Key Takeaways:
- Investing your dog's gut health, whether they're showing symptoms or not, is crucial when hoping for them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.
- Your dog's gut health, as well as their overall health, relies significantly on the balance of groups of bacteria that live within it. This is referred to as the gut microbiome. When bacteria is rich, varied in species, and balanced, it can efficiently support your dog's body and the processes that keep them thriving.
- Investigating the balance of your dog's microbiome, or indicating an imbalance (or dysbiosis) can be done via a Gut Health Test. This can help solve the potential root cause of many common symptoms, and also provide your dog with a bespoke diet and supplement plan that is specifically designed to restore natural balance.
In the last five years or so, I have had a huge surge in clients asking me how to improve dog gut health naturally. They’re beginning to hear all about the importance of the ecosystem of bacteria that lives within the gut (the gut microbiome). They're wanting to look into what they can do to restore their dog's gut health, and ensure their dog has the right balance of good bacteria.
This article looks at some of the health conditions linked to the gut, how dog owners can go about investigating their dog’s gut health and how dog gut health supplements and food can support your dog from the inside out.
How does poor gut health affects my dog’s health and wellbeing?
There is a wide range of signs associated with poor gut health, those that stem from an unbalanced gut microbiome (otherwise known as dysbiosis).
Symptoms of
Flatulence (farting)
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Cognitive impairment including stress & anxiety
Inflammation
Itchy skin
Grass eating
Paw licking
Autoimmune disease
When gut health is out of kilter, changes in your dog can be insidious and may not be immediately obvious. Though an imbalanced microbiome, or dysbiosis, may not instantly cause symptoms, it could be an indicator of problems to come, making early intervention crucial.
Why should I investigate my dog’s gut health?
Gaining insight into our dog’s gut health is now super easy.
We can test our dog’s gut health with a simple Gut Health Test, which is hugely exciting.
By identifying any issues, we can intervene, potentially preventing long-term health implications.
Similarly, maintaining optimal gut health in the long term can help keep our dogs robust and healthy well into their old age.
These tests can highlight the health of their gut, and the balance, richness and diversity of the bacteria living in their microbiome. This way, you can know what your dog requires in terms of diet and pre, pro and postbiotic supplements.
How what's the best food for my dog's gut health?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the complex world of canine nutrition. What your dog needs will depend on a range of factors, including their age, breed, underlying medical issues and general gut health.
You will want to offer a food containing prebiotics, as these are the fuel sources that nourish the good bacteria. As well as this, look for gut flora stabilisers, which inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Bionic Biotic is a great option here; a powder that can be added to any meal.
Opt for diets that use whole food ingredients and that include fruits or veggies. Steer clear of offerings that contain unnecessary additives, such as artificial colours or flavours.
The right diet is not only going to support optimal gut health and help prevent dysbiosis, but it can even reverse pre-existing imbalances and alleviate pesky symptoms.
Depending on your dog’s needs, you may opt for something like Pooch & Mutt’s Health & Digestion, Sensitivity, or the Single Protein Salmon Food.
Or, for those on a wet or mixed diet, you could consider the Health & Digestion wet food or Fish, Potato and Pea wet food.
How do supplements help my dog’s gut health?
Supplements work alongside the diet to support the gut in a holistic fashion. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common, beneficial ingredients.
Inulin is a prebiotic fibre that supports the growth of healthy bacteria.
Probiotics for dogs used for gut health include Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus. They are the ‘good bacteria’ that we want to thrive.
Marshmallow Root is used for both its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This ingredient helps to soothe and calm an inflamed intestinal wall.
Thyme is an aromatic that has been used medicinally for many centuries, and is known to have both antiviral and antibiotic properties.
Quercetin may modulate the microbial diversity and richness within the gut, as it promotes the growth of desirable strains like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, and reduces the growth of pathogens.
Echinacea has natural anti-inflammatory properties and promotes a robust immune system.
Summary
If you’re wondering how to improve dog gut health, we now know that we want to be proactive rather than reactive. This is what makes investigating and maintaining good gut health for your dog, so beneficial.
Only recently have tools, like those at Pooch & Mutt, become available to allow us to get a glimpse into the population within our dog’s gut, enabling us to tailor a diet and supplement program to their specific needs.
Through simple dietary changes, you can not only intervene and correct an unhealthy gut, but you can also maintain optimal gut health for your dog’s whole life.
Given how impactful the gut is when it comes to both physical and mental health, this has the potential to be life-changing for some.
FAQs
How do I tell if my dog has poor gut health?
In the early stages, your dog may not have many (or any) obvious signs. However, as time goes on you may notice symptoms ranging from stomach upset or itchiness to joint pain and behavioural issues. The best way to see a clear view of your dog’s gut health is through a Gut Health Test.
How do I reset my dog's gut health?
Dietary adjustments are key when it comes to resetting the microbiome. This will include both their everyday diet and the use of supplements. Opt for foods containing both pre and probiotics, such as these yummy fish treats.
How do I restore my dog's gut health naturally?
The best way to restore your dog's gut health naturally is through an adapted diet and targeted supplements.
There are plenty of natural, dog-safe superfoods out there, some that are full of natural Probiotics and Prebiotics, that help benefit their gut health.
Kefir, in particular, is rich in live probiotic cultures and is gold dust for restoring balance to their gut. Healthy fruits, vegetables, and high quality, lean protein is also good for providing the right nutrients, and maintaining good gut health.
Or, you can focus on providing dog food that utilises many of these superfoods, and specifically targets healthy digestion and gut health. This might look like dog foods with simple recipes, aimed at helping gastrointestinal or sensitivity issues, or dog food that is simply high-quality and complete.
To further target their gut health, you could add everyday, gut health supplements alongside their diet. These provide concentrated doses of natural ingredients that are known to specifically affect and improve their gut health.
For diet and supplements to efficiently restore your dog's gut health, it's best to start with a Gut Health Test. This will show exactly what their gut bacteria needs to get back on track, so you can pick their supplements strategically, and based on what they actually need.
What supplements should I give my dog?
This depends on what you think your dog needs. For an overall health boost, supplements such as Salmon Oil improve brain function, mobility, skin and coat health; while a boost of probiotics restores ‘friendly’ bacteria to the gut, something that lots of dogs would benefit from. For specific issues, there are more targeted supplements - such as hemp extract for anxious dogs, or glucosamine for dogs with old bones or aching joints. In any case, have a chat with your vet before introducing a new vitamin or supplement into your dog’s diet - you don’t want to overfeed a vitamin they may already be getting in their regular food.
This post was originally published in August 2025, but has been updated for comprehensiveness.
