What probiotic kills yeast in dogs

Yeast Infections in Dogs

What Are Yeast Infections in Dogs?

Does your dog frantically itch their skin? Have you noticed a bad smell or greasy fur when you pet them?

If so, they may have a yeast infection.

Yeast are fungal organisms that normally live on a dogs skin without causing problems. However, when a dogs immune system weakens or an underlying health condition, such as hypothyroidism, is present, yeast can overgrow and cause an infection.

The yeast that commonly causes skin infections in dogs is Malassezia, which grows on warm, moist areas of the skin. Yeast infections cause extreme itchiness and changes to the skin, such as thickening and discoloration over time.

Yeast infections in dogs are common among pups of all ages.

While yeast infections in dogs are not considered medical emergencies, they should be treated by a veterinarian immediately to prevent symptoms from worsening. If left untreated, yeast infections can cause extreme discomfort, which can lead to a decreased appetite and lethargy, necessitating prompt veterinary care.

Because yeast infections typically develop secondary to an underlying illness or suppressed immune system, they are not contagious among dogs or to pet parents.

Types of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast infections can affect various areas of the skin, including the ears, skin folds, paws, armpits, vulva, and groin.

• EarsYeast infections of the earalso referred to as yeast otitiscause a thick, brown discharge and strong odor in the ear canal. Affected dogs repeatedly scratch their ears to try to relieve the discomfort. They may also shake their heads and develop a head tilt. Ear infections are commonly related to food allergies.

• SkinYeast dermatitis refers to a yeast infection anywhere on the skin. Affected dogs have a musty odor, greasy coat, flaky or thickened skin, and hair loss. They tend to lick the affected areas of the body, which leads to brown discoloration of the skin over time.

  • Dermatitis, which is often due to allergies or a suppressed immune system, can affecta dogs skin folds, armpits, vulva, and groin.

• PawsYeast infections that affect the paws are generally related to environmental allergies, such as allergies to grass or pollen. Dogs constantly chew or lick their itchy paws, which leads to brown discoloration between the paw pads. Over time, open sores can develop on the paws.

Symptoms of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Signs of yeast infections in dogs can vary depending on what area of the body is affected.

Symptoms of yeast otitis may include:

Symptoms of yeast dermatitis may include:

• Itchy skin

• Small, red bumps on the skin

• Brown discoloration of the skin

• Frequent licking or chewing of the affected area

• Greasy hair coat

• Thickened skin

• Strong odor

Symptoms of a yeast infection affecting the paws may include:

• Licking and chewing the paws

• Brown discoloration of the skin and fur

• Red, moist areas between the paw pads

Causes of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast is opportunistic, which means that although it is naturally present on the skin, it can cause an infection when conditions are favorable.

Yeast infections in dogs can develop if a pup has a weak immune system or an underlying health condition. Underlying environmental or food allergies can predispose dogs to developing yeast infections.

Skin parasites, including fleas and mites, can cause dogs to repeatedly itch their skin, which disrupts the normal skin barrier, making an infection more likely.

Some breedssuch as Pit Bulls, Boxers, and Cocker Spanielsare more frequently affected by yeast infections.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Yeast Infections in Dogs

A vet may use several tests to diagnose a yeast infections in dogs.

First, they will gather a through medical history, including when the symptoms started, if your pet is taking any medications, and if they have previously been diagnosed with any health conditions.

Next, your veterinarian will perform a full physical exam to check your dogs overall health. They may also perform blood work to check for any abnormalities.

Additional tests will depend on what your veterinarian finds during the initial exam, but may include the following:

• Tape impressionDuring this test, your vet presses a piece of clear tape to the affected area of skin to collect a sample. Its then stained and examined under a microscope to identify yeast.

• CytologyA cotton swab is used to collect a sample from the affected area, and it is then rubbed gently onto a microscope slide. The sample is then stained and examined under a microscope to look for yeast.

• CultureA sterile cotton swab is used to collect a sample from the affected area. It is then sent to a lab to identify the type of organism present.

• Skin biopsyFor chronic infections or those that are unresponsive to treatment, a small sample of skin can be taken and sent to a lab for a more accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Treatment for yeast infections in dogs will depend on the location and severity of the infection. Yeast dermatitis is often treated with antifungal medications and prescription shampoos.

