Probiotics for dogs are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, offer health benefits, particularly in the digestive system. These beneficial bacteria, often referred to as "good" or "friendly" bacteria (technically, non-pathogenic bacteria, meaning non-disease-causing), play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced gut microbiome, which is essential for your dog's overall health and well-being.

A healthy gut is the cornerstone of your dog's immune system, digestion, and even mood. Probiotics work by populating the gut with these good bacteria, which help to crowd out harmful bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, support nutrient absorption and improve digestive processes. They can be especially beneficial during times of stress, illness, or after a course of antibiotics, which can disrupt the natural balance of gut bacteria.

Common strains of probiotics used in dog supplements include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Enterococcus faecium. Each of these strains contributes to different aspects of digestive health, from reducing diarrhea to enhancing immune function. At Vetnique Labs, we carefully select probiotic strains that are not only effective but also safe for long-term use in dogs of all ages.

Prebiotics for dogs are non-digestible fibers that serve as food for the probiotics—the beneficial bacteria—in your dog's gut. Unlike probiotics, which are live organisms, prebiotics are essentially the fuel that helps probiotics thrive and multiply. By providing a nourishing environment for these good bacteria, prebiotics indirectly support a healthy digestive system and overall well-being.

Prebiotics are found in certain plant-based fibers, such as inulin, chicory root, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and certain fruits and vegetables. When included in your dog’s diet, these fibers pass through the digestive tract undigested until they reach the colon, where they become food for the probiotics. This process not only helps to maintain a balanced gut microbiome but also supports regular bowel movements, improved digestion, and enhanced immune function.

At Vetnique Labs, our prebiotic formulations are designed to work synergistically with our probiotic products, ensuring that your dog receives comprehensive digestive support. By including prebiotics in your dog’s daily regimen, you are helping to create an optimal environment for gut health, which can lead to better digestion, a stronger immune system, and a happier, healthier dog.

Probiotics for dogs offer a wide range of benefits that extend far beyond just improving digestion. These beneficial bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining overall health by supporting various bodily functions, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract.

One of the primary advantages of probiotics is their ability to improve digestive health. By balancing the gut microbiome, probiotics increase the population of good bacteria, which aids in the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. This is especially important for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those experiencing digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, or bloating. With a healthier gut, your dog can enjoy smoother and more efficient digestion.

In addition to digestive benefits, probiotics also have a significant impact on the immune system. Since a large portion of your dog’s immune system is located in the gut, maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria through probiotics can help boost immune response, making your dog more resilient to infections and illnesses. This immune support is vital for keeping your dog healthy and active throughout their life.

Probiotics are particularly beneficial for dogs that have undergone antibiotic treatment. While antibiotics are essential for fighting infections, they can also disrupt the natural balance of gut bacteria, leading to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and other bowel movement abnormalities (flatulence, mucus, blood, abnormal patterns, etc.). Probiotics help to replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics may deplete, reducing the likelihood of these side effects and promoting a quicker recovery.

Some studies suggest that probiotics may help alleviate allergy symptoms in dogs. By enhancing gut health, probiotics can contribute to a more balanced immune system, potentially decreasing the severity of allergic reactions such as skin irritations and itching. The benefits of probiotics even extend to your dog's mental well-being. The gut-brain axis is a well-established connection, and a healthy gut can positively influence your dog’s mood and behavior, potentially reducing anxiety and stress.

Dogs experience a wide range of symptoms from a variety of illnesses–and it’s always possible gut health can be negatively affected. Changes in diet, viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, and even certain allergens can disrupt your pet’s gut health, creating a need to rebuild their gut microbiome.

Antibiotics can be helpful in treating certain infections and illness, but can also cause bacterial imbalance in the gut. 

Dogs dealing with stool abnormalities (soft to liquid stools, color changes, they presence of blood and/or mucus, etc.) from stress, illness, or food sensitivities are at a higher risk of anal gland impaction and related complications. 

Can your pet’s flatulence clear a room? Excessive or especially stinky gas can be a sign that your pet’s digestion is out of whack, whether it’s from food intolerance or a pre-existing bacterial imbalance. Or, underlying infection with pathogenic (harmful) bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses can contribute to the formation of gas in the digestive tract and flatulence.

