In 2017, a report revealed that the annual sales numbers of probiotic supplements globally hit $3.7 billion for the year 2016 and is expected to rise exponentially. Human probiotics have become a health craze because of the numerous benefits it offers.
But it’s not just humans that can benefit — dogs can also benefit from probiotics too. Probiotics are highly beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tract. Probiotics help modulate the immune system of a dog and aid digestion.
The digestive system of a dog is very fickle, and they need the best probiotic for dogs to boost their immune system. There are different probiotics for dogs out there, and not all of them are ideal for your dog to consume.
What are the best probiotics for dogs? Read on and you’ll find out.
Table of Contents
The Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora Probiotics for dogs made it to the top of our list because it has won the heart of many pet parents including ours. This is one of the best dog probiotics, and it offers many health benefits. This product contains digestive enzymes for dogs, with sufficient amounts of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins.
It also contains the perfect amount of gut-friendly bacteria. This product comes in sachets, and each sachet contains guaranteed levels of Enterococcus faecium — a probiotic strain. This formula will help to improve the overall gut health of your dog and reduce flatulence. Another fascinating thing about this probiotic is that it contains plenty of antioxidants.
The formula is also rich in magnesium, mineral zinc, vitamin E, C, and beta-carotene, and this helps to strengthen the immune health of your dog. It is easy to give your dog this solution, as you can just sprinkle it on the surface of your canine’s food. The supplement will not affect the taste of your dog’s food.
If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, this is one of the best dog probiotics to opt for. It is specially formulated to enhance normal intestinal microflora in dogs with such a health condition. This product is available in 30 packets and 180 packets.
Typically, the skin of a dog has yeast. However, when the yeast population overgrows, it can result in inflammation of the skin. Some of the clinical signs of yeast infection are flaky skin, scales, itching, and redness.
Fortunately, the Nusentia Probiotics Miracle Premium Blend does not only fight digestive problems, but it also fights infections that cause skin allergies and poor coat for dogs.
This formula is made with natural ingredients with no traces of gluten or dairy in it. It is also free from fillers and artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives. This probiotic comes in a powdered form, and the serving can be up to 360 scopes per jar. Each jar of this product contains 360 billion CFU of probiotics.
You can sprinkle it on your dog’s food and your dog will not notice it, as it is completely odorless. This product also deals with bad breath, diarrhea, constipation, scratching, allergies, loose stool, and gut-related issues. It is also free from sugar, by-products, corn, and soy. This formula helps to improve the overall health of your dog.
Next up is the Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites with Natural Digestive Enzymes. This is one of the best probiotics you can give to your dog. This formula contains more than 3 billion CFU of probiotics and prebiotics, and this helps to boost the digestive system of your dog significantly.
If your dog is struggling with bloating, gas, or any stomach discomfort, this is one of the best solutions to consider. This formula is ideal for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds, which means you can give it to your puppy, adult, or senior dog.
It comes in the form of a chew, which is pretty soft. There is Ganedenbc30 in every single chew. Ganeden BC30 is a probiotic strain that helps to enhance healthy digestion and gut bacteria. It can also withstand stomach acid.
The product contains papaya and pumpkin and these ingredients help break down antioxidants, which prevents gas and stomach discomfort. This product was made in an FDA-registered facility that is GMP and NSF certified.
This means the product is made according to the set standard and your dog’s safety is not at stake. You will not have a hard time giving it to your dog, thanks to its great tasty, soft chew form. It is available in 10-count and 90-count tubs.
The Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Probiotics Dog Chews is one of the most affordable dog probiotics on the market. If you are looking for a solution to your dog’s digestive issues that will not leave a hole in your pocket, we highly recommend this product.
Cheap does not always mean low or inferior quality. The same can be said for this product. It is cheap but it still delivers great results. This budget-friendly formula contains both probiotics and prebiotics to boost the gut health of your dog. This product, which comes in the form of a chew, can help with bad breath, gassiness, and elimination issues.
If you are looking for a quick and effective solution to help your dog get back to normal, this is a great option to consider. It does a fantastic job for dogs that suffer from digestive problems caused by the environment, breed specificity, or anxiety.
It does not contain wheat, corn, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, making it an ideal option for dogs with sensitive stomachs or those that are allergic to a wide range of ingredients. There are 160 chews in each bottle, and they are all made with the same formula. The chews are delicious and dogs find them appealing.