If the infection affects only one area, a topical medication may be all that is needed. For more widespread infections, oral medications and frequent bathing can help resolve the issue.

Yeast otitis is typically treated with topical antifungal medications and steroids to reduce inflammation. Your veterinarian may recommend that you use a medicated ear wash prior to instilling ear medications.

Paw yeast infections may benefit from medicated antifungal wipes and oral medications, including antifungals and steroids.

Recovery and Management of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Because yeast infections in dogs often develop secondary to another health condition, they will not resolve without veterinary treatment.

Determining the underlying cause of the yeast infection and treating it accordingly improves treatment success. For example, if your dog has an underlying food allergy, an accurate diagnosis and treatment can help their skin improve.

It can take a few weeks to a few months for a yeast infection to fully resolve, depending on the severity. Most dogs start to feel relief from their symptoms in a week or two, but it can take several additional weeks for a pet parent to notice significant improvement to their skin and coat.

Prevention of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Ensuring your dog receives regular preventive care and vaccinations keeps them healthy and less likely to develop infections.

Additionally, health conditions that can lead to yeast infections in dogs can be caught and managed early during routine wellness visits.

Yeast Infections in Dogs FAQs

What food causes yeast infections in dogs?

Most of the food ingredients that cause allergies in dogs are proteins. Chicken is the most common food allergen related to yeast infections.

What happens if dog yeast infections go untreated?

If a dogs yeast infection is left untreated, it will progressively worsen and lead to extreme discomfort. Over time, the discomfort can cause the dog to become very sick.

What should I feed my dog when they have a yeast infection?

Unless the yeast infection is due to an underlying food allergy, its generally fine to continue your dogs usual diet. However, it is best to follow your veterinarians recommendations when deciding what to feed your dog.

Featured Image:SerhiiBobyk/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

WRITTEN BY

Brittany Kleszynski, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Brittany Kleszynski is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer who specializes in creating meaningful content that engages readers...

Probiotics for Dogs: The Best Ones in 2024, Allergies, Yeast, Diarrhea, Human Probiotics, & More

Probiotics for Dogs: The Best Ones in 2024, Allergies, Yeast, Diarrhea, Human Probiotics, & More

Updated on January 3, 2024 20 minute read

In this guide, we will review the best probiotics for dogs in 2024 and cover the entire topic to answer questions like:

• What are probiotics and are they good for dogs?
• Can they help with allergies including skin?
• What about yeast infections?
• Do they help dogs with diarrhea?
• Any side effects from taking them?
• Can dogs be given human probiotics instead?
• And so much more

With so many options on the market, making a decision can feel overwhelming. That is why we researched for you!

Lets dig right in.

Note: Because we discuss so much, you can use the button below to go to the list right away or use the Table of Contents to navigate the page.

Jump to Number 1

We recommend reading the entire article because it explains why we made these recommendations.

What Are Probiotics for Dogs and What Do They Do?

Probiotics are strains of beneficial bacteria that colonize and grow in the bodys intestinal tract in humans and animals.

They are part of the microbiome, a more extensive system of bacteria and microbes contributing to body functions.

Research has shown that these good bacteria are essential to both the digestive and immune systems.

Health problems, both major and minor, can occur when there is an imbalance in the types of bacteria in the intestinal tract.

The medical term for this is dysbiosis when there are more harmful bacteria than beneficial.

There are three prevalent causes of dysbiosis in dogs:

• Processed dog food high in carbs and harmful ingredients
• Antibiotics and steroids
• Stress

Each of these decreases the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Now imagine what they can do together.

When a dog has dysbiosis, it can develop intestinal permeability more commonly known as leaky gut.

And because leaky gut allows foreign bodies to enter the bloodstream from the intestinal tract, inflammation happens.

As you know, inflammation connects to a wide range of illnesses in both humans and dogs.

These illnesses include but are not limited to:

• Diarrhea, gas, bloating, and other digestive issues
• Ear, skin, and urinary tract infections
• Flea, food, and seasonal allergies

We believe that leaky gut is the reason for many ailments in dogs today, and dog owners dont know it.

But you suspect it, and it is why you want to add probiotics to your dogs diet.

Because dysbiosis is an imbalance of more bad bacteria than good in the intestinal tract, adding probiotics help restore the balance.

By supplementing it, you can prevent or improve leaky gut, and get rid of any current and future ailments in your dog.

