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When it comes to our beloved canine companions, nothing is more important than ensuring they’re healthy, happy, and comfortable. That means not only providing them with regular exercise and lots of love but also supplying them with a well-balanced diet that supports their overall health. In recent years, increasing scientific evidence has indicated the significant role that gut health plays in overall well-being, leading many pet owners to explore the benefits of probiotics for their dogs. But what if your dog suffers from allergies? Can probiotics help alleviate allergic reactions? If so, which are the best probiotics for dogs with allergies? In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into these questions, exploring the cutting-edge research and clinical studies that are revolutionizing the world of canine health and nutrition.
What is the Best Probiotic for Itchy Dogs with Allergies
There are lots of probiotics for dogs, but below are 12 great options to help you narrow down your search.
1. iHeartDogs Allergy & Itch Relief Chews with Probiotics
These supplements can reduce allergy symptoms in dogs, but they also include probiotics for an added health boost. So, this is the best probiotic for dogs with allergies. These supplements come in soft bone-shaped chews that your dog will think are treats. Each chew is packed with key ingredients like quercetin, colostrum, reishi mushrooms, salmon oil, apple cider vinegar, and a probiotic blend for a full health boost.
When your dog eats these chews, they may experience less itchy and irritated skin, better immune responses, and healthier gut bacteria. The ingredients will keep your dog healthy in a variety of aspects, even when exposed to allergens. These multi-purpose chews are made in the USA, and each bag purchased donates 14 healthy meals to dogs in need.
Features:
- Reduces allergic reactions
- Improves immune responses and digestion
- Soft easy-to-serve treats
- Every purchase provides meals for shelter dogs
- 500 million CFU per chew
2. iHeartDogs 3-in-1 Probiotic Dog Chews
Digestive problems and poor gut health could be taking a toll on your dog without you noticing. So, the iHeartDogs 3-in-1 Probiotic Dog Chews are packed with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to give your dog a full health boost. These supplements can reduce digestive issues like runny poop and flatulence, boost your dog’s immune system, and help their body absorb nutrients better.
These probiotics come in the form of soft chews that your dog will think are treats. Each chew contains key ingredients like pumpkin, papaya, and dried Bacillus coagulans, all of which can help with your dog’s tummy troubles. Your dog will feel good as new when taking these USA-made probiotics. Plus, every bag purchased provides 12 healthy meals for dogs in need.
Features:
- Packed with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes
- Soft, easy-to-serve chews
- Improves your dog’s digestion, immune system, and energy
- Every purchase provides meals for shelter dogs
- 3 billion CFU per chew
3. PetHonesty Digestive Probiotic Soft Chews
These soft chews have lots of probiotics and enzymes, which can assist with digestive health, immune support, and nutrient absorption. It includes seven probiotic strains, a multi-enzyme blend, and pumpkin. Dogs who take these chews regularly have firmer stools and can heal from wounds and sicknesses faster. Their overall health and mood will likely improve as well.
To enhance the flavor, the formula includes duck, sweet potato, carrots, and flaxseed instead of fillers. So, the chews will be healthy and tasty, and most dogs will be excited to eat them. There’s also a formula without duck in case dogs are uninterested in or allergic to that protein. This product is made in the USA following strict safety standards.
Features:
- Packed with probiotics, enzymes, and pumpkin
- Assists with digestive health, immune support, and nutrient absorption
- Tasty formula for picky eaters
- Soft easy-to-serve chews
- Multiple flavors available
- 6 billion CFU
4. Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites for Dogs
These probiotic bites come in a variety of flavors so all dogs can enjoy the taste while reaping the benefits. You can choose from pumpkin, bison, and chicken. The supplements are soft chews that dogs gobble up because they look like regular treats. The ingredients vary based on which formula you select, but all of them include Bacillus subtilis, which is a clinically studied probiotic.
