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The Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs!

4/25/2013

34 Comments

 
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Acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus) is a common, well known form of healthy bacteria (intestinal flora) that belongs in the digestive tract of every mammal, working with the body to protect it and aid in the digestion of food. These safe, necessary organisms are an important piece of the "total health" puzzle and can even help prevent disease and alleviate illness. There are a lot of phenomenal benefits that come with supplementing our dogs with probiotics, but the exceptional boost to their immune system alone is worth making probiotics an addition to your dog's nutrition program!

Supplementing your dogs diet with probiotics can act as a form of therapeutic treatment for a variety of health problems. It can also be a preventive measure against the bad bacteria overwhelming your dog's digestive tract which ultimately makes them sick. Many holistic veterinarians, nutritionists and traditional veterinarians will recommend probiotics to help combat and prevent bacterial infections and digestive disorders. By reinforcing the beneficial bacteria in your dog's gut, probiotics act as a safe way to keep harmful bacteria under control by allowing the strong beneficial bacteria to compete with the bad bacteria and ultimately prevent the wrong bacteria from flourishing.

Scientific research has been done repeatedly on the benefits of probiotics for dogs and the findings were great, showing that dogs did in fact receive significant benefits from the supplementation of probiotics both short term and long term. Veterinarians once believed that acidophilus could not survive passage from the dog's acidic stomach to the intestinal tract, but this was proven false. The healthy bacteria are strong and resilient, making it easy for dogs to nourish their intestinal tract with the bacteria designed to help them stay strong and healthy.

So how can probiotics benefit your dog? You'll be surprised by the many ways a strong and healthy digestive system can combat disease and prevent illness in our furry family members.

Supplementing puppies and young dogs with probiotics has shown to decrease the frequency and severity of allergies, increase healthy weight gain and growth, and decrease the frequency of illness and disease by providing a good foundation towards exceptional immune system health.

Probiotics are also ideal for dogs with digestive issues such as inflammatory bowel disease since this supplement promotes a healthy digestive tract. Ultimately probiotics assist in the breakdown of nutrients while aiding in proper digestion by encouraging the production of digestive enzymes. Probiotics help maintain a healthy, well functioning digestive system which is of vital importance in dogs with digestive disorders.

Probiotics can also help alleviate symptoms of allergies by strengthening the digestive system and the immune system to prevent allergic symptoms from arising when the dog is exposed to allergens. A stronger immune system means the body is able to better handle the allergens the dog has been exposed to, ultimately soothing symptoms or even potentially eliminating allergies all together. When you remind yourself how allergic reactions work, it will make more sense to you. Allergic reactions occur when the weakened immune system detects something and labels it as foreign or a threat, which in turn creates a variety of symptoms as the body fights to get rid of it. A stronger immune system means better overall immune system function. A strong immune system is not prone to allergies.
Probiotics can be very beneficial in helping to treat bacterial infections by safely supporting a distressed intestinal tract. Providing the body with beneficial bacteria will help the good organisms overrun the bad ones and can help your dog recover faster. Paired with a 24 hour fast and a few homemade bland meals that are easy on the body, you may be able to let nature run its course safely and quickly. If your dog is suffering from a potential bacterial infection and shows no improvement or worsens after 48 hours, please go see your veterinarian immediately for a diagnosis and treatment. Our dogs may need help getting healthy again! Once your dog is healthy again, starting them on regular probiotic supplementation can help prevent more infections of the intestinal tract.

Probiotics can help alleviate bad gas, prevent bad breath and will help make your dog's body function better. This occurs as a direct result of proper balance in the digestive system, which is where the very important absorption of nutrients occurs. Any dog of any age can enjoy the benefits of probiotics, so consider adding them to your dog's diet for a stronger, healthier body!

SOURCES OF PROBIOTICS
  • Plain, unsweetened yoghurt.
  • Cottage cheese
  • Kefir
  • Acidophilus Capsules (Human grade is fine!)

DOSAGE

  • 2 tablespoons of plain yoghurt, cottage cheese or kefir daily.
  • 1 capsule of human grade Acidophilus.
  • Multivitamin supplement containing probiotics (such as NUPRO GOLD or Sunday Sundae), best paired with extra yoghurt/cottage cheese/kefir.

