Balancing the Gut: Are Probiotics Good for Dogs?

Like humans, dogs are no strangers to occasional digestive problems. In fact, as a dog owner, you’ve probably dealt with the results, whether it’s cleaning up after an upset stomach or going for those urgent walkies at 3 am during a bout of the runs. 

If you’re tired of dealing with the bow-wow bowel blues, you may be wondering, are probiotics good for dogs? The answer is both yes and no. While probiotics are certainly safe for a dog’s gut, they haven’t been proven effective in maintaining the balance of a dog’s digestive system. 

In this article, we’ll explain the role that prebiotics and probioitcs play in dog digestive health, the best sources of probiotics, and how you can decide if prebiotics and/or probiotics are right for your dog. 

You’ve likely heard the buzz surrounding human probiotics—they’re one of the current crazes in the world of health and nutrition. But it’s easy to get confused about what probiotics are. Probiotics are living microorganisms—mostly bacteria, but also some yeasts and other microbes—found in supplements and foods. Some of the most common probiotic organisms you’ll find in foods and supplements include¹:

• Lactobacillus
• Streptococcus
• Enterococcus
• Bifidobacterium
• Saccharomyces
• Escherichia
• Bacillus

Consuming foods or supplements containing these live bacteria can potentially add to the colonies of bacteria already present in the gut (we’ll get into the challenges with supplementing with probiotics later). This is true for both humans and dogs—your dog’s gut relies on most of the same strains of bacteria listed above.²

The same bacteria found in probiotic foods have another place they naturally call home: the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and many other animals, including canines. In the digestive tract, trillions of these tiny living creatures form a complex ecosystem known as the microbiome. 

Don’t let the micro in microbiome fool you—this invisible, complex system plays a massive role in the health and function of the gut, as well as other organs and systems throughout the body. Some of the functions of the microbiome include³:

• Breaking down food and extracting nutrients
• Producing vitamins, such as vitamin K and B complex vitamins
• Regulating the motility (regularity) of the gut
• Preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and pathogens
• Modulating the immune system and its responses 
• Influencing mood and behavior through the gut-brain axis

The microbiome is an incredibly important system in most animal species. In fact, it’s often called “the hidden organ” because of its enormous role in overall bodily functioning. How well this invisible organ performs its job depends on factors such as genetics, age, diet, and environment. Next, let’s take a look at the factors that disrupt the microbiome balance.

The microbiome naturally contains both beneficial microbes and other bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can be harmful if they grow too numerous. Good bacteria vastly outnumber harmful pathogens when all is well, but this balance can be upended. Some common causes of gut imbalance include:

• Stress – Stress can alter the gut-brain axis and affect the microbiota, and secretion of digestive enzymes. In dogs, this can be caused by travel, changes in the household such as a new baby or pet, separation anxiety, and noise.
• Antibiotics – Since antibiotics work by killing bacteria, they can harm the good bacteria in the body. Signs of this include diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
• Dietary changes – Diet helps shape the microbiome since different foods favor different types of bacteria. Sudden or frequent changes in your dog’s food can lead to digestive upset and an imbalance in the microbiota. Feeding your pup food meant for human consumption, giving her too many treats, changing brands, or introducing new supplements or treats can all lead to digestive upset.
• Infections – Pathogens like harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi can invade the gut and cause the loss of beneficial bacteria. Dogs may be exposed to pathogens in the environment from dead or infected animals, stagnant water, excrement, or rotting or contaminated food. 

Providing additional sources of probiotics to your dog may rejuvenate and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.⁴ The challenge is finding dog probiotic sources that contain enough active bacteria in a form that can make it through the digestive system and into the gut. Perks of the right amount of a quality probiotic include:

• Enhanced immune system function – Dog probiotic supplements may boost immune system function by stimulating the production of antibodies and modulating the immune response.
• Enriched nutrient absorption – The microbiome is a key player in effectively breaking down and extracting nutrients from food. You can feed your dog the best quality food in the world, but if their gut bacteria aren’t working properly, they’re not getting the most out of it. A quality probiotic supplement helps keep the gut microbiome working at its best.
• Improved digestive health – Every dog owner becomes familiar with canine tummy troubles sooner or later, but some dogs are especially prone to stomach upset from stress, food sensitivities, acid reflux, or other causes. If you have a pup who deals with frequent bouts of gastrointestinal issues like constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, or vomiting, supplementing with probiotics could be just what the veterinarian ordered.

There are a variety of options for adding probiotics to your canine companion’s diet, including:

• Foods or treats with added live cultures
• Probiotic powders
• Probiotic pills

While this may seem easy enough, the problem is that the live bacteria in probiotic products may not survive the trip through the stomach into the intestinal tract. Some products don’t contain enough live bacteria to make an impact on gut health, and others may not have the correct type of bacteria for the canine gut.⁴ However, you shouldn’t give up on supporting good gut health with dog probiotics just yet. 

Although feeding your pup probiotics isn’t guaranteed to boost the quantity of beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut, you can support the bacteria already in the gut. This is where prebiotics come into play.

Like any living thing, beneficial bacteria need nourishment. Prebiotics are a form of fiber that passes through the intestinal tract undigested, allowing beneficial bacteria to use them as food. 

Unlike probiotics, prebiotics aren’t alive—they don’t need any special buffering or preservatives to reach the digestive tract where they’re needed. Adding prebiotics to the diet is an easy way to ensure that probiotics already present in the gut get all the nourishment they need to thrive. 

But there’s one catch when it comes to dogs: as a form of fiber, prebiotics are mostly found in plant foods. While dogs are omnivores and can certainly eat some fruits and veggies, plant foods can also cause digestive upset for dogs with sensitive tummies.

Natural dietary sources of prebiotics that are digestible for most dogs include oats. They should be cooked with water and fed only occasionally in small amounts. Washed, cut-up apples with the stem, core, and seeds removed are also a good source. Beets, soybeans, bananas, and flaxseed also have prebiotics.  

However, they may cause stomach upset, so look for signs of digestive difficulties, such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea when introducing these or any other new foods to his or her diet.

These may not be indicated for dogs with medical issues, so always talk to your veterinarian before adding anything to your dog’s diet. 

Many dog owners find Vetericyn ALL-IN supplements to be the easiest way to add a regular supply of prebiotics to the diet without causing additional stress on the digestive system.

It’s an all-in-one supplement that supports every aspect of canine health with clinically proven absorbability. We’ve developed three custom formulas for every stage of life, and each uses specialized active transport technology to deliver our patented nutritional complexes right to the cells that need them.