This probiotic also contains one of the most effective probiotic strains for dogs – GanedenBC30. There are about 100 million CFUs in each dose, and this is more than enough for most dogs.
However, the count is pretty low compared to the products above. If the digestive issues of your dog is more than what it can handle, you might want to consider another option.
The digestive walls of your dog may be damaged due to unhealthy and poor digestion. The PetHonesty Probiotic Snacks Digestive Health Soft Chews is formulated to repair damaged walls and to prevent such from happening again.
This probiotic enhances healthy digestion, relieves constipation, diarrhea, and reduces pain and upset stomachs. It also helps to promote the proper function of the GI tract of your pet. Every serving of this probiotic contains 6 billion CFUs, and this is the largest on our list.
It also contains four lactobacillus strains to provide your dog with better digestive health. This formula contains a blend of six enzymes to boost nutrition absorption by helping to break down the food particles into smaller pieces.
The pumpkin in this probiotic helps to fight diarrhea, gas, and constipation, helping your dog to live a normal and healthy life. It is also rich in protein, and the proteins help to boost the immune system of your dog.
This product was manufactured in an FDA-registered facility and is certified by GMP. All the ingredients used to make it are natural, and it does not contain soy, corn, wheat, GMO, or preservatives.
The Amazing Nutritional Probiotics Joint & Hip Support Daily Dog Supplement does more than just boost the digestive health of your dog. This probiotic contains food supplements, chondroitin, and glucosamine that help improve the bone and joint health of your dog.
They also boost mobility and reduce inflammation due to the daily activities of your dog. This product also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals, promoting the overall health of your dog. It contains omega 3 fatty acids from salmon oil, and this helps keep the skin and coat of your dog healthy and shiny.
It comes in a chew form, and each chew contains about 7 billion CFUs. There are also sufficient amounts of pet enzymes that reduce flatulence and diarrhea significantly.
It is vet-recommended and completely allergen-free, making it ideal for dogs with allergies. This probiotic has a meaty taste that your dog will love, as it is naturally flavored with liver and bacon.
It is made in the United States in a GMP-certified facility. This formula is free from soy, grains, corn, wheat, egg, gluten, crab, shark, avocado, and maltodextrin.
Loaded with billions of good microorganisms and 7 strains of highly beneficial bacteria, the Nutramax Proviable-DC is undoubtedly one of the best dog supplements out there.
This formula does not only work wonders for dogs, but it is also ideal for cats, and this makes it a great option for multi-pet homes. There are also two extra probiotics in the formula to further boost the digestive tract and health of your dog.
The additional probiotics also boosts the dog’s immune system by strengthening its disease-fighting cells. This product is great for dogs with food sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, and digestive problems. However, it is more suitable for pets that are just coming out from stressful events such as surgery, kenneling, or traveling.
This probiotic comes in the form of capsules, and there are 5 billion CFU in each capsule. Each pack contains 80 capsules, and you can easily sprinkle the capsule on your dog’s food. With this probiotic, you will be able to restore intestinal microflora balance after imbalances have occurred.
If you are looking for the best dog probiotic that will not upset the tummy of your dog, we recommend you go for the Finest for Pets TummyWorks Probiotics and Digestive Dog Supplement. This is an effective, soy-free formula that is made with all-natural ingredients.
This formula contains ten different strains of probiotics and six digestive enzymes. It is vet-recommended and it helps to resolve all kinds of digestive issues, including vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea. It also helps to reduce hot spots, itchiness, and body odor. This is a budget-friendly product and you can use it for cats as well.
It is ideal for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds, which includes puppies, adults, and seniors. Each scope of this powdered probiotic contains 2 billion CFUs, which helps to improve digestion and gastrointestinal health.
This formula also helps to relieve yeast infections, bloating, gas, and constipation. It boosts immunity, enhances coat and skin, and protects against disease and germs. The powdered form also makes it easy to administer.
If you have a very picky dog, we recommend you go for the Doggie Dailies Advanced Probiotics & Prebiotics Dog Supplement. This dog supplement is very tasty and administering is not a hassle.
It comes in a soft, delicious chew form, and each chew contains 1 billion CFUs. This brand carefully formulated this product to handle the symptoms of an upset digestive system.
It also helps to minimize allergy symptoms and boosts the immune system of your dog. This formula contains five of the most effective probiotics for dogs. It contains Lactis and L.Acidophilus that soothes the gut health of your dog.
