Probiotics for Dogs: What you need to know

Your dog's gut is full of bacteria, both good and bad. The trick to ensuring optimum digestive health for your dog is to maintain the balance between the "good" and the "bad" bacteria in their gastrointestinal tract. This may sound simple enough, but many things can easily disrupt the gentle balance of your dog's gut flora, such as illness, medications, stress, diet, and more.

In this article, we examine the benefits of dog probiotics and whether your dog needs them.

What are Probiotics? 

Your dog's gut is filled with billions of microorganisms, some "good" and some "bad". These are known as microbiota and are essential for ensuring your dog's digestive tract remains in good working order.

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are among the "good" or "healthy" bacteria and are essential for breaking down food and toxins, aiding the absorption of nutrients, and helping promote a healthy gut environment.

However, sometimes, the delicate balance of microbiota in your dog's gut can be disrupted, leading to more "bad" bacteria than "good." This often causes a range of digestive issues in dogs, including:

• Flatulence

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Bloating

If the bacteria in your dog's gut is out of balance, introducing probiotics to their diet can help restore the balance by adding more beneficial bacteria to counter the non-beneficial bacteria in their digestive tract.

When properly administered, probiotics for dogs can offer many benefits, including:

• Better stool quality

• Reduced flatulence

• Boosted immune system

• Relief from diarrhoea/constipation

Remember, gastronintinal upset can be a symptom of a variety of health concerns. Always speak with your vet before attempting to treat any problems your pet has. 

What Is The Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics?

There's frequently a mix-up regarding the distinction between prebiotics and probiotics, but to break it down:

• Probiotics are “good” live bacteria that are generally given as a supplement and increase the population of “good” bacteria in the gut, resulting in health benefits such as maintaining your pet’s gut health and immune system. There are billions of them living in your pet’s gut naturally.

• Prebiotics are a specific dietary fibre found in your pet’s food that your pet’s body can’t digest but that feed and fuel the“good” bacteria living in the gut so they can do their job.

To maximise your pet’s gastrointestinal health, it’s important that the delicate balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in your pet’s gut is maintained. Many animals can do this naturally but must consume food with enough pre- and probiotic-rich ingredients.

Do Dogs Need Probiotics?

Yes, dogs need probiotics to ensure they have enough"good" bacteria in their gut to counter the "bad" bacteria and microbes, ensuring healthy digestion and overall well-being.

Many dog foods already contain pre- and probiotics to aid dogs' digestive systems. Some brands even offer tailored diets with additional pre- and probiotics to help support existing gastrointestinal issues, like the PURINA® PRO PLAN® Sensitive Digestion Dry Dog Food. Shop our full range of gastrointestinal dog food here!

Other benefits of probiotics for dogs can include:

• Better skin and coat health

• Boosted immune system

• Reduced stress/anxiety

• and more!

However, many factors can affect the delicate balance in your dog's gut, meaning it could benefit from additional probiotic support.

Signs Your Dog Needs Probiotics

Digestive upset is the most common sign that your dog's microbiota is out of balance, leading to problems like diarrhoea or constipation, flatulence, and bloating.

Some of the most common reasons for your dog's gut microflora to be out of balance include:

• Illness—Illness can affect your dog's internal systems and cause microbial imbalances in dogs.

• Medication—Some prescription medications, such as antibiotics, can negatively impact your dog's digestive health, which may be improved with probiotics.

• Stress—Like humans, dogs can experience stomach upsets when stressed or anxious, which can cause diarrhoea and accidents in the home.

• New Food—Changing your dog's food too fast can disrupt their digestive system and cause a microbial imbalance.

In these instances, you can support your dog's microbiota by adding a probiotic supplement to their diet, like the PURINA® FortiFlora® for Dogs. Suitable for dogs of all sizes and ages, the Fortfilora probiotic powder can be given daily to aid your dog's digestion and immune system, promoting long-term well-being.

Remember to speak to your vet before giving your dog any new supplements or foods.

It's always worrying when something goes wrong with our pets. Still, by understanding the root of the problem and being proactive with your dog's diet and supplements, you can ensure their internal systems keep working in optimal condition.