Best Probiotics For Dogs

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Probiotics for dogs offer similar benefits to human probiotics, providing “friendly” microbes for improved digestion. However, determining if your dog is a good candidate and choosing the right probiotics from the current market can be challenging. This article provides answers to these questions and more about probiotics for dogs.

At a Glance: The Best Probiotics for Dogs to Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below, where we have highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Compare Best Probiotics For Dogs

EDITOR'S CHOICE 1. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Powder Digestive Supplement for Dogs View on Chewy Read Review	BEST AFFORDABLE 2. VAN BEEK Synacore Digestive Support for Dogs View on Amazon Read Review	BEST FOR PUPPIES 3. Nutramax Laboratories Proviable DC for Cats and Dogs View on Amazon Read Review	BEST FOR SENIORS 4. Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Premium Blend Dog & Cat Supplement View on Chewy Read Review	BEST FOR ALLERGIES 5. Zesty Paws Core Elements Probiotic Pumpkin Flavored Soft Chews Digestive Supplement for Dogs View on Chewy Read Review
Count 30	Count 30	Count 30/80	Count 44-131 g jar	Count 10-90
Form Powder	Form Powder	Form Capsule	Form Powder	Form Soft chew
Life Stage Adult	Life Stage Adult	Life Stage Adult, Senior, Puppy	Life Stage Adult, Senior, Puppy	Life Stage Adult, Senior, Puppy
Made in USA	Made in USA	Made in USA	Made in USA	Made in USA

What Are Probiotics for Dogs?

As we mentioned, probiotics are friendly or helpful bacteria. Your dog’s gastrointestinal system has countless bacteria to help digest food. Most of the bacteria in your dog’s system are beneficial, although some of them are inevitably harmful. When your dog is healthy, active, and feeling good, it’s estimated that he will normally have about 80 percent beneficial bacteria and 20 percent harmful bacteria in his system.

However, it’s easy for a dog’s system to get out of balance. If your dog is stressed by traveling, by eating something noxious, by changing foods, by traveling, or by taking antibiotics or other prescription medications, the good bacteria in his digestive system can be wiped out or overtaken by the bad bacteria.

Then you have a dog with diarrhea or other health problems. Antibiotics, in particular, are known for killing off all of the microorganisms in a dog’s digestive system. Their very name, “antibiotics, means that they will kill off living organisms. Your dog can be left with a few microorganisms, but they can be the most harmful ones.

Yogurt and kefir are natural probiotics. Dogs can benefit from small amounts of these foods added to their daily diet. Or, you can purchase a probiotic that’s made for dogs.

Best Probiotics For Dogs Reviewed

EDITOR'S CHOICE

1.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Powder Digestive Supplement for Dogs

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Count: 30
• Form: Powder
• Life Stage: Adult
• Made in: USA

Pros

• This is the leading probiotic brand for dogs;
• Vet-recommended;
• It works very well, especially for diarrhea.

Cons

• Contains fewer colony-forming units than some other products;
• Only contains one probiotic strain.

FortiFlora is the number one probiotic recommended by veterinarians. Dog lovers who use this product say that it helps with diarrhea. Purina also says that it improves the immune system and promotes a healthy intestinal balance. It’s also supposed to reduce flatulence. The company guarantees amounts of live active cultures. Contains Enterococcus faecium.

BEST FOR PUPPIES

3.

Nutramax Laboratories Proviable DC for Cats and Dogs

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Count: 30/80
• Form: Capsule
• Life Stage: Adult, Senior, Puppy
• Made in: USA

Pros

• Contains seven strains of friendly bacteria;
• Can be used short-term or long-term;
• The small capsules are easy to give your dog.

Cons

• For short-term use with acute cases of diarrhea you need to use with Proviable-KP paste;
• Some people prefer a probiotic that uses one strain of friendly bacteria.

Once sold only through veterinarians, Nutramax Proviable DC Capsules are now available over-the-counter. This probiotic supplement has seven strains of friendly bacteria: Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus plantarum. Each capsule contains 5 billion organisms and can be used either short-term to restore your dog’s intestinal balance; or daily to promote immune system health.

BEST FOR SENIORS

4.

Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Premium Blend Dog & Cat Supplement

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View on Amazon

Product Info

• Count: 44-131 g jar
• Form: Powder
• Life Stage: Adult, Senior, Puppy
• Made in: USA

Pros

• Contains six strains of friendly bacteria;
• Guten-free and non-GMO
• Each small serving contains a billion CFUs.

