If your dog frequently experiences an upset stomach or is prone to bouts of diarrhea, you might want to consider giving them digestive supplements as a solution. Probiotic supplements can be particularly effective in improving your dog’s digestive system and alleviating their stomach issues.
When you pair these dietary supplements with high-quality, fiber-rich dog food, they can help ease symptoms like diarrhea, itchy skin, and even anxiety in dogs. This is because probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria into your dog’s gut, which can lower inflammation and support digestion.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best digestive supplements for dogs. We’ll also be talking about the benefits of digestive supplements for dogs, when to give your dog digestive supplements, and more. Let’s get started!
The Benefits of Digestive Supplements for Dogs
Most dogs have sensitive stomachs, so it’s no surprise that digestive supplements — like probiotics — are so beneficial for their digestive health. Let’s take a closer look at the main benefits of probiotic supplements for dogs below:
Helps with Digestion
Certain probiotic strains help break down food more efficiently. This means your dog will get all of the nutrients they need from their meals, even if they’re on a bland diet due to chronic diarrhea or other digestive issues.
Produces Nutrients and Vitamins
Probiotics for dogs can help produce essential vitamins and nutrients within your dog’s body. This isn’t just great for their digestive health — it’ll benefit their overall health, too!
Lowers Gut pH
By reducing the pH level in the gut, probiotics create an environment where harmful bacteria are less likely to thrive. In turn, your dog’s healthy gut bacteria will be able to flourish.
Improves Immunity
A healthy gut is linked to a stronger immune system in both humans and dogs. This means your dog will be able to fight off infections and diseases more efficiently.
Fights Pathogens
Dog probiotics can inhibit the growth of bad bacteria and pathogens. This helps to reduce the risk of infections.
Treats Digestive Issues
Probiotics are super effective in treating health conditions like diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and inflammation of the intestines.
Prevents Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
As we now know, probiotics help to promote a more balanced gut flora in dogs. This will help prevent UTIs as well, which is great news for both pet parents and their furry friends.
Protects Against Food Allergens
Probiotics can also help reduce the body’s reaction to certain food allergens. This is another reason why probiotic supplements tend to be a good option for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Helps with Anxiety
Certain strains of probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, have been shown to reduce stress and prevent anxiety in dogs. If your doggy happens to struggle with mental health issues, this is a huge plus.
What is the Best Digestive Supplement for Your Dog?
Picking out the right digestive supplement for your dog can be a bit overwhelming, partly because there are so many options out there. Let’s take a look at the best digestive supplements for dogs that Under the Weather has to offer below:
Ready Balance Probiotic Supplement for Dogs
If your dog is struggling with digestive issues, you might want to try out Under the Weather’s Ready Balance Probiotic Supplement. Sometimes, stressful situations — like traveling, antibiotic treatments, and vet visits — can cause bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and other digestive issues in dogs.
Don’t worry, though, because this veterinarian-formulated gel is designed to firm up the soft stool, restore normal digestion and appetite, and get your dog feeling better as quickly as possible. It contains six strains of live probiotic bacteria, along with lots of vitamins and prebiotic inulin — which promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and restore intestinal balance.
This excellent supplement contains high-quality ingredients, including soy oil, coconut oil, sucrose, corn starch, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, inulin, hydrolyzed yeast, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 supplement. While many of these words may be unfamiliar to you, your dog’s digestive system will thank you for them.
Administer this supplement orally to your dog(s) at a rate of 1 gram per 10 lbs of body weight, twice daily.
Anti-Diarrhea Liquid for Dogs
Diarrhea is an awful experience for both humans and dogs. If you want to provide your pup with some relief from their diarrhea, you should try out Under the Weather’s Anti-Diarrhea Liquid For Dogs.
This supplement, which is also formulated by veterinarians, works quite well when it comes to soothing upset stomach and diarrhea symptoms in dogs. It’s also pretty easy to administer since all you have to do is mix it into your dog’s food.
The main active ingredient in this carefully crafted anti-diarrhea supplement is kaolin (8.0%). It is accompanied by safe and healthy inactive ingredients to make it easier to administer to your pet.
Shake the bottle well before you use it. Mix the liquid into your dog’s food every 12 hours, or as recommended by your vet. For dogs that weigh less than 5 pounds, ask your vet before using it.
When Should You Give Your Dog Digestive Supplements?
If your dog frequently experiences digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea, your vet might suggest increasing their probiotic intake. Listed below are some health concerns that might indicate that your dog needs to start taking probiotic/digestive supplements:
Yeast Overgrowth
Once again, probiotics can help balance your dog’s gut flora. This will help to reduce the risk of yeast overgrowth, which can cause infections.
Leaky Gut
This health condition, where the gut lining becomes permeable, can be managed with probiotics (since probiotics help strengthen the intestinal barrier).
Bowel Diseases
Probiotics can also, of course, alleviate the symptoms associated with chronic bowel diseases (like Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
Pancreatitis
Probiotics also support the pancreas. If your dog has pancreatitis, giving them probiotic supplements might help reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
Colitis
Inflammation of the colon can also be managed with probiotics. If your dog has colitis, you should specifically ask your vet if probiotics might be a good solution.
Obesity
Probiotics are great for weight management, too. They promote a healthy metabolism, so your vet may recommend them if your dog is overweight.
These health issues usually stem from changes in the bacterial population within your dog’s gut (known as the microbiome). Factors like aging, diets that are high in fat and starch, medications such as antibiotics, and exposure to toxins can all disrupt the balance of bacteria in your dog’s gut. Thankfully, probiotic supplements can help!
How to Choose a Digestive Supplement for Your Dog
When choosing a probiotic or digestive supplement for your dog, there are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration. Let’s break it down below:
Ease of Use
Probiotics for dogs are available in a few different forms (like powders, liquids, capsules, tablets, chews, and even sprays). Depending on your dog’s preferences, one form may be easier to administer than others. For example, mixing anti-diarrhea liquid into your dog’s food might be the simplest method.
Species-Specific Probiotics
Always opt for probiotics that are specifically designed for dogs. You should never give your dog human probiotics or probiotics for cats. You should also look for supplements that guarantee a certain level of live microorganisms.
Serving Size
The correct dosage of probiotics for your dog usually depends on their size and weight. Smaller dogs will require smaller doses, while larger dogs (naturally) need more. The recommended serving size should be clearly stated on the product label.
Exceeding the recommended dosage can lead to more digestive discomfort for your dog, while under-dosing may not provide the full benefits of the probiotic.
How to Give Digestive Supplements to Your Dog
Before starting your dog on any probiotic supplement (or any dietary supplement for that matter), you should consult with your vet. They’ll be able to determine what, exactly, is going on with your dog’s health. Depending on what’s causing your dog’s stomach upset, digestive supplements may or may not help.
Administering probiotics or digestive supplements shouldn’t be too difficult, even if your dog is a picky eater. You can easily mix Under the Weather’s digestive supplements (like our anti-diarrhea liquid, for example) into your dog’s food. It might take a few days for the good bacteria to build up in your dog’s gut, so patience is key, here.
Make sure not to overload your dog with too many digestive supplements either, since this can further upset their digestive tract. If you don’t see improvements in a few days, let your vet know. They might suggest trying out a different supplement or putting your dog on a bland diet.
Conclusion
At Under the Weather, we strive to make it easier for pet parents to pick out the right supplements for their fur babies. If your dog struggles with digestive issues, incorporating digestive supplements into their diet might help. Check out our products to learn more!
