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Probiotics for Dogs: Digestive Tract Help for Man’s Best Friend

In this article you will learn:

Probiotics For Dogs

  • What are probiotics for dogs?
  • Conditions where probiotics are recommended: health benefits of probiotics
  • Beneficial properties of probiotics for dogs
  • Where you can get probiotic product for dogs
  • Cautionary purchase advisement


The new awareness of the health benefits of probiotics for ourselves and probiotics for dogs brings about new questions. The answer to the main question, What are probiotics? Is that probiotics are the good bacteria and yeast, and are used to restore the balance of microflora (bacteria) in the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics also combat the bad, harmful bacteria that have grown out of proportion due to numerous reasons, such as: disruption of balance by drugs such as antibiotics, or steroids. Dietary change or poor diet. Exposure to a pathogenic virus or bacteria. Exposure to pollutants or allergens, such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, etc. Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Stress due to changes in environment, etc.

Probiotics include a variety of bacteria species, most of which are lactic acid bacteria, such as L. acidophilus, and L. bulgaricus. They act as the body’s first line of defense against other microorganisms that your dog eats or inhales. Thus, having a constant supply of these friendly bacteria in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract can help prevent a wide range of health problems. These friendly bacteria must be present in optimal numbers and ratio (approx. 85% beneficial to 15% non-beneficial).

Your dog has their own sense of imbalance within the GI tract. They will often try to eat grass, which can cause vomiting. This is a clue to you that there is something wrong within their natural balance. An imbalance in the intestinal tract has been known to be associated with: Arthritis, Yeast infection (known as Candida), chronic constipation, asthma, food allergies and intolerance, skin irritations such as psoriasis and
Probiotics for intestinal problems: Arthritis, yeast infection (known as Candida), chronic constipation, asthma, food allergy and intolerance, skin irritations such as psoriasis and eczema.

There are two important times that you should consider probiotics for dogs :

1. Puppy:

When born, the puppy’s intestinal tract is relatively ‘clean and sterile’. It’s an excellent time to fortify the tract with the good bacteria. Probiotics are then beneficial when a puppy starts to wean from mother’s milk. It will help the puppy make the dietary adjustment to puppy food and assist in food digestion and nutrient absorption.

2. After Antibiotic Treatment:

Just as in humans, antibiotics kill all bacteria. If your dog has been placed on a regiment of antibiotics, this will remove all of the good bacteria, as well as the bad. Adding a probiotics product to the diet will replenish the healthy bacteria to assist in returning the balance to the dog’s intestinal tract.

How do we get probiotics? It is always recommended to use live bacteria from naturally fermented products such as yogurt. Natural products have a higher health benefit of probiotics. If you are lucky, your dog will love the taste and gobble it up. If not, there are probiotic supplements you can add to their diet. Little study has been done on the supplement products in dogs, but they have the appearance of being healthy.

Always get your probiotics for dogs from a Veterinarian or a high quality pet store. Use the same cautionary examination of probiotic product labels that you would for yourself. Many of the cheaper products are made out of the country, with less than clean manufacturing environments. This was proven during the 2008 pet food poisoning problem. They may also contain a higher percentage of fillers and additives with labels that mislead you.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.

4 Responses to “Probiotics for Dogs: Digestive Tract Help for Man’s Best Friend”

  1. 1
    Sheryl Says:
    Probiotics ARE necessary, but also be careful what type you give your pet. I was giving good quality (expensive) types for humans with FOS for my pets with extremely sensitive tummies, mill victims loaded with parasites when we got them, they can only eat home cooked food.. and still have trouble. I suppliment with good quality vitamins (NO additives or preservatives) as well as Probiotics.. trouble I had was Dogs do not have as many flora strains as humans do, and I could have caused them some irritation having ot deal with those extra strains of probiotics.. tried a couple types from the Vets, paste types, and those reacted in them as well.. trying another type made In Italy, distributed form the States (I'm in Canada).. and we'll see how these work,, I'm thinking I'll not have great success,, but we'll see. Its all the other 'stuff' they put into DOG / CAT products I don't like,, hydrogenated fat spray is a huge 'issue' for me,, going to try for about 10 days and see if this helps correct runny bloody poop (got one a bit hard off with that right now).. on meds for clostra type bacteria,, the other one just finishing up meds for that, my other one seems to have a tough system and doesn't get these set backs.. It IS a fight to help heal their tummy tracts,, also use Slippery Elm to help heal the intestinal lining, and trying Enzymes to help as well.. they are all on Chinese Herbs (good quality, PURE..NO preservatives or scary gluetons!.. some herb company's still use that crap) So you see I am a bit educated in PROBIOTICS and such for pets.. its a tough fight,, but one we are winning,, setbcks of bacterial invasions from garbage gut or giardia (spring time,, yay) don't help.. I am looking for a good probiotic I can give my pets WITH FOS (Pre-biotic) in it,, so far,, I am thinking of just giving good Activia Yoguart as a basic,, its the PRE-biotic I need in the Probiotic combo for Dogs,, hard to find jsut those three strains Dog only need WITH 'FOS" in it,, still looking.. PROBIOTICS are extremely NECESSARY to give to your pet, the pet foods are so loaded with 'stuff' that kills or promotes bad bacteria growh,, the fillers and such are NO GOOD .. I think humans AND animals are subject to flora imbalance in our modern world..
  2. 2
    Linda Says:
    I do feel that many people fail to consider the fact that antibiotics are killing the good bacteria as well as the bad. Probiotics are a simple way to replenish this good bacteria as well as impede the return of harmful bacteria.
  3. 3
    best probiotic Says:
    Probiotics are good for other animals as well. I've read that people give them to their horses and other pets. Keeps them healthy and comfortable.
  4. 4
    Rob Says:
    This blog brings up an interesting point: not all probiotics are created equal. Probiotic supplements can be better optimized for maximum efficacy as compared to food sources, but product that is old or heated can lose it's effectiveness completely. always be sure the manufacturer of your probiotics can be trusted.