There’s been loads of noise about dog gut health recently. And there’s also been a huge increase in the number of products that claim to have gut health benefits for dogs. Finding all this confusing? You’re not alone. That’s why we’re covering what you need to know about probiotic products, and how they could help your dog’s health.
What are probiotics?
Good question. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines probiotics as ‘live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a beneficial health effect on the host’. So, they’re saying probiotics bring health benefits to those who take them – if taken in the right amount.
How do probiotics for dogs work?
Your dog’s digestive tract is full of trillions of ‘good microbes’ – this includes bacteria, viruses and fungi that work in harmony with your dog’s body to help maintain their overall health and well-being.
These good microbes are called the gut ‘microbiota’, and they have many vital roles, including:
aiding food digestion[1]
providing some essential vitamins[1]
regulating your dog’s metabolism[2]
supporting your dog’s immune function[1,2]
protecting your dog from harmful bacteria[2].
Probiotics supplement the good microbes in the gut and can be considered a nutritional tool for supporting your dog’s gut health. Probiotics have many of what we officially call ‘indications’ – in other words, ‘reasons to use them’ – but they still shouldn’t be considered a catch-all option.
What do probiotics do for dogs?
When the natural ‘friendly’ microbes in your dog’s gut are disrupted, it can significantly impact your dog’s health. This disruption is called ‘dysbiosis’. Dysbiosis can happen for many reasons, but most commonly it’s the result of gut disease or taking antibiotics.
Probiotics can help support the friendly gut bacteria by reintroducing good bacteria into the intestinal tract[1]. Often, your vet will give probiotics alongside dietary advice or other medications.
The benefits of dog probiotics
Probiotics have been shown to help restore the ‘good’ bacteria within the gut[1].
There are many ways in which this may prove beneficial, including:
- Supporting gut function and the immune system[3,4,5]
- Restoring their natural balance after antibiotic therapy[1,6]
- Supporting skin health[8]
- Maintaining balance during periods of stress, such as travelling, staying in kennels or changing diet [1,7].
Are probiotics good for dogs?
Probiotics are considered safe supplements[9], even though they impact the gut microbes and may influence the rest of your dog’s body. If your dog has a food allergy, some of the flavourings or stabilisers used in the probiotic product may risk destabilising your dog’s allergy management.
If you’re considering adding a probiotic to your dog’s daily routine and they have known medical issues, it’s best to run your chosen product by your vet first. And it’s also best to avoid giving them human probiotic products, as the human microbiota differs significantly from your dog’s[1,2].
What to look for in a probiotic
As so many probiotic products are available for dogs, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Any trustworthy product should include this important information, so look out for it when buying:
the organisms (types of bacteria) present, right down to the individual strain. Not every strain will have probiotic activity – the different strains can even have different activity within your dog’s gut
guarantees for the number of colonies (or live bacteria) present until the end of the product’s shelf life. This information is given in CFU/kg measurement
the date of expiry.
The manufacturer should also be able to provide evidence to support the product’s effectiveness. To avoid wasting money on an ineffective product, it’s essential to understand that not all probiotic products are equal.
Probiotics vs. prebiotics
Some digestive health products are labelled as prebiotics. Prebiotics are nutrients that good bacteria in the gut can feed on. They are non-live compounds – they’re not living.
Prebiotics help to support, nourish and promote the growth of friendly bacteria, and improve gut health – whereas probiotics are live bacteria that help improve the gut flora composition.
Some products combine prebiotics and probiotics, and these are called synbiotics.
How are probiotics given to dogs?
There are many different formulations of probiotics available, from pastes to tablets and powders. All of them are given by mouth. Most products are given once a day, but some need to be given several times a day, so double-check the manufacturer’s advice before use. If a probiotic is given during antibiotic treatment, it’s best to give it several hours after your dog has the antibiotic.
A final thought
The gut microbiome is a fascinating system that plays many roles in your dog’s overall health and well-being. While our understanding of the importance of the microbiome is still in its infancy, we do know using probiotic products can support the good microbes in your dog’s gut[1,3,4,5,6,7] – and there’s much more research taking place on how this could support other areas of their overall health and well-being.
Many products are available to buy, but not all are created equal. Look out for those that can back up their efficacy claims, and you know you’ll be buying a product that offers real benefits.
FAQs
Should I give my dog probiotics every day?
At the right amount, probiotics can safely be given to dogs daily to support gastrointestinal health. There are some situations where your vet may recommend daily probiotics as part of your dog’s health plan.
Can my dog have probiotics?
At the right amount, probiotics are safe, so there’s minimal risk in giving them to your dog[9]. However, if your dog has a pre-existing medical condition, then it’s always advisable to double-check with your vet first.
What probiotics can I give my dog in the UK?
When choosing a probiotic for your dog, it’s recommended to use a product designed for animals. Human products may be ineffective in animals, and may contain microorganisms or additives that are non-authorised or unsafe to dogs. Look for brands that can prove their effectiveness.
- Barko. P et al. (2018) The Gastrointestinal Microbiome: A review. JVIM DOI. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14875
- Pilla. R and Suchodolski. J (2020) The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00498
- Jergens. A and Heilmann. R (2022) Canine chronic enteropathy – Current state-of-the-art and emerging concepts. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.923013
- Ziese. A et al. (2018) Effect of probiotic treatment on the clinical course, intestinal microbiome, and toxigenic Clostridium perfringens in dogs with acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea. PLOS one DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204691
- Rossi. G et al. (2020) Effects of the probiotic mixture Slab51® (SivoMixx®) as a Food supplement in Healthy Dogs: Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota, Clinical Parameters and Immune Function. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00613
- Pilla. R et al. (2020) Effects of metronidazole on the fecal microbiome and metabolome in healthy dogs JVIM DOI. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15871
- Pignataro et al. (2021) Comparison of the Therapeutic Effect of Treatment with Antibiotics or Nutraceuticals on Clinical Activity and the Fecal Microbiome of Dogs with Acute Diarrhoea. Animals: Advances in Small Animal Gastroenterology. DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061484
- Sivamaruthi et al (2021) Influence of probiotic supplementation on health status of the dogs: a review. Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311384
- Kelley et al (2010) Safety and tolerance of dietary supplementation with a canine-derived probiotics (Bifidobacterium animalis Strain AHC 7) fed to growing dogs. Veterinary Therapeutics. 11:3 E1-14
