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What Are Probiotics For Dogs?
Probiotics are helpful bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of humans and animals. Probiotics for dogs are supplements that contain some of these "good" bacteria.
Billions of probiotic bacteria are naturally found in your dog's gut. This network of bacteria is called the microbiome. These bacteria work together to help digest food, strengthen the immune system, and make vitamins and other nutrients.
Changes in the microbiome sometimes disrupt the balance between healthy and harmful microbes in your dog's gut. This can cause or contribute to health problems, such as:
Some of the things that can cause changes in the microbiome include:
If your dog often has digestive problems, talk to your veterinarian about whether a probiotic might help.
What's the difference between prebiotics and probiotics for dogs?
While probiotics are healthy gut bacteria, prebiotics are nondigestible dietary fibers that help feed those bacteria. Some dog foods contain prebiotics, and you can buy prebiotic supplements. They're also found naturally in fruits and vegetables.
If your dog isn't used to prebiotics, they can cause digestive problems at first. Ask your vet about whether prebiotics could benefit your dog.
Probiotics for dogs come in capsules, powders, pastes, treats, and food. Your vet can help you find the best probiotic for your dog. (Photo Credit: Moment/Getty Images)
You can give probiotics to your dog in many different forms:
Yogurt or kefir. Yogurt and kefir with active cultures contain probiotics. But they may not be the best probiotics for your pet. These products might not contain the particular strains of bacteria that can benefit dogs. Further, the lactose (milk sugar) found in dairy products can cause digestive issues. And some types of yogurt and kefir contain artificial sweeteners, which can be dangerous for dogs. There's little, if any, scientific evidence that human probiotic foods, such as yogurt, can benefit pets.
Dog foods with probiotics. Some dog foods are fortified with probiotics. But bacteria are sensitive to temperature, air, and moisture. It's not clear whether the probiotics in dog food stay alive long enough to be effective.
Probiotic treats. Some probiotics for dogs are made in the form of soft, chewy treats. They're an easy way to give your dog probiotics, but they're not all of equal quality. Some treats don't contain live probiotics and might have lots of preservatives or other additives.
Pills. Probiotic supplements are available in capsules that you can give your dog directly, put in their food, or hide in a treat like peanut butter.
Powders and liquids. You just add these probiotic supplements to your dog's food.
Pastes. These come with a syringe that you use to put the supplement directly into their mouth. You may also mix the paste with their food.
The best probiotics for dogs contain strains that commonly live in dogs' intestines, such as:
Not all probiotic foods and supplements will have the exact strains your dog needs. Check the label of any product you buy for a list of specific probiotics, a use-by date, and an analysis of how many live bacteria it will contain by the end of its shelf life. Your vet can help you find a good-quality product that will work for your dog.
To keep the good bacteria alive, avoid exposing these products to moisture, air, or extreme temperatures. Some are sold in sealed individual serving packets to protect them.
Probiotics increase the good bacteria that aid your dog's digestion. This can help with gastrointestinal issues, such as:
There's also some evidence they may help with:
While there have been many studies on using probiotics in humans, there's not much research on how probiotics affect dogs. Dogs have many types of bacteria in their gut, but much of the research has only looked at single types of bacteria rather than several types and how they work together. This means we don't fully know how probiotics in dogs work.
Do probiotics firm up dogs' poop?
Several studies have shown that probiotics can benefit dogs with diarrhea, including those that have loose stools due to antibiotic treatments or endurance exercise. Some research has found probiotics to be as effective as antibiotics for shelter dogs with diarrhea.
Talk to your vet if your dog tends to get stress diarrhea when going to vet appointments, boarding, or traveling. They may suggest giving your dog probiotics ahead of time.
Will a probiotic help my dog with itching?
There's some evidence that probiotics for dogs could help with skin disorders and allergies that could cause itching. But we need more research to say for sure.
Before giving your dog a probiotic, here are some things to think about:
Your dog's health is an indicator. If your dog is healthy, they may not need a probiotic. A vet will usually prescribe a probiotic if there's a problem with your dog's gut or digestion. This is usually caused by illness or stress.