All the formulas can support gut health, aid digestive function, and boost the immune system. Dogs who take them usually experience fewer digestion issues, like diarrhea, gas, and bloating. The ingredients are globally sourced, but all the products are made in the USA. The chews are great for sensitive dogs because they avoid artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
Features:
- Comes in three flavors
- Soft easy-to-serve chews
- Good for gut health, digestive function, and immune systems
- Good for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- You can get 20% off your order on Zesty Paws’ website if you sign up for emails and texts
5. Honest Paws Pre+Probiotics Supplement
The Honest Paws Probiotics come in tubes of powder that you can sprinkle on your dog’s food. They’re chicken-flavored, so most dogs will happily gobble the powder up. The formula contains several probiotics and other health-boosting ingredients, including inulin, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus coagulans, that can help your pup maintain a healthy gut, boost their immune system, and reduce allergy symptoms.
When your dog takes this supplement, you may notice less itching, hair loss, urinary tract infections, gas, and diarrhea. As a bonus, their mood may improve. This product won the NASC Visibility Award in 2022, so you can feel confident serving it to your furry friend. The supplements are lab-tested, GMO-free, and made in the USA.
Features:
- Good for dogs with allergies
- Maintains a healthy gut and improves the immune system
- Soft easy-to-serve chews
- Won the NASC Visibility Award in 2022
- 5 billion CFU per serving
6. NaturVet Advanced Probiotics and Enzymes
These probiotic supplements can come in the form of soft chews or powder, depending on what your dog prefers. The soft chews can be given as treats while the powder can be sprinkled onto your dog’s food. Both forms support and balance your dog’s gastrointestinal system, so they’re ideal for dogs with digestive problems and sensitive stomachs.
The ingredients in this supplement are Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, protease, lipase, cellulase, and alpha-amylase. All these ingredients work together to give your pup a full-body health boost. These chews are made in the United States, and they’re formulated and recommended by veterinarians for dogs six weeks and older.
Features:
- Comes in soft chews or powder
- Supports and balances your dog’s GI system
- Great for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- Formulated and recommended by vets
- Over 1 billion CFU
7. iHeartDogs Hide-A-Pill with Probiotics
This iHeartDogs product has two purposes in one. It can hide your dog’s pills while also providing them with necessary probiotics. The paste is a savory chicken and bacon flavor that most dogs can’t resist. So, you can wrap the paste around your dog’s pills to get them to eat the pill, thinking it’s just a treat.
The pill paste is infused with probiotics to improve your dog’s gut health as much as possible. Those probiotics can improve digestion, promote healthy bacteria, create an intestinal balance, and build up the immune system. Coconut oil and sunflower oil are also included to increase energy levels for an overall health boost. This product is made in the USA, and every container purchased provides 12 meals for dogs in need.
Features:
- Hides your dog’s pills
- Infused with probiotics
- Chicken and bacon flavored
- Improves digestion, intestinal balance, healthy bacteria, and the immune system
- Every purchase provides meals for shelter dogs
8. Nusentia Probiotics for Dogs
Nusentia’s probiotic supplements come in a powder form with a scoop included. The formula contains both prebiotics and live probiotics to help your dog with tummy troubles, itchy skin, bad breath, and overall well-being. The powder doesn’t include gluten, dairy, grains, fillers, or by-products, so it’s a good choice for dogs with allergies.
The powder is odorless, so you can sprinkle it on your dog’s food without them noticing, making it an ideal option for picky eaters. Each jar contains 360 scoops, so even large dogs can get lots of servings out of it. The food is made and quality-tested in the USA. Many vets have been recommending this brand for over 11 years.
Features:
- Odorless powder
- Improves digestion, reduces itching, and battles bad breath
- Good for dogs with allergies
- Lots of scoops in each container
- 1 billion CFU per scoop
9. NomNom Full Spectrum Probiotic Support
NomNom is a famous fresh dog food company, but they also sell beneficial supplements. Their probiotic supplement comes in a powder form, so you can scoop it out and mix it with your dog’s food daily. Like NomNom’s food, the supplements are formulated by their veterinary nutrition and microbiology team. The product is made in the USA and is suitable for any dog over eight weeks old.
