What Is a Good Probiotic for Dogs?

According to both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), probiotics are microorganisms which can affect an organism's gut microbiota. This is the balance of microorganisms which are naturally present in a dog's intestinal system. The introduction of probiotics may help to restore the balance of the gut microbiota or generally improve it.

They are eaten as a supplement and have some evidence to support their use in both human and veterinary medicine. Which type and how much they need to eat will differ according to the individual dog. They are generally safe to consume and certain benefit shave been found for some health conditions in dogs. However, they are not considered an essential for a dog's diet and some adverse effects have been reported.

Probiotics are microorganisms that are characterized by:

• Not being pathogenic to the host that consumes them.
• Tolerating the low pH levels and high concentrations of bile acids present in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Being able to adhere to the intestinal epithelium and proliferate in the intestine.

It is important not to confuse probiotics and prebiotics. Prebiotics are foods that act as nutrient sources for probiotics, usually those which are high in fiber.

Dogs can eat certain probiotics to help regulate, restore or improve their gut flora (intestinal microbiota). While many of the benefits are little understood, it is believed that probiotics can help dogs by:

• Promoting the health and well-being of healthy dogs.
• Treating gastrointestinal disorders caused by changes in diet, antibiotic treatments, stressful situations or certain digestive pathologies.

The use of probiotics for health purposes is not new. Since they can be found in certain foods such as fermented dairy products, there is evidence they were used by ancient civilizations. Understanding of their modern applications gained traction in the early 20th century, but it wasn't until relatively recently that they have become popularized by the mainstream.

Probiotics have been commercialized and can be found in the grocery store, often with promotion suggesting many health benefits. However, it is important to know that effectiveness of probiotics varies significantly depending on the condition and the specific strains used. Evidence for many claimed benefits remains limited or inconclusive. For this reason, we cannot use them as a replacement for veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

As we have already mentioned, probiotics in dogs are used to improve the intestinal microbiota. This can help to positively influence digestion and improve immunity against disease. The majority of immunity cells in a dog can be found in their gut, with changes in the gut microbiome being associated with diseases such as inflammatory processes, metabolic syndromes and even mood disorders^[1].

With this in mind, we can see the potential benefits of probiotics for dogs as the following:

• Displacement of pathogenic microorganisms present in the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics and pathogens use the same nutrients to develop and multiply. When probiotics are administered, they may reduce the nutrients available in the intestinal tract, limiting the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms and causing their population to decrease.
• Produce by-products with antimicrobial effect.
• Improve the epithelial barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Improve the absorption of micronutrients, i.e. vitamins and minerals.
• Modulate the immune response.

All these effects can translate into an improvement in the dog's overall health. This includes the quality and consistency of stool, a decrease in the duration and severity of digestive symptoms, a decrease in the fecal count of pathogenic microorganisms and a decrease in the concentrations of inflammatory markers. In addition, probiotics have shown potential benefits in the treatment of non-digestive diseases, such as chronic kidney disease.

It is very important to know that not all of the proposed benefits of probiotics for dogs have been confirmed by scientific evaluation. Many of the claims suggesting they can treat certain diseases are either poorly understood or provably wrong. For example, some suggest that exposure to probiotics can improve atopic dermatitis in dogs. While there may be some positive impact, the latest research proves inconclusive and requires further investigation^[2].

It is also important to note that adverse effects of probiotics in dogs are rare when used in small quantities. The microbiota of a dog's gut is a competitive environment for bacteria, meaning that the introduction of probiotics won't cause an imbalance. The gut flora will even itself out naturally. Some dogs may experience dome initial digestive upset, but this should resolve shortly.

As we have stressed, probiotics for dogs are not essential and they are not a replacement treatment for gastrointestinal disease. Look at some of the causes of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs with our related article.

The appropriate dosage of probiotics for dogs will depend on different factors , such as:

• Specific microorganism and its concentration in the product (CFU -Colony Forming Units- per gram or per milliliter)
• Weight of the animal
• Age of the animal
• Purpose for which the probiotic is administered

For this reason, it is important that before administering any probiotic to your dog to consult your veterinarian. Doing so will help to diagnose the problem, meaning we don't cover up a disorder with the use of probiotics alone. They can then suggest how to best introduce probiotics into your dog's routine. They will determine your dog's specific needs and help to understand the best way to administer them.

You can find out other ways to help a dog's digestive system with our article explaining how to harden a dog's stool.

To understand what is a good probiotic for dogs, we need to take into account which microorganisms are part of the normal microbiota of canines. In adult dogs, the normal microbiota is mainly composed of organisms from the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria. The presence of Acidobacteriota bacteria is possible, but rare. Within these phyla, the most abundant genera are the following:

• Clostridium
• Streptococcus
• Lactobacillus
• Turicibacter
• Catenibacterium
• Coprobacillus
• Prevotella
• Bacteroides
• Sutterella
• Enterococcus
• Fusobacterium
• Megamonas

Now we know what is a good probiotic for dogs, we should know where to find them. Pet companies have created various products as a way to introduce probiotics into a dog's gut. They include specially formulated feeds, supplements and even fortified treats. Examples on the market include the following:

• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora: contains Enterococcus faecium to help manage diarrhea and promote immune health. Also containsed fortified vitamins and minerals. You can purchase this product here.
• Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites for Dogs: soft chews that contain DE111 (a strain of Bacillus subtilis) and prebiotic fiber.
• PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics Soft Chews: contains both probiotics (like Lactobacillus acidophilus) and prebiotics to support gut health and contains pumpkin for fiber. You can purchase this product here.
• Nom Nom Probiotic Support: available in two formulations for generalhealth or dogs with digestive issues.
• Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Dog Probiotics: powdered formula containing strains like Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus.
• VetriScience Probiotic Everyday: chewable tablets with eight different probiotic strains plus prebiotics. You can purchase this product here.
• Wellness CORE Digestive Health Probiotic Coated Kibble: kibble infused with probiotics, including Lactobacillus plantarum. Formulated for dogs of any age.
• NaturVet Advanced Probiotics & Enzymes Soft Chews: includes probiotics along with digestive enzymes for broader digestive support.
• Doggie Dailies Probiotics for Dogs: chews with five strains of probiotics, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium breve.
• Merrick Power Bites with Probiotics: soft, probiotic-coated treats designed as a supplemental probiotic snack. You can purchase this product here.

Choosing which is a good probiotic for your dog may take some trial and error. However, it is best to consult a veterinarian first to determine the best probiotic product for your dog.

In the previous section we talked about the best probiotic food supplements for dogs. However, you should know that there are also natural probiotics for dogs, which are present in different foods.

Supplementation with foods that naturally contain probiotics may reduce the harmful bacterial load in the intestine and improve the beneficial microorganisms present in the animal's microbiota. These foods are mainly:

• Fresh cheese
• Yogurt
• Kefir

However, it is very important to know that dogs do not well tolerate dairy products. Generally speaking, adult dogs are lactose intolerant with some having more adverse reactions than others. Some may even experience digestive upset if they eat the above natural probiotics for dogs. For this reason, their use needs to be minimal since the digestive upset they cause may counteract any benefit the probiotic provides.

Learn more with our article on whether you can give kefir to a dog.

If you want to read similar articles to What Is a Good Probiotic for Dogs?, we recommend you visit our Healthy diets category.