Sometimes beneficial microbes are damaged or destroyed, and that can cause stomach upset and a general decline in health. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or related issues or seems to get sick more than other dogs for no apparent reason, your veterinarian may suggest using one of the methods to boost beneficial bacteria:

• Prebiotics are nutrients that are designed to nourish and promote the growth of good bacteria that are already living in the colon.
• Probiotics, also referred to as direct-fed microbials by the pet-food regulatory body AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

These products come in several different forms, including:

• Yogurt or kefir with live cultures. Keep in mind that not all yogurt cultures are created equal. Some of the cultures were used for the manufacture of the product, but are not probiotics. Only offer your dog unsweetened, plain yogurt, and read labels carefully to avoid all artificial sweeteners.
• Powders
• Capsules
• Chews
• Dog foods

These products usually contain kinds of bacteria normally found in the canine gut, such as:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Enterococcus faecium
• Bifidobacterium lactis
• Lactobacillus casei
• Bifidobacterium breve

How to Purchase and Care for a Probiotic Product

Gail Czarnecki-Maulden, Ph.D., a senior research nutritionist for Nestle Purina and one of the developers of FortiFlora, says that the big problem with these products is that they are delicate living things. When you look at a probiotic, you are looking at live bacteria that have been adapted to living within the GI tract, she explains in a Canine Health Foundation podcast. Exposure to air, moisture, or temperature extremes will damage their viability. Thats why some of these products are sold in individual serving packets. She also says that people should be mindful of temperature conditions when purchasing a probiotic product. You dont want to buy your probiotics when its 110 degrees outside and you go to the mall for four hours and your probiotics are sitting in a hot car for five or six hours. Its not likely that the probiotics will survive.

Also, there are a few things you should look for on a probiotic package label, for example:

• List of specific probiotics in the product, including strain identification. Dr. Czarnecki-Maulden points out that there are several strains of bacteria, and each does something different. She cites a study in which scientists examined live microbesLactobacillus acidophilusextracted from dog feces. On 97 strains, only 17 had probiotic activity, but they were not all the same. Some showed anti-inflammatory activity, while others were immune stimulants. She points out that more strains or different forms of bacteria are not necessarily better in probiotics, because they may work against one another. Of the studies conducted on how well probiotics work, she says, most have been done with single strains.
• Guaranteed analysis of how many live bacteria there will be at the end of the shelf life. Some companies may say how many live bacteria are in the product at the point of manufacture, but by the time you purchase the product, all the probiotics may have died.
• Use-before date.

When Are Probiotics Used?

Probiotics are most often prescribed for maintaining a desirable intestinal microbial balance, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. When an animal is stressed or sick, the balance between the healthy and disease-causing microbes may be disrupted. This can lead to diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bad breath.

Some of the triggers for such digestive disorders include:

• Infection or bacterial imbalance
• Stress: As in humans, changes that cause emotional stress, such as boarding, moving, or losing a home, can result in colitis. Thats one reason why many dogs in shelters suffer from diarrhea. Some studies have suggested that probiotics work as well as antibiotics in clearing up diarrhea in shelter dogs.
• Diet: This can include abrupt changes in the menu or eating food that is spoiled or that just doesnt agree with the dog.
• Old age
• Medications: Antibiotics and long-term steroids are known culprits in causing diarrhea by killing good bacteria.
• Parasites

You might consider giving your healthy dog a probiotic if he is prone to developing diarrhea in stressful situations. For example, if you are planning to take your dog to a show or to board the dog, it may make sense to give probiotics a few days in advance. Also, puppies who tend to get diarrhea after training classes or visits to the vet, for example, might benefit from a few days of probiotics in preparation for the stressful event.

Do Probiotics Work?

Anecdotal evidencestories of individual successexists to support the effectiveness of probiotics and some veterinarians swear by them. There are some scientific studies on the health benefits of probiotics in humans or in animals, as well, and in enhancing immune responses in growing dogs. One 2009 Irish study found that supplementation with a specific strain of Bifidobacterium animalis reduced the duration of diarrhea from seven to four days. It also eliminated the need for antibiotic treatment by about 10 percent over placebo.