The formula contains a blend of seven probiotics, along with some prebiotics. It’s designed to improve digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and the microbiome. After regularly taking the supplement, your dog should feel healthier and more active overall. While it’s used on NomNom’s fresh dog food in its advertisements, it can work well on any type of dog food. Plus, it has more CFUs than most probiotics for dogs.
Features:
- Packed with probiotics and prebiotics
- Powder mixes with food
- Improves digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function
- Formulated by veterinarians
- 20 billion CFU per serving
10. Amazing Nutritionals Probiotic Joint Relief
Amazing Nutritionals probiotics come in round, chewable tablets. The texture isn’t soft like some of the other options, but the tablets are flavored with bacon and liver to appeal to picky eaters. These tablets can benefit a variety of health aspects for your dog, including digestion, skin, coat, and joints. So, you should notice decreased gas and diarrhea after your pup starts taking these.
This vet-approved formula contains a probiotic blend, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and calcium. To cater to dogs with allergies, these supplements avoid unnecessary items like wheat, corn, grains, soy, eggs, potatoes, and gluten. They’re made in small batches in the USA, and they’re labeled as a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) quality product.
Features:
- Round, chewable tablets
- Bacon and liver flavor for picky eaters
- Benefits digestion, skin, coat, and joints
- Good for dogs with allergies
- 7 billion CFU per chew
11. Nutramax Proviable Digestive Health Supplement with Probiotics
Veterinarians formulated these probiotic supplements using high-quality ingredients, so you can feel safe giving them to your dog. This product is often recommended by vets as well. The tablets contain seven key probiotic strains that are paired with prebiotics. Each supplement is a capsule filled with powder, so you may need to hide it in a pill pocket to get your pup to eat it.
These supplements are designed to support intestinal and digestive health, especially if issues are caused due to stress. They can tackle health issues like diarrhea and flatulence, and they may also reduce joint pain. Nutramax has been in the pet industry for over 30 years, and its probiotics can benefit dogs of all sizes and ages, even dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Features:
- Formulated and recommended by vets
- Comes in a capsule
- Supports intestinal, digestive, and joint health
- Packed with key probiotic strains and prebiotics
- 5 billion CFU per serving
12. The Native Pet Probiotic
This vet-formulated probiotic provides complete gut health and digestive wellness for your furry friend. The prebiotics and probiotics in this product can improve sensitive stomachs, stress, and long-term health. It’s a powder supplement that can be sprinkled onto your dog’s meals to serve. Most dogs will happily gobble up the beef-flavored powder, so it can also function as a topper for picky dogs.
The Native Pet Probiotic only includes four ingredients: dehydrated beef broth, organic pumpkin seed, organic inulin, and a probiotic blend. With a short ingredient list, you’ll know exactly what’s going into your dog’s tummy, making it an excellent choice for dogs with allergies. By giving your dog this powder regularly, your dog’s body will become an excellent environment for healthy flora.
Features:
- Tasty powder form
- Only four ingredients
- Helps with digestive issues related to sensitivities and stress
- Formulated by veterinarians
- 6 billion CFU per scoop
Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Your Dog Probiotics to Support Allergy Relief
- Q: What are probiotics and how can they benefit dogs with allergies? A: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help maintain the health of the digestive system. In dogs with allergies, they can help regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, and potentially decrease allergic reactions. Probiotics may also enhance the gut barrier function, further reducing allergic symptoms.
- Q: Are all probiotics the same? A: No, not all probiotics are the same. Different strains of probiotics can have different effects, and some strains may be more beneficial for certain health conditions than others. It’s crucial to choose a probiotic supplement specifically designed for dogs and one that’s clinically proven to help with allergies.
- Q: How long does it take for probiotics to work? A: The effects of probiotics can vary depending on the individual dog and the severity of their allergies. Some dogs may show improvement in a few days, while others might take several weeks to a few months to show noticeable benefits.