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Angel

K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

34 Comments
Debi Pinck
4/25/2013 10:10:05 am

Yogurt is pictured but not referenced, can I give my dog yogurt instead of the supplement? How many supplements are too much? She takes to multi-one of which is Nupro Gold. I'm interested in anything that will help with seasonal allergies. She is an 8 yr old wheaten Scottie.

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K9 Instinct link
4/26/2013 03:07:54 am

Debi, this is why I need my readers! To help me improve articles! Thank you.

I've edited the articles with sources and dosage. :)

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Ann Ilchuk
12/5/2014 06:41:30 am

Nupro has the probiotics that dogs need. While humans and canines do share some of the same gut bacteria, dogs have some that humans do not. Any probiotics are helpful, but don't rely on human probiotics to give your dog all that they need.

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Janice FrAnke
7/11/2016 05:06:53 pm

I love this info .. I have Kindred Spirits Pet Therapy so I love to learn .. Keep up the good work

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Holly
4/26/2013 03:37:55 am

So, I would just give my dog one capsule everyday? What about my puppy German Shepherd who is about 13 lbs? Do I just give her the full pill or is that too much? Thanks for the great info! Looking forward to the next article where I can learn something new!

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Melissa
4/26/2013 06:30:42 am

How much should I give my 7 lb puppy? We've been dealing with digestive problems (vomiting and diarrhea) almost daily for 2 months!

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Kelsey
4/30/2013 03:17:49 pm

What about green tripe as a source of probiotics?

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Jennifer
6/30/2014 03:32:42 am

I'm using green tripe as a source after reading about it. I wondered if it is ok to give yoghurt at the same time??

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H
5/23/2013 11:47:36 pm

Can you give the yoghurt as well as coconut oil? And do you have to buy the coconut oil from a special shop or can you get it at a supermarket ? Thanks

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Tina
5/24/2013 06:07:38 pm

Since I started my 'kids' on raw they have been getting both yogurt and probiotics on a daily bases. In the morning they get yogurt and with their dinner they get the probiotics. We have not had any issued with diahrrea at all, it's been a very easy transition.

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Nancy Jocoy
6/29/2013 11:47:50 pm

what about products containing Enterococcus feacium? Such as probiotics specifically for dogs? I like to give Pro Bios and we give excess Kefir Grains but commercial Kefir may have other things in it perhaps not desired.....


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Sherry Butler
11/18/2016 02:38:24 pm

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Deb
11/4/2013 11:39:23 pm

My 9 y/o german shepherd has terrible skin allergies and recurrent ear infections. He also has exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. I feed him 2 tsp of lowfat, plain yogurt 2x/day. No skin or ear problems as long as he is on the yogurt. His EPI has also been under control for many years in part due to the yogurt I believe. He also has to have enzymes added to his food. The yogurt has made a world of difference

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Gary Cooper
11/13/2013 07:05:44 am

I give my six year old gsd and my seventeen week old gsd probiotic on a daily basis, coconut oil 100% organic extra virgin from Costco. They get yogurt , cottage cheese and 100% pure pumpkin. I feed them raw and no problem, just health dogs.

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Danielle Stiles
11/24/2014 02:02:45 pm

Hi Gary,
I have a 5 pd. chihuahua and wondering what kind of raw food do you give your dogs.
Yes, I cook with the extra virgin coc.oil. & take a tablespoon for me and I should give my chi that everyday as well?
Danielle

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Kathy Shively
11/14/2013 02:55:12 am

I'm guessing you only choose one of the items you listed to feed your dog right? Not all of them? :)

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Ravyn link
6/30/2014 05:53:23 am

I give my dog sauerkraut as a probiotic, and it has really helped him!

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Ken Cowan link
6/4/2015 02:07:36 am

Sauerkraut in many ways may be one of the best sources of good bacteria for dogs.The reason is that one of the strains of bacteria that lives on the cabbage prior to it being sauerkraut is pediococcus acidilactici. This is a plant bacteria not native to the animal intestinal tract but survives extreme temperatures and acidic stomachs. It doesn't actually re-implant in the intestinal tract but creates an amazing environment (proper pH) for the existing good bacteria to survive and the bad yeast type to not survive.