A guide to probiotics for dogs

Should I give my dog a probiotic supplement?

Healthy dogs can benefit from probiotics, but supplements can be especially helpful when your dog is sick or stressed. Probiotics strengthen the numbers of good bacteria in your dogs gut, which boost their immune response as their body fights infection, sickness, and inflammation. Different dogs require different dosages, though, so always talk to your vet before administering a supplement to know how much to give your pup.

Can I give my dog human probiotics?

While it may not hurt them, some probiotic strains arent effective on dogs, especially if they arent naturally-occurring in their gut. Its best to stick with a vet-approved supplement that was intended for canine consumption in order for them to reap the maximum benefits.

Is Greek yogurt a good probiotic for dogs?

This tangy dairy product features Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, two bacterial strains that live in your pups gut, but not in large quantities. As long as its unflavored and free from any sweeteners, Greek yogurt is safe to offer to your dog. However, many dogs are lactose intolerant, so Greek yogurt might not suit them. Probiotic supplements meant for dogs are better since they contain the most beneficial strains.

What type of probiotic is best for dogs?

Probiotics come in various dosages and formsincluding powders, chews, capsules, and foods. Since probiotics are a supplement, they arent legally required to meet FDA regulation or approval. This is why its important to choose one from a reputable company that your vet approves to avoid getting scammed.

Whats the appropriate dosage?

Most vets generally recommend probiotics that contain between 1 and 10 billion CFUs. Every dog is different, though, so consult your vet for the most accurate dosage for your pup.

10 Best Probiotics for Dogs in 2024, Recommended By Vets

Probiotics for dogs are beneficial microorganisms that live in your dogs gut and contribute to a healthy gastrointestinal system. Just like humans, dogs have a variety of beneficial microorganisms that live in their digestive tract. Your dog's microbiome is important in their health and using a probiotic can help contribute to a healthy gastrointestinal system.

About 95% of these microorganisms are bacteria, with the rest including a mix of protozoa, fungi, and even viruses. Probiotics supplements introduce high volumes of these beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, to help support gut health.

Probiotics are a great addition to your dogs health plan and these products may also be helpful during the early stages of a puppys life (when their immune systems are developing), and dog probiotics may aid in helping a sick dog recover quicker.

For example, these may be helpful when searching for probiotics for dogs with diarrhea. Or you may be looking for a probiotic for dogs with allergies. As with any new addition to your dogs care, always ask your veterinarian the best probiotic for your dog based on their health needs.

When youre shopping for the best probiotic for your dog, consider the type of probiotic and number of microorganisms in the product, the cost, palatability (how tasty it is for your pup), how its administered, and the health function youre trying to support. The quantity of microorganisms in a product is generally measured in billions of CFUs, or colony forming units.

The list ofcanine probioticsbelow has been reviewed by our panel of experts to provide you with a list of vet recommended probiotics for dogs. As always, if you have questions about your dogs digestive health, contact your veterinarian or one of our veterinary professionals at ChewysConnect with a Vet.

Probiotics for dogs

Humans are advised to take probiotics to encourage a healthy digestive system and improve physical wellbeing, and theres every reason to suggest dogs can benefit too! Probiotics for dogs can keep your canine pal in peak condition from the inside out.

So how do they work, and whats the best way to give a course of probiotics to your dog?

All your questions and more will be answered in this article.

First steps

Im sure youre here because youve heard about probiotics for dogs as a beneficial treatment, but I want you to keep one thing in mind at all times. Its something a vet worth their salt will mention, but in my experience is almost always over looked:

If you dont address issues with diet, probiotics will merely cover up what is likely the most significant underlying cause.

If you decide to supplement your dogs diet with probiotics then great theyre well worth it but if your dog is suffering from one of the many terrible pet food products, then essentially youre putting a band-aid on a wound which wont heal.

If you dont know if your dog food is any good, then read the relevant review. Or if you just want recommendations of probiotics for dog in Australia then here you go.

