Probiotics for Dogs

Have you ever taken a probiotic? If you’ve ever eaten yogurt with live cultures, the answer is probably yes. Probiotics are beneficial or “friendly” gut-dwelling microbes (bacteria and yeasts), and there are billions of them in the gastrointestinal system of all animals. They aid in the digestion of food, fight off potential pathogens, make nutrients and vitamins, and bolster the immune system. The word itself is derived from the Latin word “for” (pro) and the Greek “life” (bio). Probiotics for dogs are a nutritional tool to consider for the health of your best friend.

Sometimes—due to illness, stress, medications, or other factors—these beneficial microbes are damaged or destroyed, and that can cause stomach upset and a general decline in health. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues, or if your dog seems to get sick more than other dogs for no apparent reason, your veterinarian may suggest using these helpful tools to boost beneficial bacteria:

• Prebiotics are nutrients that are designed to nourish and promote the growth of good bacteria that are already living in the gut.
• Probiotics, which can also be referred to as “direct-fed microbials” by the pet-food regulatory body AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

You can find pre- and probiotics in several different forms that dogs can eat, including:

• Yogurt or kefir with live cultures. Keep in mind that not all yogurt cultures are created equal. Some of the cultures were used for the manufacture of the product, but are not probiotics. Only offer your dog unsweetened, plain yogurt, and read labels carefully to avoid all artificial sweeteners.
• Powders
• Capsules
• Chews
• Dog foods

These products usually contain kinds of bacteria normally found in the canine gut, such as:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Enterococcus faecium
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Streptococcus thermophilus
• Lactobacillus helveticus
• Lactobacillus delbrueckii
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus plantarum

When Are Probiotics for Dogs Used?

Probiotics for dogs are most often recommended for supporting a “desirable intestinal microbial balance,” according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. When a dog is stressed or sick, the balance between the healthy and disease-causing microbes may be disrupted. This can lead to diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bad breath. Some of the triggers for such digestive upsets can include:

• Infection or bacterial imbalance
• Stress: As in humans, changes that cause emotional stress, such as boarding, moving, traveling, or losing a home, can result in colitis. (That’s one reason why many dogs in shelters suffer from diarrhea.) Some studies have suggested that probiotics work as well as antibiotics in clearing up diarrhea in dogs in shelters.
• Diet: This can include abrupt changes in diet, eating spoiled food, or food that just doesn’t agree with the dog.
• Old age
• Medications: Antibiotics and long-term steroids are known culprits in causing diarrhea because they kill off good bacteria.
• Parasites

You might consider giving your healthy dog a probiotic if they are prone to developing diarrhea in stressful situations. For example, if you are planning to take your dog to a show or to boarding for a week, it may make sense to give them probiotics a few days in advance. Also, puppies who tend to get diarrhea after training classes or visits to the vet, for example, might benefit from a few days of probiotics in preparation for the stressful event.

Do Probiotics for Dogs Work?

Probiotics can play a helpful role in supporting your dog’s digestive health, especially during times of stress—like when they’re taking antibiotics. In a 2019 study, dogs given a probiotic blend alongside antibiotics had fewer digestive issues—such as diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite—compared to dogs who didn’t receive probiotics. And in a separate study with healthy pets, probiotics were shown to be safe when given as directed and were detected in the stool, indicating they were moving through the digestive system as intended.