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Regina Rightnowar link
12/5/2014 04:12:24 am

My "6" yr old MinPin has terrible IBS! In March the Vets opinion was "he's very sick, (DUH ) he may need to be put down!" And I paid for that? So much for "run to the Vet!" After researching dog and stomach issues Cash is doing great and has put on several pounds !! Probiotics being his lifeline!
Before you give up on you FurBaby - RESEARCH & look for help outside the Vets office!

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Chery
4/24/2015 11:20:57 am

As a fellow owner of a 6 year old Min Pin, thank you for not listening to that vet! And please find a new one who isn't so stupid. Good Luck. I have just started mine on yogurt daily to try to relieve his season allergies...fingers crossed!

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Jackie
1/9/2015 05:48:11 am

When u say Yoghurt do u mean Yogurt?

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Sherry link
1/9/2015 07:27:49 am

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Sherry
1/9/2015 07:34:54 am

Jackie, I believe that was simply a typo or that silly auto-correct we all have to deal with.
I believe is meant to read yogurt. If I use Yogurt, I use Plain Greek Yogurt. I use on a regular feeding, Plain Kefir for added probiotic. It's great! Also use 100% PURE Pumpkin. DONT USE the "PIE FILLING". That will have added cloves.....a big NO-NO in the dog world. Just simply look for 100% PURE. I also use 100% Organic Coconut Oil and they love it! Hope this helps.

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Ken Cowan link
6/4/2015 02:11:27 am

Actually the bacteria that are used to produce Kefir will survive the dog's acidic stomach much better then what is used to make yogurt. The strains in Kefir will alter the pH in the dogs intestinal tract to create the proper pH for good bacteria to live and bad not too.

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Karen
1/9/2015 07:55:32 am

We use Sunday Sundae. It is the best probiotic we have used. Our great dane has pancreatitis, and this is the only product that helped during rounds of antibiotics and daily since.

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Debra R
1/9/2015 01:30:28 pm

Thanks for the very interesting article, I was wondering what to give my dogs for probiotics, thanks to you, I now know.
I have a 4 1/2 month and 1yr 3month old cavapoo girls, I wanted some ideas on what type of vitamins/supplements, probiotics would be a good chose. Thank You
P.S. Every article I read I save in my bookmarks in a folder K9 Instinct... that way I can always have them at hand

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Figgy
1/10/2015 08:29:14 am

Both My 4year old and 3month old GSD have cottage cheese and yogurt every day

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Jasin link
1/10/2015 12:31:31 pm

I work for Chobani, so I give my 5 dogs plain yogurt every day twice a day with their food. They are much healthier since starting this addition. Better skin, less ear problems, got to proper weights and no more bad breath.

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Mary
1/18/2015 10:35:05 am

How do you feel about raw goats milk for digestive disorders?

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desiree
1/28/2015 12:17:08 am

Mary--I have read that raw goat milk is fabulous for dogs!! One of my local pet store's sells it..... if that's any testiment. Good luck in finding what works best!

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Ken
7/12/2016 07:52:17 am

Veterinarians once believed that acidophilus could not survive passage from the dog's acidic stomach to the intestinal tract, but this was proven false. Please email me this study you are referring to here. Some strains can survive the long harsh acidic environment of a dogs stomach but certainly not all strains. I would like to know what strains they used in this study.

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Ken Cowan link
11/18/2016 03:06:48 pm

Hi Ken, Pediococcus acidilactici will survive the acidic pH of a dog's stomach. It is a plant strain that will also survive very high temperatures. There are also other plant organisims that will survive but most of the acidophilus and bifidus strains used only have pH resistance of slightly above pH 2 for an hour or so. If you feed these with food to the dog the pH will go down and the bacteria will not survive

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Jenn Steeley
8/3/2018 06:26:10 am

My girl is a 2 yr old American bulldog. She has severe allergies and a yeast infection on her paws and genital area. She was prescribed prednisone and terbafine tablets, antibiotics. Even tried virgin coconut oil, colloidal silver, plain yogurt and baking soda in her bath. Please, what is your recommendation to try..? She is miserable and I need for her to be healthy and happy!

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Amy
8/11/2018 04:18:24 am

Ok not to sound ignorant but can I just give my fur baby the yogurt or does it need to be paired with one of the other ingredients and if so is it a powder you sprinkle on food or a pill form?

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