How do probiotics work?

Likely, at some point in your life youve been prescribed antibiotics. These drugs work by killing bad bacteria in the body thats causing an infection. Theyre often lifesaving in the way they rapidly attack bacteria and rid the body of infection.

However, at the same time antibiotics nuke bad bacteria, they also destroy lots of good bacteria, especially the bacteria in the gut, known as gut flora.

Even if a dog hasnt taken antibiotics, its still possible to have an imbalance of good bacteria, and probiotics can help as they stimulate the growth of healthy gut flora.

While a humans digestive system differs from dogs, the principle is the same: a dog that has an unhealthy gut could very well benefit from a course of probiotics.

What are the signs my dog needs probiotics?

A lack of friendly gut bacteria can cause several symptoms in your dog that otherwise seem to have no cause. It could be that until recently theyve been perfectly healthy, and then suddenly started to develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Bloating
• Weight gain
• Smelly breath
• Tiredness
• Allergies & sensitivities
• Low mood
• Gurgling stomach

Any of these symptoms can be a sign your dogs suffering from a lack of healthy bacteria. When the balance of the gut flora is off, anything your dog eats can come straight back out again, preventing the dog gaining any nutritional benefit.

See your vet

The first thing you should always do is see your vet. Upset stomachs in dogs can be caused by numerous issues, so your vet will likely ask you if its possible the change in stomach health could be caused by one of the following:

• Stress
• Parasitic infection
• Change in diet
• Infection elsewhere in the body
• Eating bad food (more common than we would like to admit)

There are other more serious illnesses that can also cause sickness in your dog, so be sure to get them to the vets soon. Its important to rule out more serious issues.

If your pet gets an otherwise clean bill of health, the vet may certainly recommend a course of probiotics for dogs. In many cases theyll instead recommend an antibiotic antiprotozoal drug like metronidazole (branded Metrogyl or Flagyl in Australia).

Whether you opt for the drug route or a more holistic probiotic route is a decision youll need to make.

What are the benefits of probiotics for dogs?

The aim of a course of probiotics is to boost the good bacteria in your dogs gut and restore the balance of their gut flora.

Hopefully soon after they begin the course (especially once any diet-related concerns are addressed), your dog will noticeably begin to feel much better.

Their stomach issues will hopefully reach a resolution, but not only that, you could very well begin to see improvements to all manner of aspects of their health and behavior.

Lets look at how a course of probiotics for dogs will affect different areas of their health:

Digestive Issues

The good bacteria in a dogs digestive system get to work on consumed food almost immediately after it enters the stomach. Some of these good bacteria include Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium breve, among others. Just in case you were wondering the names of these pesky and all-too-absent bacteria that your dog needs a boost of!

Some savvy amongst you will have realised a few dog foods contain lactobacillusingredients.

When theres a lack of this bacteria, then the food your dog eats doesnt get broken down effectively, and therefore the nutrients in the food dont get absorbed into the system negating any beneficial effects.

Digestive issues are the first and most obvious effect youll see improve once you start a course of probiotics for dogs. Youll find your dog is more interested in their food, and once theyve eaten there should be less gurgling, noisy stomach sounds.

Youll likely be very thankful your dog has much less gas! This will be a blessing to the entire family, but most importantly youll have a much more comfortable dog.

You may notice any bloating your dog had prior to the probiotics has subsided.

When theyre on their walks and they go to the bathroom, youll see that their diarrhea stops, and their stools go back to being their usual, firmer texture.

Allergies & food sensitivities

Improving your dogs gastrointestinal health will work wonders for other parts of their body, too, including reducing skin issues.

More often than not these are spoken of as allergies, but in most cases they should be referred to as food sensitivities. To reiterate once more, the first step in addressing allergy and sensitivities is diet. Only then should probiotics be considered as an additional aid.

Symptoms of allergies & food sensitivities in dogs are:

• Scratching
• Excessive licking
• Pawing of ears and face
• Biting or chewing skin and paws
• Skin rashes, inflammation, flakey skin, and dry coat
• Sores and lumps
• Hair loss

Dogs who scratch a lot may well be suffering from food sensitivities because their poor gut health results in their immune systems not working effectively.

