Many of us are very used to seeing adverts telling us that humans need yoghurts containing probiotics to help keep our stomachs healthy, but have you ever stopped to consider dogs may also need the same kind of supplement?

With stomach problems being a common and frequent complaint of dog owners, it’s good to know there’s a very simple solution…probiotics for dogs!

At a Glance: Our Choices for 5 Best Probiotics for Dogs

Note: Some of the links above take you to more information, current prices and customer reviews on Chewy.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria that help to develop and maintain a healthy environment in the stomach and digestive system. Although we normally think of bacteria as a bad thing, the kind found in probiotics help keep a lid on the bad bacteria that can cause a whole host of problems with digestion.

Many vets recommend giving dogs probiotics to help with a wide range of issues, including infections in the intestine such as Clostridia and Giardia, and also to help with chronic diarrhea.

Are Canine Probiotics Different to Those for Humans?

The live cultures that help support good digestive health are basically the same thing in both the products for humans and for dogs…but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to go out and get your dog some supplements that are designed for people!

The main difference with the more reputable brands designed for dogs, is the manufacturers put a great deal of effort and research into making sure the bacteria survives long enough to be beneficial to the digestive system (don’t worry, we’ll go into that more later!). So realistically, it’s best to go for a product designed for your canine friend if you want to see the benefits.

Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs

Giving your dog a regular dose of probiotic supplements can have a range of benefits, not only for dogs that already have issues with their digestive system, but also as a ‘barrier’ for future issues in healthy dogs. There are so many pros to adding these bacteria to your pet’s diet, including:

Reduced levels of cholesterol

Properties that act as an anti-inflammatory

Helping improve a dog’s resistance to diarrhea

Powerful antioxidants

Decreasing gas and bad breath

Helping fight off the effects of food poisoning

We all know that even with the best intentions of a loving owner, dogs will still manage to eat something they aren’t meant to, so having this kind of support to fight against diarrhea and food poisoning helps give that extra reassurance you’re doing everything you can to keep your pet safe and healthy.

If you’re concerned your dog may have issues with their digestive health, it’s always important to see your vet to get expert medical advice. For common issues like vomiting, excessive gas and frequent diarrhea though, it’s likely a regular helping of probiotics will help solve the issues.

Why You Need to Pick Your Brand Carefully

The main issue with dog probiotics (and also products designed for humans), is that sadly, most of the cheaper brands haven’t had the funding to make sure the bacteria in their product survives the harsh conditions in the stomach and make it through into the intestine…which is where they’re needed.

There are products out there though, that have come up with solutions to help combat the problem of “bacteria die off”, so it’s just a case of making sure you get hold of the best product for your dog. To help you work out which type of supplement will best suit your needs, have a look at the options below:

Go With a Dry Powder

If you opt for one of the powder products on the market, you should easily be able to see on the packaging if it contains a strain of bacteria that has been stabilized.

By giving your dog a probiotic in powder form, the bacteria manage to come back to life when they reach your dog’s stomach, and then can multiply and thrive as it moves into the intestines.

This type of product will normally be much better than treats or dog foods that claim to contain probiotics, as sadly, the process of adding the bacteria to the other product will often actually kill it…meaning a waste of money for you, and no extra benefits for your dog.

Make Sure You Look for PREbiotics

No…it’s not a typo – prebiotics are actually really great at giving the all-important probiotic the best chance of survival as it moves through the stomach.

You only need to have a very small amount of prebiotic in a supplement for it to work its magic, but they really are an essential element if the live bacteria is going to make it to where it needs to go. Common prebiotics to look out for in any supplements are FOS, acacia gum or inulin.

Check How Much Living Bacteria it Contains

There are 2 different things to look out for here…the number of live bacteria, and the amount of different ‘species’ of bacteria found in the supplement.

As far as the number of living bacteria goes, don’t let the numbers fool you – more is not better in this case. Somewhere between 3-6 billion will be plenty for maintaining basic digestive health, so don’t be tempted to pay over the odds for a product that contains more than this.

The packaging of supplements should also tell you the different ‘species’ of probiotic that are included…and once again, a big number is a bad sign here! Remember that this bacteria is living, so they’ll compete with each other to work well, and get the chance to colonize and absorb.

As a general rule, steer clear of any product that has more than 5 or 6 different species of probiotic, because they won’t function as well, so you’re likely to be wasting your money.

Are There any Side Effects?

As with any form of medication or supplement, there’s always a small risk of side effects. The good news is the risk of side effects caused by probiotics is extremely small, and issues are very rare.

As a general rule, the benefits of giving a dog probiotics are almost always seen to significantly outweigh the possible risks (because side effects are so rare and often extremely mild).

In some circumstances, giving probiotics to your dog could lead to an infection that may need prescribed antibiotics to clear it up. In more extreme cases, it’s been known for metabolic issues to develop, or for the immune system to become over–stimulated.

If you’re considering giving your dog any kind of supplement, it’s always best to speak to your vet first, to make sure they’re happy that your dog is likely to respond well to the addition to their diet.

Best Probiotics for Dogs in Our Opinion

To help you decide which brand would best suit your dog’s needs, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best products on the market.

The important point to remember here is you should see an improvement in your dog if they already have digestive issues fairly quickly (around 2-3 weeks can sometimes be all if takes), because unlike humans, dogs aren’t susceptible to the placebo effect! Put simply…the supplement will either work for your dog, or it won’t!

With a few different great brands available, it’s worth giving one a try, and if you feel like improvements could still be made, speak to your vet and discuss changing to a different brand to help get the most out of the probiotic supplement.