FREE UK DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £39.99

Probiotics for dogs: Health Benefits

Updated 29 May 2024

Read time: 6 mins

The use of prebiotics and probiotics has really taken off in recent years. This is true both in human medicine and in the veterinary sector alike. People are gaining a whole new perspective on the many potential benefits that probiotics can offer.

Prebiotics are fibre that act as a food source for the ‘friendly’ bacteria and yeast known as probiotics. Probiotics are medically beneficial and can have a positive impact on health. Perhaps best known for their use in supporting gut health, they also play a key role when it comes to other systems including the central nervous system, skin and immune system.

The goal of consuming both probiotics and prebiotics is to improve the number of good bacteria in the gut, to help digestion (and importantly the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria). Probiotics are the bacteria themselves, so adding them directly increases the number of good bacteria. Prebiotics are essentially food for the good bacteria, so adding prebiotics enables the probiotics to thrive and increase in number. We recommend using products such as the Bionic Biotic supplement , or Pooch & Mutt’s grain-free dog food, which combine both probiotics and prebiotics.

How can Probiotics help my dog?

The benefits of Probiotics are far reaching. They can aid your dogs digestion, help boost your dogs immune system and even their mood. They can be especially useful for anxious dogs as they help to settle the gut and support cognitive function.

Health benefits of probiotics for dogs

The long list of what a probiotic can do makes them seem like a miracle cure. Although some people think they are this is not the case. What probiotics do is get the digestive system working optimally and this has many knock on effects. For example, probiotics do not directly improve skin and coat, what they do is help the digesting of food. When food is digested it is broken up into individual nutrients, such as omega 3 or zinc, which are good for skin and coat. It is the omega 3 and zinc that improve skin and coat quality, but your dog needs the probiotic to break food down into nutrients including omega 3 and zinc, so that it can get to the skin and coat. Without feeding a probiotic for dogs you can end up feeding your dog a lot of beneficial nutrients and having them come out the other end, instead of being absorbed. At a glance they're good for the below;

To make sure that you get ‘pickup-able poo’
To help protect them against harmful bacteria, such as E. Coli and Salmonella
To help with problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, collitis and diarrhoea
To improve immunity
To help with allergies
To improve skin and coat condition
To ensure you dog absorbs the nutrients from their food
To help with behavioural issues
To help keep your dog as happy and healthy as can be

The 'Gut-Brain Axis'

Recently, there has been a lot published about the ‘Gut-Brain Axis’ and how good gut health can encourage good mental health. It is the teeny-tiny bugs within the intestines that have the biggest influence over this. This recent discovery is especially important for those dogs who suffer with stress and anxiety. When probiotics are used in conjunction with behaviour modification programmes and other calming techniques, they really come into their own.

Stress and Upset Stomachs

Giving dogs prebiotics and probiotics at potentially stressful times to prevent an upset stomach offers us a chance to stop diarrhea even before it begins.

We all know that there are certain things that our dogs may find hard to cope with. They become anxious and can then develop loose poo for a few days after the event. Different dogs will have different triggers and these can change during their lifetime. For some, it will be the groomers or the vet; for others the boarding kennel or a ride in the car. By feeding our dogs’ probiotics, we may well be able to prevent a stomach upset from ever occurring.

Are human probiotics good for dogs?

There are some strains of probiotics that are recommended for dogs, Enterococcus faecium and Bacillus subtilis, both are commonly used probiotics in humans. The same probiotics should be in most products labelled as probiotics for dogs whether they are from the more expensive ‘veterinary brands’ or less expensive pet shop brands. Many people do feed their dogs probiotic yoghurts and these may help, but they will not help as much as feeding a product like Bionic Biotic, which contains the correct strain of probiotics for dogs.

How can I get Probiotics into my dogs diet?

Whilst Probiotics occur naturally in both ours and our canine friends bodies, adding Probiotics to your dogs diet can have far reaching benefits. Human foods that are safe for your dog to eat such as Yoghurt (with zero added sugar) are rich in probiotics and they are also available in supplement form.

You can also find them in fermented products such as sauerkraut and kombucha. However for dogs we recommend that you stick to the Enterococcus Faecium (SF68) strain of probiotics. This is normally found in supplements, such as Bionic Biotic, which can be added to any food. There are also some foods such as Pooch & Mutt’s range of grain-free dog food, which contain the Enterococcus Faecium (SF68) strain of probiotics. The reason that very few dog foods contain probiotics is that probiotics cannot be cooked. At Pooch & Mutt we use a special process to apply the probiotic in a coating to the outside of the kibble, after the food is cooked.

Pooch & Mutt also have a fantastic range of Probiotic Meaty Treats to help get these important bacteria into your dogs diet also.

Probiotic meaty treats taster pack for dogs

This new range of tasty treats targets some important areas of canine health and offers a range of benefits. From skin and coat to mental wellbeing and oral hygiene, there is something here for every pooch and mutt. As well as helping to address underlying issues, the ingredients in these Probiotic Meaty Treats can also prevent problems from developing in the first place. These treats can be fed whenever you like, such as during training sessions and as little rewards for good behaviour but remember, treats should never make up more than 10% of your furry friend’s diet.