Cons

• The marketing for this product doesn’t inspire confidence but there are plenty of good reviews;
• If your dog weighs over 50 pounds you will need to double the daily serving.

Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Dog Probiotics for Dogs contains one billion colony forming units per small scoop – and there are 360 servings in each container. Nusentia contains no rice or maltodextrin. It’s gluten-free and non-GMO. This probiotic is also non-dairy with no soy, no flavorings, and no fillers. It’s odorless and it has no by-products. Nusentia contains six probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium animalis lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri.

BEST FOR ALLERGIES

5.

Zesty Paws Core Elements Probiotic Pumpkin Flavored Soft Chews Digestive Supplement for Dogs

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Count: 10-90
• Form: Soft chew
• Life Stage: Adult, Senior, Puppy
• Made in: USA

Pros

• Contains three billion CFUs per chew;
• Contains six strains of friendly bacteria.
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Made with pea flour and garbanzo flour – ingredients that are included in the FDA warning about grain free foods for dogs, though in these small amounts they probably won’t make a difference;
• The chews are pumpkin-flavored. We didn’t see any pumpkin in the ingredient list so this is simply a flavoring.

Each Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites chew contains three billion CFU of both prebiotics and probiotics to support dogs. Helps dogs that are struggling with gas, constipation, and a gurgling, uncomfortable stomach. Each chew features Ganeden BC30.

This is a powerful strain of Bacillus Coagulans that gets past your dog’s stomach acid to reach the intestines and promote healthy digestion and gut bacteria. These chews feature papaya to help with indigestion and to provide enzyme support. Papaya can help the stomach break down proteins and fats. Suitable for dogs of all ages.

Probiotics or Prebiotics?

Probiotics are bacteria. Live bacteria in the form of microorganisms are given to the dog (or human, cat, or farm animal), and there are benefits to the digestive system, immune system, and other parts of the body.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”

Prebiotics are something else. First, they are not digestible or only poorly digestible, even though they are edible. They are nutrients that stimulate the growth of the microflora in the digestive tract. They are usually carbs and fibers. You probably eat many prebiotic foods every day without realizing it.

Bananas and apples, for example, are natural prebiotics.

You may also see something called fructooligosaccharides (FOS) listed in your dog food’s ingredients. This is a natural sugar that is often used as a prebiotic.

What Are the Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs?

Probiotics can improve digestion and help dogs with issues like irritable bowel disorders and diarrhea. A study in Ireland found that dogs supplemented with a strain of Bifidobacterium animalis shortened their diarrhea experience from seven days to four and eliminated the need for antibiotic treatment by about 10%.

Probiotics are ideal for dogs under stress, after antibiotics, those with food allergies, sensitivities, digestive problems, older dogs, weakened immune systems, and young puppies.

Most dogs can benefit from probiotics, but there is limited research on humans and probiotics. More research is being conducted by companies like Purina. It is unclear whether dogs can benefit more from a probiotic with one or multiple strains of bacteria.

While more research supports one strain, some researchers prefer the idea of giving dogs multiple strains of a probiotic. Future research will provide more information on the benefits of probiotics for dogs.

Can You Give Your Dog Probiotics Made for Humans?

Many veterinarians and others will recommend that you give your dog probiotics that are made for humans, such as Culturelle and other products. PetMD.com says that there are no studies that show human probiotic supplements will harm your dog.

However, that site, which is written and reviewed by vets, recommends that you use a probiotic product with strains that your dog’s gut specifically needs.

Some veterinarians use human probiotics for their animals because they say that human products have better quality control.

Whether you give your dog a probiotic made for humans appears to be a personal decision right now.

Which Dog Probiotics Does Your Dog Need?

Common bacterial strains that are usually provided for dogs in probiotics include:

• Enterococcus faecium
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Bifidobacterium animalis
• VSL#3

Some of these strains often appear on dog food labels. You can look for probiotic products that contain them.

Choosing Probiotics for Dogs

• Ensure products are fresh to retain living organisms in the dog’s digestive system.
• Check the “Best By” or “Sell By” date for product availability.
• Select products with high CFU (colony-forming units) for a healthy gut.
• Choose the appropriate form of probiotic, such as powder, pill, or mixed with treats.
• Look for a label from the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) for safer products.

Final Thoughts

Many dogs have benefited from taking probiotics for both short-term and long-term health. If your dog has an issue with diarrhea or gas, or if he’s taking antibiotics or feeling stressed for some reason, we think that probiotics are a good way to help your dog recover and feel better. There are a variety of brands on the market.