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Probiotics for dogs - when do they help?

Probiotics for dogs - when do they help?

What is a probiotic?

Probiotics are good bacteria that can help with digestion, while prebiotics are essentially a source of food for the probiotics.  Given together, they can help your dog maintain a healthy digestive system.  


My dog has diarrhoea - will probiotics help? 

The quick answer is yes, and as vets, we commonly use them to help with cases of diarrhoea.  Any upset tummy can benefit from a course of probiotics, and we recommend them regularly.  This is because when the guts are irritated (for any reason) the normal bacterial population of gut flora will be disrupted with it, and the environment will change.  Symptoms of upset tummies can include both increased passage (diarrhoea) or slower passage (constipation) of ingested food through the intestines, and in both situations, the natural gut flora that help with digestion will become unbalanced.  We can support the gut flora recover faster from these disruptive events by using probiotics, which restores the balance within the intestines.


Should I use probiotics for dogs on antibiotics?

There are other situations where probiotics can be helpful too - not just when we know there’s an upset tummy.  Antibiotics are another important treatment used for dogs with bacterial infection, however they don’t discriminate against the good or bad bacteria in the intestines, and will target any bacteria that can be susceptible to them.  This can result in diarrhoea or constipation.  Therefore it can be sensible to use probiotics routinely whenever you have to give your dog a course of antibiotics, to keep their gut flora in balance, and reduce and hopefully avoid any side effects on the guts.


What about probiotic supplements for immune compromised dogs?

Another time when probiotics are important is if your dog is immunosuppressed - due to medications that can the immune system (like steroids or chemotherapy).  Research has shown that around 70% of your dog’s immune system is within the gastrointestinal system, and maintaining that in good condition can help reduce the risk and potential impact of other infections. 


My dog scavenges on walks - will probiotics help? 

Some dogs benefit from probiotics long term, either because they are very sensitive to imbalances, or because they are not a very discriminate eater, and pick up all sorts of dreadful things on their walkies - from leftover food scraps to other animal’s faeces!  Long term probiotics can support the guts despite the additional ‘challenges’ that our furry friends decide to sample, and keep their poo in good condition.


What probiotic dog supplements are there?

At Omni, we have recognised how important supporting the good gut bacteria (biome) is, and created a delicious one-a-day chew, that tastes great and contains the pre- and probiotics needed to support your dog’s gut health, whenever it’s needed.  It’s an easier product to give as they don’t have to have it mixed with their food (which can be so hit and miss) and they don’t have to take it as a tablet (which can be an acquired taste).  If you are considering trying our yummy supplement to help with your dog’s tum but aren’t quite sure, please do remember that all subscribers are eligible for free video consults with our team of experienced vets, and we’ll do our best to help.

Check it out here! 

 Sophie Kay BSc (Hons) BVetMed MRCVS CertAVP

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