A healthy gut can be likened to weeds in a garden. If a lawn is healthy, few weeds can grow because healthy grass will crowd out the weed, barely giving it space to grow. There are 10 times more bacteria in a dog’s gut than there are cells in his body. There are roughly 100 trillion extremely diverse bacteria in the gut (known as the microbiome) and each of them plays a role in keeping its host healthy.
A healthy gut is also like a forest with large numbers of diverse animals living together with the ideal balance of prey to predator where no species gets too strong that it overwhelms the population or too weak that it dies off and gets taken over.
The beneficial bacteria keep the harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites in check and crowds them out, prevent them from overpopulating and occupying too much “real estate” and prevent them from causing serious disease. They also aid digestion by extracting and absorbing nutrients. These bacteria produce vitamins and important brain chemicals like serotonin. These bacteria can affect a dog’s mood and a dog’s mood can affect these bacteria.
These microbes are extremely influential that it comes as no surprise that 80% of a dog’s immune system is located in the gut. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) are produced by good bacteria to nourish the lining of the gut and make it inhospitable to harmful bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella, and many others. Needless to say, gut bacteria have a huge influence on your dog’s health. Overall, the beneficial bacteria protect your dog’s body from infections and help to keep their bodies in a state of balance.
What can disrupt the balance in gut bacteria?
Unfortunately, there are many factors that alter the delicate balance of the gut. In fact, there aren’t too many dogs(or humans) with a perfect microbiome. A dog’s gut must contain enough good bacteria to handle a large number of bad bacteria they get exposed to in their food and environment.
- Use of Antibiotics. ²Antibiotics can severely alter the delicate balance of the microbiome. It can also cause kidney/liver disease, UTI’s, kidney stones, yeast infections, bloody urine, lower immunity and may cause birth defects if given to a pregnant dog. Speak to your vet to discuss potential side effects.
- GMO’s. It can also cause abnormal cell growth in the gut and other major parts of the body
- Excessive vaccinations
- Stress. There is a 2-way communication between the brain and gut called the gut-brain axis which exists in dogs and humans. The gut is stressed when the mind is stressed and the opposite is true. If your dog gets left alone too long, arrange for a walker.
- Diet. A diet high in grains and carbohydrates promote yeast infections and feed bad bacteria. Dogs eating mostly kibble will have an unbalanced gut population. Grains are also one of the most common food items that cause allergies and sensitivities in dogs
- Chlorinated water
- Food coloring and preservatives
Symptoms of Gut Imbalance
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Poor poop quality
- Gas
- Belching
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Skin allergies
- Chronic itching
- Bad breath
- Lethargy
Related – Leaky Gut In Dogs – The Hidden Epidemic
The Many Health Benefits Of Probiotics
- Probiotics have anti-inflammatory properties thus reduces swelling and pain
- May lower cholesterol levels in healthy dogs
- Prevents leaky gut
- Improves stress response
- provides relief from diarrhea, bloating, gas and constipation. Can be used for bad breath, skin problems and allergies.
- Boosts the immune system
- Reduces fecal bacteria
- Helps with anal gland issues
- May prevent certain cancers¹
- Helps to maintain a healthy weight
- Regulate metabolism
- Regulate bowel function
- Improves growth rate in puppies
Are Probiotics Safe For Dogs?
Probiotics are considered safe for dogs because it only contains bacteria that are already naturally present in their bodies. However, Start slow – too many probiotics at once can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea and can put your dog out of commission. Gradually ease into it. Capsules can be inserted into a treat or opened and sprinkled into food. Each product is different so be sure to follow instructions carefully.
There are not too many side effects associated with probiotics however these are some precautions.
- Read the label to make sure it doesn’t contain Xylitol which is very toxic to dogs
- Only give probiotics that were specifically formulated for dogs. Humans have different species of bacteria that don’t benefit dogs
- Each capsule must contain at least 20 million beneficial bacteria to be adequate.
Strains To Look Out For:
- Bifidobacterium Lactis
- Bifidobacterium Animalis
- Enterococcus faecium
- Bifidobacterium Acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum
- Bacillus coagulans
- Lactobacillus Casei
There are no known studies that indicate human strains are neither useful nor harmful to dogs. But just as humans won’t take bacterial strains meant for dogs, be sure to give strains formulated only for dogs.
To ensure that you’re buying a safe and high-quality product, not something stuffed with fillers, wrong, missing or dead strains, look for GMP or Good Manufacturing Practice on the label. Products that have them were made in a facility that received a certification that met or exceeded GMP requirements.
Can I Give Yogurt To My Dog?
Yes but be sure that it is unflavored and doesn’t contain Xylitol. Ideally organic and grass-fed which contains calcium and B vitamins. You can also give fermented vegetables to your dog. Just be sure it doesn’t contain onions. Start slow with 1 teaspoon a day. To complement probiotics, feed your dog prebiotics which are food for probiotics such as asparagus, apples(without seeds or core), cashews, and bananas. These foods will nourish your dog’s beneficial flora, not just your dog. Ask your vet if probiotics are right for your dog.
