If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know that their digestive systems can be pretty sensitive. Whether it’s a sudden bout of diarrhea, unexplained vomiting, or constant stomach aches, these issues can make both dogs and their owners miserable. Luckily, there’s a solution that might help: a probiotic powder that’s specifically formulated for dogs.
Adding probiotics to your dog’s diet can be very helpful when it comes to managing digestive issues. That said, with so many probiotic powders on the market, choosing the right one for your furry friend can be challenging.
This guide will help you explore and understand probiotic powders designed for dogs, the benefits they offer, and what key ingredients to look for in probiotic powders. We’ll also discuss how to properly give your dog probiotic powder. Let’s get started!
What Are Probiotics?
In simple terms, probiotics are beneficial bacteria that play an important role in maintaining a healthy balance of microorganisms in the body, particularly in the gut.
This community of microorganisms (known as the microbiome) includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes that live in various parts of the body, with the highest concentration found in the gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced microbiome is very important, especially in dogs. However, this balance can be disrupted by things like taking antibiotics, illnesses, or dietary changes. This can sometimes lead to a health condition called dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis occurs when there’s an imbalance in the types of microorganisms in the gut. This can cause digestive problems, weaken the immune system, and even affect the nervous system.
This is where probiotics come in handy — they can help restore balance to your dog’s gut microbiome. They also work quite well when it comes to supporting digestion and overall health. Dog probiotics are a bit different from human probiotics, so make sure that you’re giving your dog the right type of probiotic powder.
What is the Best Probiotic Powder for Dogs?
Giving your dog probiotic powder is a great way to support their digestive health, especially if they have a sensitive stomach. Let’s review the best probiotic powder for dogs that Under the Weather has to offer below:
Probiotic Powder for Dogs
Probiotic Powder for Dogs from Under the Weather is a fantastic choice for numerous reasons. This all-natural supplement is formulated by veterinarians to provide pet parents with an easy way to add beneficial bacteria to your dog’s diet.
Over time, poor gut health can leave your dog more susceptible to illnesses and diseases. This means that probiotic powder should be an essential part of their routine, especially if your dog is already susceptible to certain digestive tract issues. This particular probiotic powder is designed to:
- Introduce live, beneficial bacteria to support healthy digestion
- Promote healthy, firm stools
- Balance the good bacteria in your dog’s gut
- Support a strong immune response
- Soothe your dog’s stomach with ingredients like pumpkin and ginger
- The ingredients in this probiotic powder include:
- Crude Protein: 31.25% (min)
- Crude Fat: 2.97% (min)
- Crude Fiber: <0.2% (max)
- Moisture: 4.50% (max)
- Ash: 5.32% (max)
- Vitamin E: 3 IU
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): 100 mg
- Ginger (Zingiber Officinale): 80 mg
- Pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo): 75 mg
This probiotic powder also contains inactive ingredients like brewer’s yeast, natural poultry flavor, and various probiotic strains — such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus coagulans. Giving your dog this probiotic powder is pretty easy. Just mix it in with their food.
The Benefits of Probiotic Powder for Dogs
The gut is home to billions of bacteria, collectively referred to as the microbiome. When there’s an imbalance in this microbiome, it can lead to symptoms like excessive gas, loose stools, or even more serious digestive issues in dogs. Probiotics, which are live, friendly bacteria, help restore this balance. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of probiotic powder for dogs below:
Improved Digestion
Probiotics increase the number of good, helpful bacteria in the gut, which helps with the digestion of food and the absorption of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and magnesium.
Alleviating Gastrointestinal Issues
If your dog suffers from chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, or other gastrointestinal problems, probiotics can help manage these conditions by reducing inflammation.
Supporting immune function
A healthy gut is closely linked to a strong immune system. By maintaining a balanced microbiome, probiotic powders can help your dog fend off infections and diseases more effectively.
Reducing anxiety
Interestingly, the gut is often referred to as the “second brain” because of its connection to the nervous system. Some studies suggest that probiotics can have a positive impact on your dog’s mood and behavior by influencing this gut-brain axis.
Balancing gut bacteria
Probiotics produce short-chain fatty acids in the intestine, which can increase the population of good bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria. This balance is very important for preventing digestive disorders in dogs.
Ingredients to Look for in Probiotic Powders for Dogs
Not all probiotic powders are made with the same ingredients. It’s more important than you might think to choose a product that contains bacteria strains that are commonly found in the canine gut. Here are some of the most beneficial gut bacteria to look for in a probiotic powder for dogs:
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
This strain helps maintain the balance of good bacteria in the gut and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. It’s one of the most commonly used probiotics in both human and canine supplements.
Enterococcus Faecium
Research suggests that this bacterium can positively impact dogs with intestinal health issues. It can also help to restore balance and improve digestion. This means it’s an excellent dog-specific probiotic strain.
Bifidobacterium Lactis and Bifidobacterium Breve
These probiotic strains are particularly useful for preventing antibiotic-related diarrhea in dogs. This is a common issue in dogs that have been treated with antibiotics, so we’d highly recommend looking for a probiotic powder that contains these strains if that’s the case for your dog.
Lactobacillus Casei
This strain is known for its potential role in improving mood and emotional well-being in dogs. There’s a connection between the mind and the gut, so this strain is more important than you might think.
When reading the labels on probiotic supplements, you might notice that the names of these bacteria are often abbreviated. For example, Bifidobacterium might be listed as “B.” and Lactobacillus as “L.” So, Bifidobacterium longum could be labeled as B. longum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus as L. acidophilus.
In addition to the specific strains of bacteria, there are other ingredients you should look for in probiotic powders for dogs (such as Vitamin E, pumpkin, and ginger). Let’s break it down below:
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are nutrients that help nourish the good bacteria that are already present in your dog’s gut. Prebiotics work hand-in-hand with probiotics to create a healthy environment in your dog’s gut.
Pumpkin and Ginger
Both of these ingredients are great for the stomach. Pumpkin is rich in fiber, which can help regulate digestion, while ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce nausea in both dogs and humans.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that supports immune function and helps protect cells from damage. It’s a good idea to make sure that the probiotic power you decide to get for your dog contains plenty of Vitamin E.
How to Give Probiotic Powder to Your Dog
One of the advantages of probiotic powder is how easy it is to incorporate into your dog’s daily diet. Probiotic powders can be mixed in with your dog’s regular food, which means they’re a great option for dogs who are picky about taking pills or tablets. There are a few things you should keep in mind, however, when it comes to giving your dog probiotics.
For example, the live bacteria in probiotics are sensitive to air, moisture, and temperature. For this reason, some probiotic products are packaged in individual serving packets to maintain their potency. Be sure to follow the storage instructions on the product label to make sure that the probiotics remain effective.
Here are some general guidelines for giving probiotic powder to your dog:
- Dogs under 25 lbs: 1 scoop daily
- Dogs between 25-50 lbs: 2 scoops daily
- Dogs over 50 lbs: 3 scoops daily
Each jar of Under the Weather’s Probiotic Powder for Dogs typically contains around 120 scoops and the scoop is included inside the jar.
Conclusion
When choosing a probiotic powder for your dog, you should make sure to look for specific strains of helpful bacteria that are beneficial for dog gut health. You should also consider the presence of other ingredients, like prebiotics and Vitamin E.
Administering probiotic powder is easy — just mix it with your dog’s food according to the recommended dosage. With consistent use, you should eventually notice improvements in your dog’s digestive health.
At Under the Weather, we strive to make picking out the right supplements for your pets simple and easy. You can learn more about probiotics for dogs on our blog, so feel free to check it out!