Diet plays a big role. Research shows that dogs who eat a diet high in carbohydrates may not have healthy microbiomes. Changing your dog's food and adding more protein could help. Your vet can help you find the right food for your dog.
Probiotics are sensitive to temperature, air, and moisture. Probiotics are living things. Exposure to air, temperature, and moisture extremes for long periods can kill the microbes and make a probiotic product useless. They may need to be kept in the fridge.
Check the use-by date. This tells you how long the bacteria are guaranteed to be alive and useful. Probiotics used after the expiration date probably won't work as well.
Be careful with human foods. If you decide to give your dog kefir or yogurt with live cultures, read the labels carefully. They may contain artificial sweeteners or preservatives that aren't safe for dogs. Only feed your dog plain yogurt or kefir without sweeteners.
Dogs can also be allergic to dairy or lactose intolerant, which can cause diarrhea and an upset stomach. If your dog has trouble digesting dairy, coconut kefir might work better for them. This is a nondairy fermented milk that contains probiotics. Small amounts of coconut are safe for dogs, but make sure to use coconut milk kefir and not coconut water kefir. Coconut water is high in potassium and isn't safe for dogs.
Find a method that works for you. Treats with added probiotics might be the easiest way to give your dog probiotics. They also come in pill form, but some dogs won't take pills even if they're hidden in treats. Try adding probiotic powder to your dog's food if this is an issue.
There's limited research. There's some research on probiotics for dogs, but much of the evidence is anecdotal from pet owners or veterinarians. We need more studies to better understand how probiotics help dogs. Your vet can help you find the best option.
Can I give my dog human probiotics?
Yogurt and kefir with live cultures are probiotics that you can give to your dog. But before you do, read the label carefully. These foods may contain artificial sweeteners that are dangerous for dogs. Only feed your dog plain, unsweetened yogurt or kefir.
Some dogs also have trouble digesting dairy, which can cause diarrhea and upset stomach. You could try coconut kefir, a nondairy product that contains probiotic. But make sure you use coconut milk kefir, not coconut water kefir. Coconut water isn't safe for dogs due to its high level of potassium.
Is Yakult good for dogs?
Yakult is a type of fermented dairy drink from Japan that contains probiotics. It's made for humans, but some people also give it to their dogs. As with any human food product, read the label carefully before feeding it to your pet to make sure it doesn't contain the sweetener Xylitol (also called wood sugar, birch sugar, or birch bark extract). This sweetener is dangerous for dogs.
If your dog has issues digesting dairy, Yakult may cause an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. Too much of any sweetener — even those such as sugar, stevia, and aspartame, which are generally safe for dogs — can do the same. It's best to check with your vet before giving Yakult to your dog.
Is pumpkin a probiotic for dogs?
Pumpkin is not a probiotic, but it may help dogs with diarrhea. It's high in fiber, which absorbs water and helps bulk up your dog's poop. Pumpkin also contains prebiotics, a type of fiber that feeds probiotic bacteria.
Is it OK to give my dog probiotics every day?
Daily use of probiotics is safe for most dogs. But if your dog has a weakened immune system, give them probiotics only under the supervision of a vet.
How long does it take for probiotics to start working on a dog?
How long it takes to see an effect from probiotics depends on your dog and what you're treating them for. It might take a few days to a few weeks. Probiotics might not be effective for some dogs or certain health problems. If you're giving your dog probiotics to avoid stress diarrhea bought on by travel or boarding, you might start giving them probiotics a few days ahead of time.
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2 Product FeaturesImmunotherapy For Dogs? Seattle-based Nonprofit Backs Promising Canine Cancer Vaccine
When Kasey Bentz noticed her 8-year-old Akita, Rainier, was limping, her first thought was, "Here we go again."
Rainier had already had three knee surgeries. Bentz and her husband jokingly referred to him as the $60,000 dog.
But the news from the urgent care vet this time around was more dire. Rainier had bone cancer.
"We were told he had about two months to live and to give him the best life for a few months," Bentz recalled. "I was devastated."
Bentz is a police investigator with the special assault unit at the Lakewood Police Department. She is not the type to sit back and let things happen.
