Our pets are often members of our family, loved and pampered like children. In ensuring their health, there are many things a pet owner can do. Getting the correct shots, treating wounds, and ensuring a balanced and complete diet are all ways you can ensure the health of your pet. A more recent trend has been providing dogs with probiotics in the form of dietary supplements. Let’s take a moment to learn exactly what dog probiotics are along with 10 things you must know about dog probiotics. With any luck, you will leave this guide with a much better understanding of what they do and what you should look out for.
What Is A Probiotic?
A probiotic is nothing more than a micro-organism that is introduced into your dog’s body for beneficial results. Probiotics can be bacteria as well as yeast. In every species, there is bacteria and yeast that provides benefits to health. Typically located in the digestive tract, they aid in nutrient retention, production, and overall health. Having the right bacterial levels can be critical for ensuring the best possible health now and in the future.
What Is Up With Probiotics For Dogs?
A few years ago, dog probiotics became the new craze in canine health. Simply put, they serve as a dietary supplement, ensuring that your dog has everything they need to be fully healthy. While there is some debate as to their effectiveness, dog probiotics have been prescribed by vets and are available for purchase for canine health. Despite some claims to the contrary, many people rely on dog probiotics and swear by their effectiveness. With so much unknown and still being determined, let’s take a moment to cut through the misinformation and figure out more about dog probiotics.
10 Things You Must Know About Dog Probiotics
1. They Work The Same As Probiotics For Humans
As discussed in the probiotic section, dogs can benefit in the same ways that humans can from probiotics. The important thing is that the probiotics are specifically designed for dog digestive tracts. While probiotics can be beneficial, humans and dogs will require those specially tailored to them.
2. A Great Way To Restore Healthy Bacterial Levels After Antibiotics
If your dog has recently had a lot of antibiotics due to sickness, then they may be missing some of the beneficial bacteria and fungus that aids in digestion. Antibiotics do not always remove only bad bacteria, and antibiotics for dogs will help them restore the levels of healthy bacteria they require.
3. A Fantastic Way To Ensure A Well-Rounded Diet
If you are concerned that your dog is not getting the full amount of nutrients or is having issues digesting food, then consider dog antibiotic supplements.
4. A Good Way To Address Yeast Related Issues
There are a lot of yeast related issues that can develop with a dog. If your dog is struggling with a yeast infection, rash, or yeast overgrowth, then having canine probiotics can be helpful.
5. Good For Smell
Dog probiotics can make your dog smell a lot better. Probiotics have been shown to improve gas as well as breath, ensuring a far better experience for owners.
6. A Nice Way To Improve Coat And Skin
There are many reasons why a canine may struggle with a shaggy or unhealthy coat. Often, diet has something directly to do with it. By focusing on improving the diet through adding probiotics, the dog’s digestive tract will be far better at absorbing key nutrients and depositing them for a healthier coat.
7. Excellent For Bowel Function Issues
Things like constipation and diarrhea can be handled with probiotics. Similar to having a nicer coat, the probiotics aid the body’s ability to digest, ensuring a much healthier coat as a result.
8. You Will Want To Look For Stabilized Strains Of Bacteria
When picking out a probiotic for your dog, selection will be critical. You will want to look for products that have stabilized strains of bacteria. The reason for this is so that the bacteria that is introduced will do what it is supposed to do, instead of shifting and mutating into a new and less effective form.
9. More Is Not Always Better
Simply having more does not ensure that you will see better results with your canine. Look for products that have a live bacteria count of between 3-6 billion per dose.
10. Read Ratings And Reviews
Ratings and reviews are your best guess for finding out what products work and what do not. First, identify the problems you may be having. Second, look up what probiotics other dog owners’ use for that specific problem. Finally, find a supplier that you can trust at a cost that works for you. Following these steps will ensure that you get the best possible probiotics for your dog’s needs.