This guest post is brought to you be Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right pet containment system for your pet, help you install it properly, and help train your pet to use the new system. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of electric dog fences at the best available prices.
You may have heard of probiotics. They are good for your digestive system, and now there are suggestions that they may also benefit your dog.
Here are the facts about probiotics, and how they can be beneficial in our dogs.
1. Probiotics are food supplements which contain bacteria or yeasts. These organisms are completely harmless, but may be useful in adding healthy bacteria to your dog’s intestinal tract.
2. Probiotics protect your dog from infection by bacteria that may make him ill. They usually work in his gastro-intestinal tract, doing their job in several ways. They kill any harmful bacteria in his intestines, and they also support his own immune sytem so he can fight off unhealthy bacteria.
3. They appear to be particularly beneficial to those dogs with bacterial overgrowth in their intestines. Many vets find them helpful in treating dogs with diarrhea and flatulence. Some studies also suggest that they may be of some use in cases of infection elsewhere in the body, particularly the skin. If a dog is on antibiotics for a long period of time, the medication may also affect the numbers of bacteria in his intestines, causing a secondary diarrhea. Probiotics can help restore his intestinal bacterial population to normal.
4. Natural yogurt contains lactobacillus, bacteria that are often used as a probiotic. So, can you give your dog yogurt to keep his intestines healthy? Not necessarily. There’s no proof that all bacteria are effective in all species, and in fact, some probiotics work better in people than in other species, and vice versa. So, lactobacillus may not work in your dog. Even if you feed him a commercial human probiotic, it still may not do him any good. You may want to use a probiotic that has been specifically formulated for dogs. One such product is Fortiflora, manufactured by Purina. As an alternative, you may choose a dry dog kibble which has a probiotic in it, so each time your dog has dinner, he’s giving his intestines a dose of healthy bacteria.
5. Probiotics need to be stored carefully. They are living bacteria, and can die off if they become too hot, if they’re exposed to excessive light or if they’re left on the shelf for a long time. If you’re buying a probiotic, check the expiration date, and ask how it has been stored, so you know whether or not the bacterial count may have been reduced by poor storage.
So, do you use a probiotic in your dog, or not? It’s not something that you’d necessarily feed a healthy dog. However if your dog has an upset stomach or loose bowels, it’s worth considering. They are very safe, have no side effects, and you can sneak them into your dog’s food or water. Why not try them out? They may just make a difference.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear “Guest Poster”:
It is very true that Probiotics are very good for dogs (as many veterinarian scientists have proven). Probiotics offer the good bacteria that dogs (and many other animals) needs in order to maintain their overall their digestive tract health.
Probios® brand Dog Treats have been proven to have the stability and viability known to be important in a quality probiotic.
Thank you very much for the great article.
Cheers!
Josh
My dog has a skin condition that we believe to be caused by yeast. Which means she probably has an imbalance in her digestive tract. I am thinking about giving her probiotics. She does have lyme disease, and I was wondering if the probiotics would have a negative affect with the lyme disease. Does anyone have any input about it?
Thanks
Mel
Probiotics are EXCELLENT for people and dogs with Lyme!! My dog does not have Lyme, but she has a bacterial infection from environmental and flea allergies. She is now on prednisone and antibiotics. Could your dog be reacting to a food or flea allergy? My dalmatian can’t eat chicken. She does very well on Purina Sensitive Skin and Stomach formula. Maybe you can try that and see if her skin gets better? Has your vet put your dog on anything for the yeast infection?
I want to know if you can use human probiotics on dogs. I am reading a lot of vague things – like yes, only a small amount – no, use the ones for dogs, and I am still not clear. I give my dogs plain yogurt I have frozen in small muffin tins and sometimes put fruit in.