It means that their skin doesnt ward off allergens as well as it normally would.

By boosting the good bacteria in your dogs gut, especially the bacteria Lactobacillus, your dogs immune system should greatly improve. Once their gut health stabilises you should notice they scratch a lot less and are in a lot less discomfort.

Yeast problems

The overgrowth of live cultures can lead to Candida, which is a fungal infection. This fungus can take over the gut and cause all the issues we mentioned earlier.

Candida is also known as thrush and can affect humans too.

A course of antibiotics may help fight a Candida infection and would likely be the vet-prescribed course of action, but a course of probiotics for dogs could not only knock the fungus on the head but also encourage the growth of good bacteria.

Giving your dogs probiotics, or having it included in their diet, can prevent yeast infections or Candida developing in the first place.

Other ways probiotics for dogs can help

It always helps a dogs system to boost their good bacteria, so theres every reason to administer probiotics for dogs even before they begin to show signs of digestive issues.

Probiotics can fight liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and can make your dog feel so much better in themselves that they become more playful and sleep less during the day.

This is great news for your dog, but it will mean more playtime and longer walks for you!

Ways to administer probiotics for dogs

Dogs arent known for being great at taking pills, but there are many ways to treat your dog with probiotics.

Commercial supplements

Your vet will be able to recommend from a whole host of probiotics for dogs, and the most obvious choice will be commercial supplements.

An example would be capsules or pills, but as all dog owners know, getting dogs to swallow capsules can be a very difficult task. So, thankfully, there are lots of other ways to give your dog probiotics.

There are powders you can sprinkle into your dogs food, along with tasty chews that can be given as though theyre treats.

In addition, changing your dogs diet to a kibble or food that contains more probiotic is also an easy way to give your dog what it needs, but without the struggles.

Many top-rated dog foods on this website include probiotics.

Some poorer quality dog foods may also contain probiotics to effectively hide issues which would otherwise likely occur. This is more common than you would expect, especially given dog owners assume a dog food is working if their dogs stools are firm. Probiotics are one of a few ways pet food manufacturers can artificially firm stools, beet pulp is another.

Natural ways to source probiotics for dogs

If youre not keen on giving your dog commercial supplements, then simply adapting their diet to include natural ways of boosting their good bacteria can be an excellent option.

Feeding your dog sugar-free yogurt or kefir can help if they contain live cultures. You should always choose plain yogurt, with no added sweeteners. Always avoid Xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs.

Miso soup and even fermented cabbages like kimchi and sauerkraut are rich sources of probiotics, but its less likely your dog will enjoy these! You never know some dogs love vegetables, but youre more likely to find they lap up plain yogurt before crunching on fermented cabbage. Even Korean dogs.

Possible side effects of probiotics for dogs

Probiotics are very rarely dangerous, but they work by changing the flora of your dogs gut which can show initial increased symptoms in the early stages prior to any improvements.

So, you could find your dog is even gassier than normal (keep those windows open!) or more bloated. They may have diarrhea and need to be let out to go to the bathroom more often, or they could even have the opposite issue with some constipation.

Thankfully these should be short-lived symptoms, and because probiotics contain natural ingredients and serve to only boost whats already in your dogs digestive system, these should return to normal in no time.

However, if the symptoms worsen and your dog becomes unwell, then dont hesitate to take them to the vet for further advice.

Good for all the family!

Once you see how well probiotics for dogs have worked, youll wonder whether you could have such good results if you took probiotics, too!

There are some excellent probiotics on the market for humans, so theres no need to steal your dogs stash!

Keep it in mind perhaps the whole family could benefit from the inherent improvements of probiotics for overall health!

Probiotics for dogs reviews

Whether you shop at Petbarn, PETstock, , Pet Circle, or perhaps your local pet shop, youll find a range of probiotics for dogs on offer.