And this is why we recommend probiotics because they genuinely help dogs.

But to maximize its effectiveness, your dog should finish any antibiotics theyre on and eat less processed food.

Otherwise, the probiotics cannot do what theyre supposed to do promote beneficial bacteria in the gut!

Are Probiotics Good for Dogs?

Probiotics support all aspects of canine health and are usually given as a supplement with food to regulate gastrointestinal functioning by ensuring more good bacteria than bad bacteria in the intestines.

All dogs will experience the following benefits from probiotics:

• Increased absorption of nutrients in the GI tract
• Prevention of GI tract infections
• Regulation of cell motility to reduce the risk of irritable bowel syndrome or constipation
• Heightened functioning of the immune system
• Possible prevention of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis in older dogs

Are probiotics good for dogs? Without a doubt yes!

Common Canine Health Problems

Why give our dogs probiotics? Doesnt dog food give them enough vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy?

Yes and no. While a well-balanced diet of protein-rich food does satisfy their nutritional needs, dogs can still suffer numerous bacterial infections resulting from wounds, being around infectious dogs and a reduced immune system response that cannot fight off opportunistic infections.

Dogs spread bacterial diseases such as kennel cough, leptospirosis and brucellosis to other dogs as well. Diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever caused by tick bites are also forms of bacterial infections that can debilitate a dogs health.

Many bacteria-based, canine gastrointestinal illnesses are due to the strong, instinctual urge dogs have to scavenge, which naturally leads to dogs having indiscriminate appetites. Consequently, GI upset characterized by vomiting, diarrhea and constipation frequently affects dogs that spend time roaming outdoors and investigating interesting smells. Moving to a new home, dietary changes, weaning, taking antibiotics and aging can also have detrimental effects on the delicate balance of canine intestinal microflora.

Dogs have 500+ different types of bacteria in their GI tract that are meant to support healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal system. Beneficial bacteria, such as bifidobacteria and L. acidophilus, have the important job of sustaining microbial homeostasis in the canine GI tract so that harmful pathogens do not have the opportunity to colonize there and infect mucous membranes lining the intestines. These good bacteria also regulate systemic and local immune responses to inflammation, help repress precancerous activity and promote conversion of dietary nutrients into bioactive molecules.

When dogs suffer an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in their GI tract, bad bacteria wont hesitate to take advantage of this dysregulation by proliferating, flourishing and making dogs ill. Unchecked by adequate amounts of good bacteria, harmful bacteria soon take over a dogs GI tract and can negatively affect a dogs general health.

What Makes Them Good?

Probiotics can help restore your dogs health, energy and mood if suffering from one or more of the following symptoms typically caused by an imbalance of intestinal bacteria:

• Coat and skin issues (excessive shedding, scabs, itchy hot spots)
• Frequent vomiting
• Decreased appetite/weight loss
• Seasonal and/or environmental allergies
• Loose stools/diarrhea/yellow or dark stools
• Flatulence
• Yeast infections (topical or internal)
• Inflammatory disorders of the GI tract (ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease)
• General lethargy, depression, restlessness or unusual aggression

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) commonly affects dogs that are taking antibiotics for an extended period. This is because antibiotics tend to kill all bacteria in the dogs body while alsocompromising the barrier function provided by microflora in the colon. In response to antibiotics overreaching ability to eliminate bacteria, opportunistic pathogens such as Clostridium difficile orBacteroides spp can easily infiltrate such a vulnerable GI tract and cause a variety of chronic infections.

Side Effects of Dog Probiotics

Any substance that contains ingredients capable of effecting changes with a living organism is going to produce side effects of varying degrees. Some of these side effects wont manifest themselves enough to be physically experienced because they occur at the cellular level. Other side effects may extend beyond the cellular level in reaction to the dogs body chemistry, which may be abnormal due to illness, hormonal irregularities or a compromised immune system.

Probiotic supplements are complete safe to give to dogs since they contain nothing but natural ingredients, i.e., probiotic bacteria that already exist in the canine GI tract. If side effects do occur after giving probiotics to a dog, they are usually associated with digestive issues, such as excess gas, constipation or diarrhea (if you are not already treating the dog for diarrhea). In addition, the dogs health problems may worsen a bit before completely clearing up as theGI tract adjusts to the sudden influx of good probiotic bacteria.

