What to Know Before You Buy Probiotics for Dogs.
Probiotics are an essential addition
to your dog's daily diet, and are known to fortify the immune system. Understanding a good probiotic from an inappropriate one will make all difference.
![probiotic for dogs products](images/probiotics-for-dogs-products.jpg)
The Basics
The benefits of probiotics are well known. In the gut, probiotics are shown to help guard against chronic disease. The right product will support firmer stools, better skin condition, less itching, less allergies, reduced gas, plus improved overall wellness.*(1,3,5)
Dog probiotics are different than human probiotics.
First, don't waste money giving your dog a human product or even yogurt. Amazon is flooded with human products claiming to be for pets, and yogurt contains ingredients inappropriate for dogs. Remember, probiotics are host specific, and what works for a human doesn't work best for a canine. Further, the balance of bacteria in a human's gut differs from that of a canine. Scientific research shows that these healthy bacteria help our dogs by supporting the main source of immune system, the gut.
To back this up, there are specific species appropriate for dogs based on scientific research. Nusentia also does a good job of identifying the difference between human probiotics and dog probiotics.
It stands to reason, if you're going to invest in a probiotic supplement for your dog, make sure it's an appropriate one for your dog. The best probiotics for dogs bring numerous natural health benefits that accompany a healthy gut.
Which Probiotics Are Best?
- POWDERS OR TABLETS
Powdersand chewable tablets
are considered superior to liquids and cooked treats. Liquid formulas are generally less stable and require refrigeration of the live organisms to survive. Further, cooked treats or food fortified with probiotics are known to provide very little live bacteria after the point of manufacture, according to a recent study.
- CHECK THE INGREDIENTS
A dose of probiotic powder should be undetectable on your dog's food, so there's no need to load the formula up with fillers, flavors or undesirable byproducts. Also, a good probiotic will contain a prebiotic, such as, FOS. - CHECK THE REVIEWS AND GUARANTEE
A good product has stood the test of time. What are the pet owner's saying? Does the manufacturer provide a money-back guarantee? These are no-brainers. Amazonis a known to be a great resource for reviews.
- CHECK THE CFU AND SPECIES OF BACTERIA
Picking a good probiotic requires an understanding of CFU, and bacteria. High volume/multi species formulas can be problematic for your dog's body, and there's little research to support the benefit of these formulas. Does the formula contain only 1 species of bacteria? That's not enough for your dog. Research supports between 3-7 species having benefit to dogs. - For all the reasons above, we like Probiotic Miracle
®
Top Sellers in Dog Probiotics
Why Probiotics for Dogs?
Most dogs are deficient in healthy flora. Here's why:
- Dogs on antibiotics will be deficient in healthy gut bacteria since antibiotics strip the gut of ALL bacteria.
- Senior dogs will naturally have a lower volume of healthy bacteria.
- Dogs fed processed dry kibble are susceptible to low healthy microflora.
- Drinking municpal water treated with chemicals
- Stress contributes to an imbalance in the microbiome (dog's gut).
- Puppies are born with probiotic deficiency as their guts sterile. Supplementing your puppy with probiotics early on may give them a "leg up" on fighting illness later on.
Benefits
- Better skin and coat appearance
- Improved breath and body smell
- Less gas (flatulence)
- Fewer allergy symptoms
- Reduction in yeast issues
- Regular bowel functions
Signs of Deficiency
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Itching and allergies
- Poor immune function
- Skin irriations
![probiotic deficiency](images/probiotic-deficiency.jpg)
7 Signs Your Dog Needs Probiotics
If your dog is showing some of these symptoms, chances are he needs probiotics and digestive support.
![probiotics safe for puppies](images/probiotics-puppies-safe.jpg)
Are Probiotics Safe for Puppies?
Probiotics are highly recommended for puppies and young dogs, here's why...
Cites and References
- Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2012 Apr 15;146(2):185-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.02.013. Epub 2012 Mar 1. Early exposure to probiotics in a canine model of atopic dermatitis has long-term clinical and immunological effects. R, Santoro D, Ahrens K.
- Vet Ther. 2009 Fall;10(3):121-30 Clinical benefits of probiotic canine-derived Bifidobacterium animalis strain AHC7 in dogs with acute idiopathic diarrhea.
- Björkstén B, Sepp E, Julge K, Voor T, Mikelsaar M (October 2001). Allergy development and the intestinal microflora during the first year of life. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 108 (4): 516–20. doi:10.1067/mai.2001.118130
- Portrait of a canine probiotic Bifidobacterium–from gut to gut. O’Mahony D, Murphy KB, MacSharry J, Boileau T, Sunvold G, Reinhart G, Kiely B, Shanahan F, O’Mahony L.?Vet Microbiol. 2009 Oct 20;139(1-2):106-12. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.05.002. Epub 2009 May 19.
- Evaluation of efficacy of probiotics in prevention of candida colonization in a PICU-a randomized controlled trial. Kumar S, Bansal A, Chakrabarti A, Singhi S. Source Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Centre, Chandigarh, India.
- Anim Health Res Rev. 2012 Jun;13(1):78-88. doi: 10.1017/S1466252312000059. Epub 2012 May 30. Current state of knowledge: the canine gastrointestinal microbiome. Hooda S, Minamoto Y, Suchodolski JS, Swanson KS.
- Eksp Klin Gastroenterol. 2013;(2):54-64. Perspective applications of multi species probiotics in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
- Can J Microbiol. 2013 May;59(5):347-52. doi: 10.1139/cjm-2012-0472. Epub 2013 Mar 19.
Synbiotic administration of canine-derived strain Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 and inulin to healthy dogs. Strompfová V, Lauková A, Cilik D.- American Psychological Association. 2012 September, Vol 43, No. 8. That Gut Feeling. With a sophisticated neural network transmitting messages from trillions of bacteria, the brain in your gut exerts a powerful influence over the one in your head, new research suggests
- Weese JS, Arroyo L. Bacteriological evaluation of dog and cat diets that claim to contain probiotics. Can Vet J. 2003;44(3):212‐216.