Ill skirt over a few of the common brands with a little bit of information on each. Theyre mostly all very similar but youll find some have a little quirk to entice you (such as added hemp).

Dont worry too much though, as all will be beneficial to your dog.

So here we go, some recommendations for probiotics for dogs:

Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora for Dogs (Cats is the same formula)

Purina are one of the worlds biggest pet brands, yet most people dont realise theyre Nestle. According to some statistics by Kantar (if you know who they are), FortiFlora is the #1 probiotic for canine/feline as recommended by veterinarians.

A questionable first ingredient may make you wonder whether FortiFlora is the right probiotic for your dog, and this is covered in more detail in the Purina FortiFlora review.

Big Dog Probiotics for Dogs

Some of you will be aware of Big Dog, a leading Australian brand of raw BARF patties for at least 20 years now. Theyre a reputable company who offer quality products, and consumer feedback over the past two decades has been testament to that.

Their probiotic/prebiotic/enzyme supplement comes as 150g of powder form, and you can use 5g a day (depending on size of your dog). You can mix it with wet food, make it into a paste with dry food, or mix with coconut oil or peanut butter as a treat.

A jar should last a month, and contains a range of good bacteria probiotics, digestive enzymes, and green banana powder as a prebiotic.

Big Dog are a good brand, and their Probiotics for Dogs mix looks good.

PETZ PARK Probiotic for Dogs with Hemp Seeds

PETZ PARK Probiotic at the time of writing costs more per gram than Big Dog, but based on feeding recommendations should last up to 2 months (depending on dog size).

It contains hemp as a unique selling point, but when we look at the ingredients we find it contains a range of grains in the mix oats, barley, rye, corn, more oats, soya beans, millet, buckwheat.

Fair enough, it contains some nice ingredients too, such as spirulina, alfalfa, barley and wheat grass, quinoa, calcium, and kelp, but given the amount of grains I dont think its as good value for money as Big Dog Probiotics.

PAW Blackmores Digesticare

PAW Digesticare by household name Blackmores is a probiotic + wholefood powder. Its a mix of not only probiotics, but vitamins, amino acids, dietary fibre, and omega fatty acids. You can look at it as being more well-rounded, or a jack-of-all-trades.

Like with PETZ PARK, we find the ingredients to contain grains, spirulina, alfalfa, quinoa, as well as legumes and more cereals. The price per 150g is similar to Big Dog Probiotics, but when we account for Digesticare being bulked up with grains it would seem less value for money.

Vetafarm Synbiotic 180-S Animal Probiotic Supplement

This brand is available at Petbarn, so will appeal to those who shop in store.

Unlike the other Probiotic mixes above this one caters for all animals. That may sound like a bad thing, but like Big Dog Probiotics the ingredients seems to focus on what it says on the tin probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes. They havent bulked it out with grains and legumes.

For a prebiotic, inulin is included in the form of chicory root as a natural, unprocessed choice.

For 150g its a similar price to Big Dog Probiotics above, so very comparable. If you have other pets, like cats, birds, rabbits, mice, and iguanas, then you can divvy this one up!

Canine Ceuticals

A little harder to source than the above, Canine Ceuticals offer a range of human-grade supplements for dogs, including two for gut health Canine Ceuticals Gut Protect and Canine Ceuticals Gut Restore.

Both are packed with ingredients to improve gut health in many ways, with Gut Protect designed as a preventative (based on psyllium husk) and Gut Restore to help your dog recover from gut health issues, medication, antibiotics, or surgery.

You can find more detail on the Canine Ceuticals gut health supplements here.

References

1. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/foods-with-probiotics-for-dogs#:~:text=A%20good%20source%20of%20natural,can%20be%20dangerous%20for%20dogs.
2. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/probiotics-for-dogs/
3. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/probiotics-dogs-what-you-need-know
4. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/06/antibiotics-and-probiotics-how-medications-affect-your-gut#:~:text=Doctors%20who%20recommend%20probiotics%20typically,completed%20your%20course%20of%20antibiotics.
5. https://doggysdigest.com/probiotics-for-dogs/side-effects/