She got a second opinion and took Rainier to have his front right leg amputated and undergo chemotherapy. During a follow-up visit, Bentz overheard two oncologists talking about an immunotherapy trial at Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. When they finished their conversation, she asked one of the oncologists for more details, made a call, and got Rainier added to the trial.
In Pullman, Rainier was given two doses of the EGFR/HER2 vaccine developed by a Yale University research team led by Mark Mamula. When Rainier's cancer came back a year later, this time in his lungs, Bentz called Mamula directly. He authorized a booster shot of the same immunotherapy vaccine.
In April, Rainier was having GI problems, and Bentz took him in, fearing the worst. When the oncologist came out, Bentz braced herself, expecting to hear that Rainier's lung cancer had spread.
"She said, 'We have some incredible news. There's no more mass in Rainier's lungs or anywhere else that we could see,'" Bentz said. "I don't even know if it made sense to me at first. After I caught on to what she was saying, I asked, 'Can you make sure?' Because I don't want to have all this hope if that isn't the case. They confirmed there's nothing from the imaging they did that day. There's no signs of cancer."
Bentz is one of the dog owners who have seen remarkable results from an immunotherapy vaccine trial supported in part by a Seattle nonprofit called Canine Cancer Alliance. The group was founded in 2017 by Mari Maeda, a retired executive at DARPA, the Department of Defense agency credited with creating the earliest version of the internet, as well as other cutting-edge technologies.
In her last job at DARPA, Maeda was a program manager who led major innovation programs in national security. She brought those skills to address what she saw as inadequacies in canine cancer treatment after she lost three of her own dogs to cancer.
"I just started asking myself, 'Why aren't there better treatments for dogs, and why aren't their clinical trials open in the Seattle area, since we have so many family and dog lovers here?'" Maeda said. "Why don't we have better treatment for dogs and why not here?"
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Many of the Canine Cancer Alliance board members are also former DARPA employees who share her love of dogs, Maeda said.
"We're using the techniques that we used to start projects, manage projects, to get results, to help dogs," she said.
In eight years, the Canine Cancer Alliance has raised money to support eight different projects, including the EGFR/HER2 canine cancer vaccine trial. The group funds Yale researchers and provides money to TheraJan, the company manufacturing the vaccine, to ensure that research and production continue.
So far, the vaccine has been given to 600 dogs at 11 clinics across the U.S., including two in Washington state — Bridge Animal Referral Center in Edmonds and the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman.
The vaccine is being used on dogs with three types of cancer — osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and urothelial carcinoma, a form of bladder cancer.
Cancer is the top cause of death for dogs. One in three dogs will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Because dogs can't speak human, their cancers often aren't discovered until they are more advanced and harder to treat.
"They are very good at hiding pain," Maeda said. "So for example, osteosarcoma, you notice when they start limping or licking their leg, and by the time it's diagnosed, it's already started to metastasize."
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The one-year survival rate for dogs with osteosarcoma is about 35%, but, with the immunotherapy vaccine, that number has almost doubled to 65%, Maeda said.
Maeda believes that, by combining different immunotherapy drugs, the survival rate could increase to 90% or even higher. She also believes the shot could help dogs avoid losing limbs as part of their treatment.
"We already have evidence of almost a year survival time without surgery, with palliative radiation and vaccine," she said. "So, there's going to be a future where an amputation is not going to be necessary."
In addition to improved outcomes, Maeda is also focused on lowering the cost of cancer care for dogs and improving accessibility. Radiation for dogs can cost $10,000. Surgery and chemo can run from $10,000 to $20,000.
In contrast, the immunotherapy vaccine and palliative radiation offered at WSU as part of the trial cost around $1,500 and the median survival is almost a year. Some researchers believe surgery, radiation, and chemo might be replaced by gentler and more effective immunotherapy.
In terms of access, canine cancer treatments are limited to specialty clinics with veterinary oncologists. Maeda hopes the immunotherapy treatments will eventually be provided at regular veterinary clinics.
As for Rainier, Bentz said he is back to his old ways of chasing animals at the edge of the lake behind their house in Roy, Washington, south of Tacoma. She said the staff at the pet hospital have taken to calling him "Benjamin Button," because he has seemingly turned back time.
"He's doing amazing," Bentz said. "He has puppy energy now."
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