Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that can be found in fermented foods and supplements. Probiotics offer a variety of benefits for human health, including improving digestion, boosting the immune system, and reducing inflammation. Recent research suggests that probiotics may also offer benefits for pet health. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the potential benefits of probiotics for pets and how to choose a probiotic supplement for your furry friend.
Prebiotics VS Probiotics
Many people have heard of probiotics and prebiotics, but what’s the difference between them? Think of the gastrointestinal system like a little ecosystem. Probiotics help keep this internal environment balanced and contribute to the body’s overall health. Prebiotics are specific types of fiber that probiotics feed on. Both probiotics and prebiotics help keep the digestive tract healthy.
When added to your dogs’ diet, probiotics offer many health benefits. Not only do probiotics work in the intestines to aid digestion and treat common stomach issues like diarrhea, they also benefit the immune system. By reducing intestinal permeability probiotics help decrease allergic reactions and food sensitivities. Skin and coat also see a boost with probiotics!
Different Probiotic Products
There are many different probiotic supplements that we carry at Braxton’s and they come in many forms. When choosing a probiotic supplement for your pet, look for one that contains a variety of strains of live, active cultures. It’s also important to choose a product that is specifically designed for pets. Some human probiotic supplements may not be safe for animals.
There are many easy and convenient ways to add probiotics into your pets’ diet. Look for products containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, two common fermentation products full of probiotics. These friendly bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, which assist to maintain the intestinal pH level, cell membranes, hormones, and even prevent pathogenic germs like Salmonella and E. coli from developing. Primal Pet Foods, Answer’s Pet Foods, and Stella and Chewy’s all make a variety of topper products that include these ingredients and are tasty treats for dogs and cats. Goat’s milk is a great option filled with probiotics and prebiotics that both dogs and cats love. All raw food diets contain these ingredients, and you can see the benefits by incorporating at least 25% of your pet’s daily nutrition to raw food. If you want to learn more about raw foods and the benefits for your pets, read our blog series on Raw Food Diets.
External Use
Probiotics can also be used externally to help treat common skin issues. Probiotic shampoos help support the skin’s microbiome to keep the skin balanced and healthy. Skout’s Honor offers a wide range of shampoos, conditioners, and sprays with probiotics to help defend skin against hot spots, odor, and itching. Skout’s Honor invested a lot of time and effort into proving their products work. You can read here on their research into external probiotic use!
In Conclusion
When choosing a probiotic supplement for your pet, always look for products that are third-party tested and made in the USA. You should also check the expiration date to ensure that the live bacteria are still active. And finally, make sure the product is appropriate for your pet’s species, age, and weight.
Whether it’s adding a tasty topper to your cat’s meal or giving your dog a spa day, it’s easy to incorporate probiotics into your pet’s routine. Have you ever considered giving your pet probiotics? They may be a useful way to boost their health and help keep them feeling good. We’ve talked about the many benefits of probiotics for people, and it looks like the same is true for dogs.
There are plenty of great options out there when it comes to probiotic supplements for animals, so why not give them a try? Your furry friend will thank you! Check with our staff to see some different options to add probiotics to your pet’s diet.
Article Written By: Elizabeth Devenny
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