Weakened Immune System in Dogs

Research into lactobacillus included in probiotic supplements has found that L. bacillus may thrive too much in a dogs immune system weakened by disease, malnutrition or even old age. Although a rare occurrence, overgrowth of lactobacillus may allow bacteria to spill over into the dogs bloodstream and produce a systemic infection or inflammation.

Allergic Reactions

Experts estimate that only one in a million dogs and people could have an allergic reaction to probiotics for reasons that have yet to be identified. Signs that a dog may be suffering an allergic reaction to one or more of the live bacteria composing probiotic supplements are intense all over itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue and lips and unsteady gait. Dogs exhibiting these symptoms after being given probiotics should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible for supportive care.

Low Quality Probiotics

Probiotics manufactured by inferior companies do not care about your dogs healthy. They are only in the business to make a profit and produce cheap, unstable probiotics that quickly degrade in the dogs stomach before reaching the intestines. Unless probiotic bacteria reach the dogs intestines in tact and still retaining all their beneficial properties, they are essentially useless and may even be harmful to the dog once seeded in theGI tract.

Another problem with low quality probiotics is that they may labeled for dogs but are, in fact, meant for humans. Nearly all bacteria are host-specific, meaning that some bacteria are designed to exist in dogs and some specific to humans. Giving dogs human probiotic supplements may cause side effects that include vomiting, severe diarrhea and dehydration.

Canine-specific bacteria are:

• L. plantarum
• Bifidobacterium animalis
• L. acidophilus
• L. rhamnosus
• L. fermentum
• L. reuteri
• L. salivarius

Every one of these bacteria can be found in high-quality probiotics formulated especially for dogs. In addition, superior canine probiotics will offer the correct CFU, or colony forming units, beneficial to your dogs health. A probiotic formulas CFU is the total amount of bacterium in the formula. Some formulas combine all bacteria strains into one CFU count while others will list each strain of bacteria on the label, along with its unique CFU.

The Advantages Outweigh the Risks

In addition to antibiotics causing GI tract disorders, chronic diarrhea, flatulence and appetite loss, other factors such as poor diet, stress, environmental changes and non-antibiotic prescription drugs can also deplete beneficial bacteria in the dogs intestines. Probiotics not only promote growth of good bacteria in your dogs intestines but will also:

• Improve digestive processes by facilitating breakdown of consumed food, absorption of vitamins and minerals and removal of toxic waste products
• May help reduce minor food intolerances and their side effects
• Reduces inflammation in the GI tract to relieve diarrhea or constipation
• Increases energy levels by eliminating some chronic health conditions
• Promotes manufacturing of folic acid, biotin and B vitamins
• Stimulates and regulates all components of the canine immune system
• Helps degrade and neutralize food toxins and carcinogens
• Keeps hormone levels balanced and regulated
• May reduce the risk of female dogs suffering urinary tract infections

Dog Probiotics for Allergies

What Causes Them?

For reasons not entirely known, the canine immune system sometimes overreacts to substances called allergens (most are proteins). Once these allergens attach to immunoglobulin antibody molecules in the bloodstream, they start targeting mast cells that exist in body tissues and force mast cells to release an inflammatory chemical called histamine. This chemical causes the classic signs of a respiratory allergy attackitchy eyes, sneezing, swelled mucous membranes and congestion.

Once histamine enters the blood, tissues surrounding blood vessels constrict and leak fluid. This is why nasal and eyes tissues swell, water and redden. In addition, histamine stimulates production of white blood cells that attempt to expel the allergen from the dogs body by further irritating tissues and making the dog sneeze and cough. How sensitive the dog is to an allergen coupled by how long he is exposed to the allergen determines the severity and duration of symptoms.

Symptoms of Airborne Allergies

• Watery, Itchy eyes (the dog will paw at theeyes or shake thehead constantly)
• Extremely wet nose or clear discharge coming from the nose
• Sneezing and wheezing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Snoring caused by congestion and/or inflamed throat
• Lack of appetite
• Sleeping or laying around more than usual
• Drinking more water than normal

Symptoms of Food Allergies

Soy, wheat and corn fillers are the most common culprits of food allergies in dogs. However, dogs can also suffer allergic reactions to meat and dairy products. Symptoms presented by dogs with a food allergy include:

• Itchy skin, especially around the face, ears, armpits and anal area
• Hair loss/hot spots due to excessive biting and scratching
• Recurring ear infections
• Increased bowel movements or diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing due to airway swelling
• Decreased appetite and weight loss

Reverse Sneezing and Dog Allergies

Reverse sneezing occurs when dogs forcefully expel air through their nose and then do the exact same thing in reverse by inhaling the sneeze back into their nose immediately after sneezing.