Dogs struggling with bowel movements may strain when going to the bathroom, or produce pebbly, hard stools. Changes to the gut’s microbiota may make constipation worse.  

In a perfect world, our pets would have perfectly balanced diets, never get sick, and never need antibiotics. But of course, the lives of pet parents can never be that simple! We try our best to care for our pets, but even the healthiest dogs can be affected by illness and gut disruption. 

While a healthy diet rich in naturally-occurring prebiotics and probiotics can certainly keep your dog’s digestive system running more smoothly, certain illnesses can severely weaken or decimate your dog’s gut microbiome. 

In order to replenish the necessary population of good bacteria in their gut, your dog might need your help finding a suitable dog probiotic supplement. A great example of necessary probiotic use is for dogs with a history of being treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can weaken both gut and immune health, and your dog can’t rebuild a colony of beneficial microorganisms on their own.

If you’re considering giving probiotics or prebiotics to your dog, you can always consult your vet to see if it’s a good idea. 

While both probiotics and prebiotics are essential for maintaining your dog’s digestive health, they serve different, but complementary, functions. Understanding the difference between the two can help you make informed decisions about your dog’s dietary needs.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are directly introduced into your dog’s digestive system. Their primary role is to maintain or restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which factors like stress, illness, or antibiotic use can disrupt. Probiotics work by colonizing the gut with beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and support immune function.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are not live organisms. Instead, they are specialized fibers that feed the existing beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. By providing nourishment to these good bacteria, prebiotics help them grow and thrive, thereby enhancing their ability to maintain a balanced and healthy gut environment.

In essence, probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that help keep your dog’s digestive system in check, while prebiotics are the fuel that keeps these good bacteria active and effective. By incorporating both into your dog’s diet, you are helping to promote a healthy gut, which is key to your dog’s overall health and vitality.

We’ve covered the what and the why of probiotics. So how should you start giving them to your dog? Probiotics, just like any dog supplement, require following a few rules to encourage the best results.

When starting a new dog probiotic, your pet might experience adverse gastrointestinal symptoms. As new microbiota make themselves at home in your pet’s gut microbiome, these symptoms can be normal for most pets. However, to help prevent your pet’s symptoms from getting too extreme, try starting at a half-dose of the probiotics for a week before upping to the full recommended dose. 

A sure-fire way to worsen gut disruption is to mix multiple strains, brands, and CFUs at once. This can make it difficult to pinpoint which probiotics are helping or hurting your pet’s GI function, and make a bacterial overgrowth more likely.

Don’t be scared off if your pet develops diarrhea, bloating, or other symptoms while adjusting to a probiotic. This doesn’t necessarily mean probiotics aren’t right for your pet, but can indicate sensitivities or allergies to certain strains of microorganisms or other ingredients used in the probiotic supplement. 

Digestive tract abnormalities that align with starting a new probiotic supplement will help you find the right CFU dose, strain, and overall best dog probiotics for your pet.

Your pet may react more favorably to one probiotic strain than another. If you find a probiotic that agrees with your pet–or alternatively, disagrees with them–make a note of the strain and CFU count for future reference. 

In most cases, probiotics and prebiotics won’t be an overnight cure for your pet’s digestive issues. Especially with pets needing to rebuild their gut flora, the benefits of a balanced gut microbiome will take time. Estimate a few days to weeks of daily use before gauging if the strain is helping your pet.

Part of the ‘wait to work’ period includes giving the probiotics to your dog daily. Adding a dog probiotic powder to their food or giving a probiotic chew for dogs at the same time every day will give your pet the best chance for optimal results.

One thing you’ll want to avoid is giving probiotics to your pet too close to when they’re taking a dose of prescribed antibiotics. If you hadn’t already guessed, the ‘pro-’ and ‘anti-’ don’t mix well, meaning probiotics taken too closely to a dose of antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of probiotic therapy. If your pet is taking an oral antibiotic, one strategy to maximize probiotic effectiveness is to give the probiotic 2 or more hours after an antibiotic dose.

Probiotics can be taken daily, as advised by your veterinarian and, for some dogs, long-term when recommended. It’s always best to discuss your pet’s symptoms and overall health before determining how long to continue giving your dog probiotics. Studies suggest that supplementing probiotics for dogs can be beneficial for your furry friend’s long-term gut, skin, coat, and immune health. If you're looking to enhance your pet's daily health, they're worth a try!