- Q: Can I give my dog probiotics meant for humans? A: While it’s not generally harmful to give dogs human probiotics, it’s more beneficial to give them probiotics specifically formulated for their species. This is because the bacterial strains beneficial to human gut health might differ from those beneficial to canine gut health.
- Q: Can probiotics cause side effects in dogs? A: Most dogs tolerate probiotics well, but some dogs might experience minor side effects like gas, bloating, or changes in stool consistency when they first start taking them. These effects usually subside once the dog’s system adjusts to the new bacteria.
- Q: Do I need a prescription to give my dog probiotics? A: No, you do not typically need a prescription for canine probiotics, as they are usually available as over-the-counter supplements. However, it’s always wise to consult with a veterinarian before starting any new supplement regimen.
- Q: What if my dog doesn’t like taking the probiotic? A: Probiotics for dogs come in various forms, including powders, capsules, chews, and even added into some dog foods. If your dog doesn’t like one form, you can try another. Some can be mixed into their regular food unnoticed.
- Q: Can I give my dog probiotics while they are on antibiotics? A: Yes, it’s often beneficial to give dogs probiotics during and after antibiotic treatment because antibiotics can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut. However, you should administer them a few hours apart to ensure the antibiotic doesn’t kill the probiotic bacteria.
- Q: Can probiotics cure my dog’s allergies? A: Probiotics can help manage and alleviate some of the symptoms of allergies in dogs, but they are not a cure. Allergies are usually managed rather than completely cured. It’s important to work with your vet to create a comprehensive allergy management plan.
- Q: How long will my dog need to take probiotics? A: This largely depends on your dog’s individual health condition and response to the supplement. Some dogs may benefit from short-term use, while others may require a long-term approach. It’s essential to consult with your vet to determine the best plan for your dog.
What Clinical Studies Have Been Done on The Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs with Allergies?
- A 2019 study published in “Frontiers in Veterinary Science” examined the effects of probiotics on dogs with atopic dermatitis, a type of allergic skin disease. The study found that dogs given a multi-strain probiotic experienced a significant reduction in skin lesions compared to a control group. This suggests that probiotics may be beneficial in managing this common canine skin allergy.
- Another study conducted by researchers in Finland and published in “Veterinary Record” in 2016 showed that puppies given probiotics early in life were less likely to develop atopic dermatitis than those that did not receive probiotics. This indicates that early introduction of probiotics could potentially have a protective effect against certain allergies.
- A research article published in “BMC Veterinary Research” in 2018 indicated that probiotics could enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy in dogs with allergies. The study found that dogs with atopic dermatitis receiving allergen-specific immunotherapy, coupled with a certain probiotic, had better clinical improvement compared to dogs only receiving immunotherapy.
These studies suggest that probiotics could potentially have a role in preventing and managing allergies in dogs. However, more research is needed to fully understand the complexities of this relationship and to determine which specific strains and dosages of probiotics are most beneficial.
Please consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplements in your dog’s diet, as every dog is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. It’s also crucial to note that probiotics should not replace any current allergy treatments or medications your pet may be on, but they can be considered a complementary approach to overall wellness.
Conclusion: Best Probiotics for Itchy Dogs with Allergies
Through our exploration, we’ve learned that probiotics not only offer considerable benefits to dogs’ digestive health, but they can also serve as a powerful ally in managing allergies. From reducing inflammation to strengthening the immune system, the right probiotics can help make your dog’s world a much more comfortable place. The key, however, is to choose the right product. Always opt for probiotics specifically formulated for dogs, and when possible, choose a product that has undergone rigorous testing and review. If your dog is struggling with allergies, a high-quality probiotic supplement could be just what they need to turn the tide.
Remember, each dog is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Always consult your veterinarian before introducing a new supplement into your dog’s diet. With professional guidance and the right probiotic, you can take a proactive step toward enhancing your dog’s health and potentially alleviating allergy symptoms. It’s about creating a happier, healthier life for your loyal companion—and isn’t that what all pet parents ultimately want? In the vast world of pet health and nutrition, it’s comforting to know that there are effective, scientifically-backed options to help manage your furry friend’s allergies.
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