Do vets recommend probiotics for dogs?

When you hear the word ‘bacteria’, unpleasant thoughts are usually the first to spring to mind. Bacteria can cause serious illnesses, after all.  

But did you know there are billions of beneficial bacteria living within your dog’s body – in every area from the gut, mouth and urogenital tract to the skin and even the lungs? These friendly bacteria make up part of their ‘microbiota’ (or ‘microbiome’) and play many essential roles in your pup’s health[1,2].  

Our understanding of the role of the microbiome is still in its infancy, but we do know that probiotic products can help support your dog’s microbiome[1,3-7]. 

What are probiotics?  

The short answer is that probiotics are ‘friendly microbes’. The recognised definition is ‘live micro-organisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a beneficial health effect on the host’[8] (you can read more detail in our article on the benefits of probiotics for dogs). 

Probiotics shouldn’t be confused with prebiotics, which are nutrients that good bacteria can feed on, and synbiotics, which are products that combine both prebiotics and probiotics. 

Do vets prescribe probiotics? 

In the UK probiotics aren’t prescription medications, so as a dog owner you can buy probiotic products without consulting your veterinarian.  

However, vets will often recommend a course of probiotics as part of a treatment plan for some conditions, such as acute or chronic gastrointestinal disorders or alongside antibiotics. Probiotics may also bebeneficial in cases of urinary[9] or skin disease[10], immune system disorders[11,12] and anxiety and stress in pets[13]. 

Which probiotic products for dogs do vets recommend?  

As the interest in microbiome research is increasing, more and more probiotic products for pets are becoming available. Choosing the right one for your dog can be challenging, especially when different products make different claims on their packaging. 

As a guide, vets will recommend probiotics for your dog if they meet these criteria: 

• The types of bacteria present in the product are listed on the pack, including the specific strains of bacteria. This is important because not every strain of bacteria has a probiotic effect, and different probiotic bacteria have different benefits.  

• There’s a guarantee for the number of bacterial colonies present at the product’s expiry date (this is measured in CFU/kg). Some products will only list the number of colonies present at the time of manufacture, which can be misleading because there’s no evidence the same amount of live bacteria will still be in the product when you give it to your dog. 

Not all probiotic products are equal, so these points can help determine which may be poor-quality or lack evidence to support their claims. 

What’s the verdict from a vet? 

Here are two key reasons why I’ll continue to include probiotics in many of my treatment plans for canine patients, especially where they have upset stomach issues, are taking antibiotics or experiencing stress: 

1.Gastrointestinal tract issues and antibiotic use can seriously upset the friendly bacteria in your dog’s gut, causing wide-reaching health impacts[2,6]. Alterations to your dog’s normal gut microbiota are called ‘dysbiosis’[2,14] and this is where probiotic supplements can really come into play – because they support the re-establishment of ‘friendly bacteria’ and can help your dog’s recovery[15].  

2.There’s research showing that the introduction of healthy bacterial populations via faecal matter transplant (or to put it another way, poo transplants!) can be beneficial in treating chronic gastrointestinal disease[16,17], again highlighting the importance of these friendly microbes.We’re learning through ongoing veterinary research that the impact of an unhappy gut on a dog’s health is likely to mean a lot more than just a bad case of diarrhoea from time to time. 

In summary, probiotics are a fantastic support tool for your pet, but it’s important to understand they’re not a cure-all, not every product is created equal and the industry isn’t closely regulated. Before spending money on a product, do your research and, if in doubt, chat with your vet. They’re best-placed to provide advice tailored to your dog’s needs and guide you towards reputable and effective products.