Bionic Biotic

£10.99

Add To Basket

View Product Info

Health & Digestion Dry Food

£8.49

Add To Basket

View Product Info

Calming Probiotic Meaty Treats

£3.99

Add To Basket

View Product Info

Peanut Butter Probiotic Nutty Treats

£3.99

Add To Basket

View Product Info

Primal Lamb & Ostrich High Meat Dry Food

£15.99

Add To Basket

View Product Info

VIEW CART CHECKOUT

Shrimp & Coconut

For Skin & Coat

Why not treat your furry friend to a taste of Thailand? These delicious treats have a tropical flavour and are sure to go down a storm. These are the perfect snack for those dogs that are prone to dry or itchy skin or who may need a little bit of help developing their glossy coat.

Probiotic meaty treats for skin and coat

Shop Now

Turkey & Hemp

For calming

Even the most laid-back dog can suffer with their nerves from time to time. These treats are packed full of calming ingredients including hemp, L-tryptophan and Valerian Root and are a great way to help our four-legged friends relax and unwind.

Probiotic meaty treats for calming and anxious dogs

Shop Now

Duck & Rosemary

For dental

These traditionally flavoured treats are sure to go down well. The duck offers a rich and irresistible taste experience; your dog won’t believe it when you tell them just how good for them these treats really are!

Shop Now

Not sure which flavour your dog will love best? Why not try the Meaty Treats Taster Pack and try all three flavours!

Probiotic meaty treats for dogs taster pack

Shop Now

Comments (16)

I need a really healthy and extremely smelly treat for my puppy to use during scent training class – Do you have a suggestion?

Diane - Jun 13 2023

Hi Diane, have you seen our BBQ Beef Jerky treats? These contain 90% beef and smell incredible, I have no doubt these are the kind of treats you are looking for! :)

Team Pooch - Jun 13 2023

Hi
My dogs eat grass and it has. Even bought to my attention it’s because of there gut needing help so which pouch do I use can you send me pic as I’m slightly confused as one pre and probiotics says it’s for dental care?

Thank you

Lorraine Sinclair - Jul 12 2023

Hi Lorraine!
Most of our food contains added pre and probiotics, our meaty treats contain probiotics and you could try your pooch with any of these! :)

Team Pooch - Jul 12 2023

hi what treats are best for anal gland problems?

avril - Sep 01 2023

Hi Avril, we don’t have any treats that are particular for any gland problems. Anal gland issues can have a range of causes including food allergies, a dog being over weight, a dog being less active, chronic loose stool or a lack of fibre. It might be worth looking at their diet and ensuring they are on a high fibre diet. Please do reach out to the team on [email protected] if you have any other questions :)

Team Pooch - Sep 01 2023

Hi does the Bionic Biotic powder contain both Pre and Pro Biotics. It’s not clear in the description. Thanks

Karen - Feb 20 2024

Hi there
We took our raw fed Boxer dog to the vet with hair loss and was told that it is a yeast infection. Will the probiotic and the prebiotic multivitamins be beneficial for his itchy coat?

MH - May 09 2024

can i use this for my dog who has pancreatitis?

spiros - Feb 19 2025

Hi my dog has gastrointestinal problems and a poorly stomach so had to watch what she eats so she doesn’t have a runny poo or blood coming out of her can she eat your treats

Precious Entwistle - Feb 19 2025

Hi Spiros, While the Bionic Biotic does contain some fish oil, the overall fat content is only 4.6%, so should be well tolerated by those prone to pancreatitis. :)

Team Pooch - Feb 19 2025

Hi Precious,
We do have our Health & Digestion treats that are kinder to sensitive tummies, we would advise checking with your own vet if your pooch has ongoing gastro issues or if they have any food sensitivities. :)

Team Pooch - Feb 19 2025

What is the best pro biotic to help with my 9yr old dogs bad gut health and regular full anal glands plz?

Jenny - Mar 14 2025

Hi
I have a packet of your biotic, my dog will not eat and his stomach is rumbling, can I make a drink with this powder , so I can get some good bateria in to him,

John - Mar 14 2025

Hi Jenny,

Our Bionic Biotic Supplement may be beneficial if your pooch has no intolerance to grains. It is a probiotic health supplement containing both probiotics and prebiotics to promote a healthy gut microbiome, and it is specifically tailored to actively promote solid stools and healthy digestion thus supporting anal glands. In addition to this, the added antioxidants promote a strong immune system. If you would like any further guidance please do reach out to the team at [email protected] :)

Team Pooch - Mar 14 2025

Hi John,

We’ve not tested this as a method to feed the product, and this would be down to customer discretion. However we can’t see there would be any issues here, it may just be that the product doesn’t mix too well! Another option, may also be to mix it in well with wet food or in with Salmon Oil if this is fed to your dog on top of their dry food :)

Team Pooch - Mar 14 2025