Probiotics for the dog
Pro- and prebiotics for the dog are increasingly being used. And that's understandable because the intestines play an important role in the health of your dog. As a pharmacy, we are happy to explain what probiotics for dogs are and what they can mean for your pet.
The dog's gut flora
In your dog's colon, many bacteria live. These bacteria are also referred to as the 'gut flora' or the 'microbiome'. The bacteria in your dog's intestine are incredibly useful for digesting food, but they also play an essential role in your dog's defense system. If your dog eats something wrong, the good bacteria help combat the bad ones. The role these bacteria play seems even to extend beyond the intestine: more is being discovered about these bacteria's role in various conditions such as allergies.
Good gut bacteria are also involved in the absorption of vitamin K and vitamin B12.
What are probiotics?
According to the official definition, probiotics are living microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on their host's health when administered in sufficient quantities. In short, good bacteria from which your pet benefits. Probiotics for dogs are not medicines but are considered dietary supplements. More scientific research is needed on the effect of probiotics on the health of dogs and cats, but initial results seem positive.
Probiotics and prebiotics for dogs: what's the difference?
While probiotics for dogs contain good bacteria; prebiotics contain the food these good bacteria thrive on! These are dietary fibers and specific sugars (saccharides like FOS and MOS) that are not digested in the stomach and small intestine. As a result, they end up in the colon, where the good bacteria benefit from them. By giving your dog prebiotics, the number of good bacteria grows, and bad bacteria have less chance.
Many supplements contain both the bacteria and specific nutrients for the gut flora, and often special fibers that help thicken the stool.
What do pro- and prebiotics do in dogs?
In a healthy dog, there's a balance between good and bad bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The balance can be disturbed, for example, by:
- Illness
- Stress
- Switching diets
- Incorrect or improperly stored food
- A course of antibiotics
A disruption of the gut flora manifests in gastrointestinal problems in your dog, such as diarrhea, flatulence, and bloating.
Probiotics can help restore the balance. The good bacteria in probiotics inhibit the growth of bad bacteria and promote digestion. The growth and health of the good bacteria are stimulated by specific nutrients such as Fructo-Oligo Saccharides (FOS).
You can also give your dog probiotics preventively to help keep the intestines healthy during stressful situations, after a course of antibiotics, or for extra resistance in old age.
Which probiotic is best for my dog?
As we have explained, pro- and prebiotics are a good combination for your dog. In our online pharmacy, you can buy various products that contain both. In terms of administration, you can choose from different product types. This way, there's always a probiotic that's best suited for your dog:
Probiotic Paste
A tasty paste for your dog is Pro-Kolin Advanced. This easy-to-dose paste contains Enterococcus faecium bacteria and the prebiotic Preplex® (Fructo-oligosaccharide). Additionally, Pro-Kolin Advanced contains kaolin and montmorillonite, natural clay minerals that bind water. The water-binding psyllium fibers also help to solidify the stool. Moreover, beta-glucans support the immune system.
A similar pro- and prebiotic paste for your dog with additional ingredients that help solidify the stool is Canikur Pro.
Probiotic Powder
PUUR Probiotic is a pre- and probiotic powder that you ideally dissolve in water for your dog. It contains prebiotic Fructo-Oligo Saccharides (FOS) and the bacteria Bifidobacterium lactis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Lactococcus lactis. Another probiotic powder for dogs is FortiFlora for dogs from Purina Pro Plan.
Probiotic Capsules
If you prefer to give your dog pre- and probiotic capsules, then Protexin Synbiotic D-C capsules are a good choice. They contain the Enterococcus faecium bacteria and Preplex® prebiotics as a food source for the good bacteria.
Probiotics in the future: tailor-made for your dog
Not everything is yet known about the composition of the gut flora in dogs. Many types of intestinal bacteria are either not studied or are difficult to investigate. Among the bacterial species that can be studied, differences have been found between dogs and cats, different breeds, and ages. In the future, it's expected that probiotics for dogs will be increasingly tailored to your pet for the best results.
If you have a question about our products or about probiotics for your dog, please contact us.