Probiotics for Dogs: Health Benefits
The use of prebiotics and probiotics has really taken off in recent years — both in human medicine and in the veterinary sector. People are gaining a whole new perspective on the many potential benefits that probiotics can offer.
Prebiotics are fibre that act as a food source for the 'friendly' bacteria and yeast known as probiotics. Probiotics are medically beneficial and can have a positive impact on health. Perhaps best known for their use in supporting gut health, they also play a key role in other systems including the central nervous system, skin, and immune system.
The goal of consuming both probiotics and prebiotics is to improve the number of good bacteria in the gut, helping digestion and the ratio of good to bad bacteria. Probiotics are the bacteria themselves — adding them directly increases the number of good bacteria. Prebiotics are essentially food for the good bacteria, enabling probiotics to thrive and increase in number.
How Can Probiotics Help My Dog?
The benefits of probiotics are far-reaching. They can aid your dog's digestion, boost their immune system, and even improve their mood. They can be especially useful for anxious dogs as they help to settle the gut and support cognitive function.
Health Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs
What probiotics do is get the digestive system working optimally — and this has many knock-on effects. For example, probiotics don't directly improve skin and coat; what they do is help the digestion of food. When food is digested, it's broken down into individual nutrients such as omega-3 and zinc, which are good for skin and coat. Without a probiotic, you can end up feeding your dog beneficial nutrients that pass straight through instead of being absorbed.
At a glance, probiotics are good for:
- Ensuring 'pickup-able poo'
- Protecting against harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella
- Helping with irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and diarrhoea
- Improving immunity
- Helping with allergies
- Improving skin and coat condition
- Ensuring your dog absorbs nutrients from their food
- Helping with behavioural issues
- Keeping your dog as happy and healthy as possible
The Gut-Brain Axis
Recently, there has been a lot published about the 'Gut-Brain Axis' and how good gut health can encourage good mental health. It is the tiny microbes within the intestines that have the biggest influence over this connection.
This discovery is especially important for dogs who suffer with stress and anxiety. When probiotics are used in conjunction with behaviour modification programmes and other calming techniques, they really come into their own.
Stress and Upset Stomachs
Giving dogs prebiotics and probiotics at potentially stressful times can help prevent an upset stomach before it begins. Different dogs have different triggers — the groomers, the vet, a boarding kennel, or a car ride. By feeding your dog probiotics consistently, you may well be able to prevent a stomach upset from occurring in the first place.
Are Human Probiotics Good for Dogs?
There are some strains of probiotics recommended for dogs — Enterococcus faecium and Bacillus subtilis — both of which are also commonly used in humans. These should be found in most products labelled as probiotics for dogs.
Many people feed their dogs probiotic yoghurts and these may help, but they won't be as effective as a dedicated dog probiotic supplement containing the correct strain for dogs.
How Can I Get Probiotics Into My Dog's Diet?
Whilst probiotics occur naturally in both our and our dogs' bodies, adding them to your dog's diet can have far-reaching benefits. Human foods that are safe for dogs, such as plain yoghurt (with zero added sugar), are rich in probiotics and are also available in supplement form. You can also find them in fermented products such as sauerkraut and kombucha.
For dogs, we recommend sticking to the Enterococcus faecium (SF68) strain of probiotics, normally found in dedicated supplements. These can be added to any food.
Our Dog Daily Probiotic Soft Chews with Pumpkin & Papaya are a convenient and tasty way to get the right probiotics into your dog's daily routine.
For dogs needing additional digestive and stool support, our Dog Digestive & Stool Support Tablets are another excellent option.
Browse our full dog vitamins and supplements range to find the right probiotic solution for your dog's needs.
