Dog foods with added probiotics offer dog owners a convenient and effective way to support their dog’s health every day, without having to purchase additional supplements. Probiotics work best with consistent, long-term use, at the proper dosing amount. Having them already incorporated into the diet ensures your dog receives them with every meal and takes the guesswork out of proper dosing. In this article, we will delve into probiotics, their health advantages, and why choosing dog food with added probiotics could be beneficial for your pet.
Do Dogs Need Probiotics?
In recent years, the topic of probiotics for dogs has gained in popularity. Probiotics convey many health benefits, from improving digestion, decreasing stress and anxiety, amplifying the immune system, supporting cognitive health, and more. While they used to only be available as a supplement, probiotics are now being incorporated into dog food formulas as well.
What Are Probiotics for Dogs?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to the host animal and provide health benefits when consumed in adequate quantities. These beneficial bacteria help maintain a healthy balance of gut microflora, which is vital for not only healthy digestion, but overall health and wellness. While probiotics colonize and inhabit the gut of your dog, their impact is systemic. Research is now showing the importance of gut health on immune function, with 70% of your dog’s immune system residing within the gut, cognitive support, with gut health impacting the brain through the gut-brain axis, and aging.
Probiotics in Dry Dog Food
You may notice that probiotics are only offered in dry foods and not wet or fresh diets. Why is that? While probiotics are live organisms, many have the ability to go dormant, or sleep, until conditions are right for them to replicate. The key ingredient for many of them to wake from their dormant state is water.
Kibble, freeze-dried, baked, and air-dried pet foods have low enough moisture levels to keep the added probiotics dormant for the duration of their shelf life. Once your dog consumes them, they become active and begin to replicate and colonize your dog’s gut.
The probiotics in these formulations are added to the outside of the food in the final step of manufacturing prior to bagging. Because of this, proper storage is vital to keep the probiotics viable and prevent spoilage; keep your dog’s food out of extreme heat, sealed from humidity, and out of direct sunlight.
Choosing Dog Food with Probiotics
When looking for dog food with probiotics, opt for brands that use high-quality, easily digestible ingredients. Look for foods that contain specific strains known to benefit dogs, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species.
Some foods may contain prebiotic fiber as well. This prebiotic fiber supplies the probiotics with a reliable food source, promoting their growth. Good sources of prebiotic fiber include chicory root (a source of inulin), oats, and psyllium. If your dog has specific health conditions or dietary requirements, be sure to consult with your veterinarian prior to switching diets.
Incorporating probiotics into your dog’s food offers numerous benefits for your dog’s digestive health, immune system, and overall wellbeing. By choosing a high-quality dry dog food with added probiotics, you ensure your pet is receiving consistent, properly dosed, probiotic supplementation. Investing in your dog’s diet by giving them added probiotics is not just a trend, but a proactive step toward supporting their health from the inside out.
I thought that one couldn’t depend on additives in, or on , food. That many companies just throw a little in so they can say the additive is in there and so they can put it on the label.
So, how does one determine who has appropriate amounts?
I’d be interested in know WHICH probiotics are useful to dogs. I assume the amount and type are different than those useful to humans due to the difference in gut length and species? Or, are they generally the same? Have there been any studies by size and age of dog?
I would think this web site would have more information about specific products to use because I can do some research but part of the reason I use this website is for answers , not to be told to do my research
I would think this web site would have more information about specific products to use because I can do some research but part of the reason I use this website is for answers , not to be told to do my research.
My dog, Bentley is a seven year old golden retriever, who weighs approximately 85 lbs. He has a tendency to have skin allergies. Which dry dog food would your company recommend that would have probiotics as well as weight management?
I use probiotics for my dog with great results. BUT they are high dosage, come chilled, and are kept in the refrigerator until use. Their use has transformed my dogs digestive imbalances and we’ve been able to scale back their use. I can’t imagine that spray on probiotics are going to be effective for dogs with digestive issues and hope that users wont be discouraged if they dont work.
What does Whole Dog Journal recommend as supplements and dog foods that provide the best probiotic components?
I would think feeding prebiotic foods would be as important. For instance, carrots, cabbage, brown rice, apples, , bananas and other whole grains, fruits and vegetables. I got these from websites for humans. I cannot say in general these would be good for dogs. I’m only passing on the possibility.
Based on the article, it seems including some yogurt in a dog’s diet would be helpful. Again, I’m only passing on the possibility.
Based on the articles I have read this year as a subscriber and the lack of information they provide (this case included) and that comments are not responded to (and they should) I will not be renewing
I am not happy with Whole Food Journal being online only.
You were SO much better when you sent printed journals. Now I just delete most of what you send because you don’t answer questions or complete articles.
This is very sad- I used to look forward to your newsletters for years.
Diana marsh
Sherborn,MA and
Agreed!
I’m curious how the microbes survive the intense heat of the cooking process of the kibble? What I have heard and learned from many Drs is that microbes can only survive at certain temperatures. I’d love to see some research from these food companies showing survivability or proof in gut which can be taken with a stool sample.