Dogs experiencing reverse sneezing fits will snort, wheeze and sound like they are having trouble breathing. However, a fit of reverse sneezing eventually resolves itself in about 30 to 60 seconds and has no negative health effects on the dog. Veterinarians call reverse sneezing paroxysmal respiration and attribute this type of sneezing to allergies and respiratory infections. Dogs with long, narrow noses and narrow nasal passages (collies, Afghan hounds, German Shepherds) tend to suffer reverse sneezing fits more than dogs with shorter noses.

Diagnosing Food, Parasitic and Airborne Allergies

Confirming a case of a respiratory allergy is done by a veterinarian performing one of two tests: the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test or the RAST (radioallergosorbent) test. Both tests detect allergen-specific antibodies in the blood if the dog is allergic to something but the ELISA test provides more accurate details about specific antibodies in the dogs bloodstream.

Intradermal tests may also be indicated if the dog is having allergic reactions but the exact cause of the allergy is not know. A patch is applied to the dogs skin and the veterinarian will then inject possible allergens into the dogs blood until the patch reacts to one or more of the injections.

Treating Canine Allergies

Humans and dogs need sufficient amounts of good bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts to properly digest and release food nutrients into the body. Illness, dietary changes, stress, medications and systemic disorders can upset the balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria in the intestines, creating a wide variety of chronic health problems for dogsincluding allergies.

Probiotics are bacteria living in the canine gastrointestinal tract that maintain healthy digestion and facilitate the production of vitamins and minerals from food. Probiotics also promote production of lactic acid, a chemical that helps increase intestinal acidity. Many disease-causing bacteria cannot exist in GI tracts with high acidity levels.

When you use probiotics, adogs allergy symptoms diminish or disappear altogether as levels of good bacteria rise rapidly in the GI tract. Probiotics not only have positive effects on the dogs overall health but also directly promotes optimal functioning of the immune system to suppress its over-reactivity to allergens. Unlike antihistamines and cortisone injections, probiotics do not cause side effects because they do not contain anything but naturally occurring bacteria that gently and safely restores your dogs health and stops allergy symptoms from reducing the dogsquality of life.

Dog Probiotics for Yeast

Skin yeast infections in dogs are one of the most common types of infections treated by veterinarians every year. Did you know:

• Many dog breeds are prone to skin yeast infections and require preventive care to avoid suffering recurring infections?
• Causes of yeast infections range from stress and humidity to flea and tick bites?
• Ear infections are yeast infections that can permanently damage a dogs hearing?
• Side effects of corticosteroids routinely given to dogs with yeast infections include breathing problems, fluid retention, hair loss and behavioral changes.
• Using dog probiotics for yeast infection is a safe and effective treatment that has no side effects.

What Causes Dog Yeast Infections?

Canine yeast infections are produced by colonizing fungal microorganisms that emerge from an imbalance of good bacteria and bad bacteria. In dogs, yeast skin infections begin when theMalassezia pachydermatis fungus outnumbers beneficial bacteria and produce symptoms of otitis (ear infection), seborrheic dermatitis (skin infection), or both. Yeast pathogens thrive in moist, warm, dark conditions such as those found in the ears, armpits and between the toes. If an affected dog does not receive effective medication like probiotics for dogs yeast infection, sites will enlarge, spread and infect other parts of the dogs body quite rapidly.

Canine yeast infections commonly target the dogs ears, between theirtoes or under theirarmpits where hair is less thick and moisture remains. Dog with deep folds and wrinkles in their skin (bloodhounds, Shar-Peis. basset hounds and cocker spaniels) are also vulnerable to developing itchy, painful yeast infections. Unless a reliable, quick-acting treatment such as beneficial bacteria is administered, the infection will spread, become intensely irritating to the dog and causing themto scratch and chew frantically at the yeast infection.