The pack contains 225 chews, making it one of the most cost-effective options on our list. Nevertheless, the bigger your dog, the more you would need to feed it.
Dogs find it difficult to resist this probiotic chew, as it is made with real duck flavor. The formula is completely free from grains, making it ideal for dogs that are allergic to grains. It is perfectly balanced for dogs, and it is safe for puppies, adults, and senior dogs.
The good gut bacteria in this supplement will also boost the psychological and physical health of your dog. This formula helps stop cramping, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. It promotes a healthy GI tract, leaving you with a happy and healthy dog.
When it comes to probiotics, there is no one size fits all. There is also a wide range of products out there and most dog parents usually get confused about which to pick.
Choosing the best probiotic for your canine is a bit tricky, but you can scale though with ease when you know the vital things to look out for. A dog probiotic should have a couple of vital things.
Here are some of the important things you need to consider when looking for a probiotic for your dog:
The colony-forming unit (CFU) is one thing you should never ignore when looking for an ideal probiotic for your canine. All dog probiotic products have different colony-forming unit counts. Some products contain hundreds of millions of CFUs for every serving while others contain up to billions of CFUs.
For instance, you might have a 500-gram jar of probiotics that says it contains 500 billion CFUs. What this actually means is that the whole jar (which is 500 grams) contains 500 billion CFUs, which is the same thing as 1 billion CFU per gram.
However, the CFU count in the product is not the main issue. The main issue is that many pet parents do not know the CFU count their dogs need. Since there is no way to determine the exact amount that is enough for your dog, some experts have recommended you start small.
They recommended you start small and increase it gradually until you start seeing your desired result. For general maintenance, some experts say a dog needs about 1 to 4 billion CFUs. If your dog has IBS, you would need to increase the count while dogs with diarrhea need a lower count.
There are dozens of different gut bacteria species that can be added to a probiotic. Some species compete with each other while others work pretty well together. Some dogs might not react to some species.
This is why professionals recommend you start with fewer strains and then increase it gradually. However, the product you opt for should contain enough blend of Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species, as their effects have been studied extensively.
Many probiotic products also contain prebiotics, and this helps the probiotic bacteria to survive and thrive. It is not advisable that you opt for a product that contains prebiotics. This ingredient can boost the effectiveness of the formula significantly. It can also make it last longer.
Probiotics come in different forms. You can find them in a chewable, powder, capsule, or syringe form. The two most common are chewable and powder forms:
For the chewable probiotics, taste and smell play a major role. These forms of probiotics are often used as treats. Many pet parents give it to their dogs as treats for them to chew.
If the probiotic does not have a great smell or taste, you might have a hard time feeding it to your dog, as it might reject it. Hence, you need to make sure the product has great, appealing taste and smell.
You can read reviews to know if the product tastes and smells good. Furthermore, you should consider the chew-ability, as some products are too hard for dogs to chew.
Some pet parents even find it difficult to break some products into smaller pieces. To make it easy for your dog to chew, you should go for an option that is a bit soft, but not too soft.
Probiotics that come in powdered forms are much easier to administer, as you can just sprinkle it on your dog’s food. It will not have any effect on the taste and smell of the food, and your dog will not notice it also. Some of them are odorless while others come with different flavors. There are chicken or beef flavored powders.
We suggest you go for an option that works best for you and your dog. Some dog owners prefer the chewable form because it is more convenient for them and it helps to clean their dog’s teeth as it chews. However, a tasteless powder form is the best option for very fussy dogs.
It is best to go for products with additional nutrients. For instance, you might need a product that comes with multivitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more. These types of products are rare but they tend to offer more benefits. Some products also come with digestive enzymes, and these are also highly beneficial.
Probiotics are highly effective for dogs. However, you need to find the one that is perfect for your dog.
You can use probiotics when your dog is sick or stressed. You can also use it as a daily supplement to balance the immune system and digestive health of your dog continually.
There are no studies that human probiotics are harmful to dogs. Nevertheless, veterinarians and top experts highly recommend you give your dog probiotics formulated for only dogs. The digestive system of a human and that of a dog are not the same; hence, you should stick to that made specifically for a dog.
Paying close attention to the health of your dog is very important. Probiotics for dogs are very useful, as they help boost the digestive health of your dog and improve its overall wellbeing. We hope you are able to find a probiotic for your dog from the products reviewed above.
While all the products are great, our top recommendation is the Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora Probiotic for Dogs because it is very effective and very easy to administer.
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