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Disclaimer
All information in the article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to replace your veterinarian’s advice.
I’m a dog owner and i found your post very informative. After reading what you’ve written and doing just a little bit of further checking i have come up with my own answer to the question of whether the bacteria in probiotics can help dogs.
I actually believe that they can. I think actually all dogs can benefit from the bacteria and yeasts that are make up probiotics. It seems that probiotics are especially beneficial to the dogs digestive system as the short chain fatty acids that are produced by probiotics actually inhibit the growth and activity of harmful bacteria that may be present in the dogs gut.
There was another thing that you said in your article that i had no idea about. That was the detrimential effects of onion to dogs Sometimes i allow my dog to have some of what i cook for myself and i tend to use onions when i cook. So now i know that when i do cook with onions i can’t allow the dog to have any of that.
Thanks for writing this article.
I’m glad you learned something new, Donald.
Our neighbours have recently welcomed a pup to their home and we recently went over to see the new arrival. I will share with them the important information in the article on probiotic use and the importance it plays in keeping a healthy gut. I really liked the metaphorical explanation provided to describe a healthy gut. For a non technical person like me, it makes the point very clear. Thank you for the informative article and for sharing.
Sandeep
You are very welcome, Sandeep. I’m glad you liked the metaphorical explanation 🙂
sonny
Thanks for sharing this helpful and educating post sighting the disadvantages of antibiotics and the benefits of probiotics. I have heard about antibiotics before and I am quite familiar with them. I never knew the disadvantages are very much like this. This looks very discouraging and I wouldn’t want my dog to use them for any reason. On the other hand, this is my first time to read about probiotics for proper balancing of my dog’s gut. Although they have many benefits, I love the fact that you sighted some precautions. More encouraging to know that there are not many side effects and the fact that most of those side effects you have shared are related to improper use of the probiotics.
Hi There,
I came across this website about a week ago and see you have more products on offer. My sister is a devoted dog lover so I’ll pass this onto her for some advice. Overall this site is really informative and shows us some good ideas to look after our doggies. Probiotics looks good like a good deal for treatment for various illnesses. reads well about them.
Steve
Thanks, steve. I really appreciate it!
I once worked as a assistant to a veterinarian doctor and during that time I learnt a lot about animals and how to care from them.Probiotics are most often prescribed for maintaining a “desirable intestinal microbial balance,” according to the Merck Veterinary Manual which I had to study for a long time so I could get acquainted with the job……When an animal is stressed or sick, the balance between the healthy and disease-causing microbes may be disrupted. This can lead to diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bad breath,and when probiotics is administered everything comes to a pause.
Thanks so much for sharing a great article to know more about Probiotics and Dogs, I never thought about the possibility that dogs might need also probiotics.
But after reading your article it makes clear dogs also need probiotics to feel good every day!
I always wondered why my dog seems to be anxious and when it goes to poop, it looks like having some problems, I always thought dry dog’s food might be the problem, and being a dog living in a city, it doesn’t have much room to do some exercise and not enough opportunities to get some grass.
After reading your article I called my dog’s vet and he agrees that my dog might need some probiotics, so thanks so much for sharing a great article that will help my dog to have a better and healthier life!
I’m glad you found this article useful, Alejandra.
Sonny
Hello there! This is an amazing product, this review as actually given the breakdown of everything one need to know about the product.
I think this product will be useful for my pet as it aid digestion and modulate the immune system and also inhibit the growth and activity of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens. I will try it out. Thanks!
Our pets exhibit so many funny traits and it’s only safe to know why they are behaving the way they are to know what measure to take to prevent them from serious health issues. My buddy is 5years old and I have been vaccinating her more often to prevent bacteria. It’s surprising to see that vaccination can be too much for them as well. I’m pleased to know that too much of this probiotic isn’t good as well.
Very good info. I honestly didn’t even know that they made probiotics especially for dogs. Gut health is so important, but we sometimes overlook the fact that our pets need good gut health too. This was very helpful information. I like the fact that you put the signs to looks out for when it comes to poor gut health in pets. Thanks!
Thanks for commenting, Carla. Glad it helped
Sonny
Another gem of an article that is very informative, and enlightening. I knew that gut health is vital for a strong immune system for humans, but didn’t know that it made up 80% of a dogs overall health. I like how you mentioned kibble causing allergies and really not being good for dogs, for it was us humans who introduced grains into their diet to begin with, because the ancestry of a dog were all raw meat carnivores. What is your opinion on a raw meat diet for dogs?
Thank you for sharing such good information about probiotics for dogs. Will most definitely look into getting some for my two dogs. 🙂
Personally I’m 50/50. That’s how dogs have eaten in the wild for millennia. But then again, there’s a risk of getting parasites. What about you?
Thanks for the kind comment, Brandy!
Sonny