You go out of your way to make sure your dog lives the best life possible, and taking care of their digestive health is an important part of that. How they absorb nutrients and breakdown food affects nearly all aspects of their overall health. If you want to give your dog a happy and healthy life, it’s time to consider all the many benefits of probiotics.
Related: 12 Best Probiotics for Dogs + 1 to NEVER Use
What To Know About Probiotics
Probiotics are the good bacteria found in the digestive system. There are millions of them living and interacting in your dog’s gut, and they help the digestive organs break down food and absorb nutrients. As long as there’s a healthy ratio of more good bacteria than bad bacteria, your dog’s digestive system is in good shape. The problem, however, is that few dogs actually have the right amount of probiotics in their guts. It’s hard for them to get the probiotics they need from the average dog food, and as a result, their overall well-being suffers.
The good news is, you can do something about it. Giving your dog a daily supplement of probiotics will benefit them in more ways than one.
1. Relieve Symptoms of Chronic GI Disorders
If your dog has been diagnosed with a GI disorder like IBD or colitis, you’re probably used to them having frequent diarrhea, vomiting, and gas. Typical treatment for these conditions include immunosuppressive drugs and antibiotics, but they’re not always 100% effective.
A probiotic supplement isn’t a cure for anything, but it can relieve symptoms of chronic digestive conditions. More probiotics in your dog’s diet will boost the population of good bacteria in the gut to give them a fighting chance at restoring a healthy balance of bacteria. They’ll feel better on the inside and be able to get back to chasing balls and begging for belly rubs.
2. Help With Antibiotic Side Effects
Antibiotics are prescribed to pets and people when bacteria in the body causes illness. They’re good at fighting infection, but there’s a problem. Antibiotics can’t distinguish between good and bad bacteria. While they’re out fighting the bad stuff that makes your dog sick, they also take down the good bacteria that’s needed to make them feel better.
If your dog is taking antibiotics for a health issue, they should also be taking a probiotic supplement. By depleting the body’s supply of probiotics, antibiotics can cause diarrhea, cramping, gas, and other digestive problems. Veterinarians often recommend starting a dog on probiotics a few days before they start taking antibiotics and then continuing even after the antibiotic treatment.
3. Bolster Their Immune System
With 80% of a dog’s immune system situated somewhere in their gut, digestive health plays a big role in immune response. A healthy gut allows the immune system to operate at its optimal level. When the gut is full of good bacteria, the immune system is free to direct its efforts to other areas of the body.
One of the ways the immune system is responsible for overall health is by fighting off foreign invaders that threaten to make your dog sick. It can even reduce symptoms related to allergies. Allergies are an overreaction by the immune system toward a specific foreign substance. And when the immune system is at its best (like when the body is getting plenty of probiotics), studies show allergy symptoms are less severe.
4. Improve Their Skin and Fur
There are several possible symptoms a dog with allergies can suffer from, but itchy, dry skin is one of the most common. Dogs that are allergic to things like wheat, chicken, grass, and prescription drugs spend their days constantly itching their irritated skin. For most of them, all that scratching leads to bald spots and bleeding.
By reducing allergy symptoms, probiotics also lead to healthier skin and fur. Your dog will finally find relief from their constant irritation, and their fur will be shinier and all-around better looking.
5. Promote Good Oral Health
Around 80% of adult dogs have periodontal disease, and contrary to common thought, oral health affects a lot more than your dog’s mouth. Like your dog’s intestines, their mouth also harbors colonies of bacteria. When the bacteria in your dog’s mouth is balanced, everything is fine. But when it builds up due to periodontal disease, strains of dangerous bacteria travel from the mouth through the blood vessels to major organs.
Just as probiotics keep a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, studies show they do the same in the mouth. A study published in 2009 found that a daily probiotic supplement is an effective way to prevent dental disease. Probiotics keep the bad bacteria found in plaque from damaging teeth and causing disease. Not only will your dog’s teeth look better, they’ll have a lower chance of developing dangerous diseases.
Your dog loves their big bin of toys you spoil them with and all the love and attention you provide, but they can’t live their best life if they’re not healthy. You can make their life even better than it already is by finding a trusted probiotic supplement.
For a quality, well-rounded supplement, check out our 3-in-1 dog probiotic including pre-biotics and digestive enzymes.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.
Toledo, United States.
