For pet owners, their dog’s health is a top priority. Regular exercise, good quality food, staying up to date with preventative healthcare are all commonplace. But from time to time, even the most pampered pooch can experience the discomfort of an upset stomach. Whether it’s due to scavenging, anxiety, other medications, illness or even unknown causes, having a dog with tummy troubles can be a worrying time. But did you know you can help support your pup’s tummy all year round to help strengthen their natural defences with pet probiotics? Just like us, dogs have a delicate balance of gut bacteria that plays a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and overall health. And we can help ensure the gut microbiome is as healthy as possible!
Alongside a well-balanced diet, one way to support their microbiome, or “good bacteria” is by incorporating pre and probiotics into their diet. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of pre and probiotics for dogs, how they work, and how you can introduce them into your dog’s daily routine.
So whether you’re dealing with digestive issues or simply looking to boost your pet’s health, pre and probiotics might be the answer you’ve been searching for!
What are prebiotics and probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria, often referred to as “the good bacteria”, and can be found to have various health benefits which contribute to healthy gut function, enabling proper digestion and boosting the immune system.
While probiotics are naturally occurring in the body, they can be supplemented to manipulate the gut bacteria to a more favourable balance of good bacteria.
Prebiotics are “the food” for the probiotics. They are specialised fibres that help support the probiotics already present in the gut. They act as nourishment for the probiotics, stimulating their growth and aiding their effectiveness.
Why are pre and probiotics important for dogs?
Promoting a well-balanced ecosystem of gut bacteria is fundamental for your pet to have a healthy gut and body. An imbalance can contribute to a range of common health challenges in pets such as digestive issues, allergies and weakened immunity. Probiotics can support the digestive system, helping with issues like diarrhoea, constipation and food sensitivities. They can also aid in supporting strengthening the immune system as well as skin and coat health.
In short, pre and probiotics are an essential part of a healthy gut and a happy, thriving pet.
How can pre and probiotics support behaviour in dogs?
The expansive microbiome support health benefits such as good digestion and strong immunity, but they can also play a role in dogs’ behaviour. As part of their metabolism, they communicate with the brain via neurotransmitters. The gut and brain can also communicate via neural and immune pathways in a two-way direction. This is known as the gut-brain axis.
Research is showing that the composition of the gut microbiome can have an effect on the cognitive abilities of dogs, and that a healthy gut microbiome could support positive behaviour in dogs.
What are the health benefits?
- Improved digestion
- Relief of diarrhoea and constipation
- Can help support anxious dogs via the gut brain axis
- Can help with higher energy levels and alertness
- Helps boost the immune system
- Healthy skin
- A shiny, soft coat
Types of probiotic supplements for dogs
Probiotics for dogs can come in many forms, some of the most common are powders, pastes, chews and tablets. The best form of supplement will be down to your individual pet based on their preferences and needs. For help on choosing the right supplement, speak to your vet for advice.
One option is Omniflora, a symbiotic that combines probiotics, parabiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, adsorbing agents, simple amino acids and electrolytes, in amounts that favour the balance of the microbiota, provide intestinal nutrition and support the restoration of electrolyte losses. Omniflora comes in paste and tablet form to cater to different pet preferences.
How to introduce probiotics into your pet’s routine
- Start with small doses to monitor tolerance.
- Mix with food or treats for easy consumption.
- Gradually increase the dose as recommended.
It is always best to consult your vet before starting your pet on any supplements, but when you have a plan in place, see our top tips on introducing them into your pet’s routine:
Do you have any questions on pet probiotics? Reach out to a member of our team today, or have a look at our probiotic for dogs, Omniflora, an excellent solution to support gastrointestinal health and balance.
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