Possible triggers of a yeast infection include:

• Use of antibiotics
• Prolonged exposure to humid, hot temperatures
• Allergic reactions to ticks, fleas and other parasites
• Food allergies (especially to corn, wheat and fillers found in generic brand dog foods)
• Nutritional deficiencies (lack of sufficient proteins, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids will result in poor skin health)
• Prolonged administration of corticosteroids that suppress immune system functioning
• Endocrine/hormone/blood disorders (Addisons Disease, Cushings Disease, hyper-/hypothyroidism and diabetes)
• Chemotherapy
• Antibiotics
• Metabolic diseases and disorders

Yeast cells normally live on dog skin without causing health problems. Veterinarians arent sure exactly why yeast begins reproducing and budding uncontrollably but suspect these triggers play an important role in the development of canine yeast infections.

Symptoms of Yeast Infections

• Constant chewing, biting, scratching and licking at the skin. Scratching bouts can be frantic and lead to inflamed skin and bleeding. Dogs with a severe yeast infection may continue biting and scratching even when the area is hairless, raw and oozing blood.
• Dandruff and/or scaly skin
• Excessively oily skin or a greasy-feeling coat
• Skin that smells foul and infected
• Lichenification of the skin (thickened, hyperpigmented skin resembling elephant skin results from untreated, chronic yeast infections)
• Crusty, swelled patches of skin
• Appetite/weight loss
• Depression, lethargy, anxiety
• Acting skittish or aggressive when approached

When internal or external stressors overstimulate a dogs hair follicles, skin oil production increases significantly and exacerbate yeast infections. Bathing dogs too frequently or using incorrectly formulated shampoos can irritate hair follicles. Dogs suffering psychological problems, especially nervousness and anxiety stemming from a change in owners or residence, may also contribute to the development of a yeast infection.

Ear Infections in Dogs

Canine ear infections are yeast infections that require immediate treatment. Signs of a possible ear infection in dogs include:

• Excessive scratching or pawing of the infected ear. The dog may also rub the ear against the ground or wipe it on the side of furniture
• Yellow, brown or bloody discharge that has a strong, foul odor seeping from the ear
• Redness, crustiness and swelling of the ear
• Head tilting and shaking
• Loss of balance (the dog may also walk in a circle or appear disoriented)
• Hearing loss

Dogs with floppy ears (cocker spaniels, poodles and Labrador retrievers) or hairy, inner ear canals (schnauzers) are susceptible to suffering chronic ear infections. Once yeast cells take over in the moist, dark areas of a dogs ears, the ensuing ear infection continues spreading into the inner ear and eventually causes fluid build-up behind the eardrum. Unless treated, the eardrum can burst from fluid pressure and irreparably impair the dogs hearing.

Diagnosis

Veterinarians examine a skin sample under a microscope for evidence of yeast cells, bacteria, mites or anything else that may be causing the skin or ear infection. A direct impression of the infection can also be taken by simply pressing a microscope slide or piece of acetate tape onto the sore. A vet will also take seepage and wax samples from dogs with ear infections. When veterinarians suspect food allergies are causing a yeast infection, they will order food allergy trials to determine which foods are disrupting the dogs immune system.

Treatment

Consisting of beneficial living microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract of dogs (and humans), probiotics play an essential role in keeping dogs in excellent health and preventing yeast infections from developing on the skin and ears. The good bacteria in probiotics colonize, overwhelm and eliminate bad bacteria existing in the dogs gastrointestinal tract by producing SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids). SCFAs stop the growth of harmful pathogens, such as clostridium perfringens, E. coli and Malassezia pachydermatis, the most common cause of canine yeast infection.

Using probiotics for yeast infections also means dogs do not need to suffer the undesirable side effects caused by prescription medications. In addition, probiotics not only treat and eliminate yeast infections but can also help prevent fungal skin and ear infections by significantly improving and maintaining the general health and well-being of dogs who take probiotics regularly.

Dog Probiotics for Diarrhea

Even the healthiest dogs will experience diarrhea at some point in their lives. With a gastrointestinal system similar to humans, dogs experience many of the same kind of health problems humans do, from stomach aches and flatulence to nausea and, unfortunately, diarrhea. While some incidences of diarrhea in dogs clear up on their own within a day or two, other cases will require additional treatment, such as probiotics for dogs and puppies with diarrhea symptoms, a safe and natural way to restore intestinal health, prevent dehydration and improve overall well-being of dogs.

Some things to keep in mind when treating dogs with diarrhea include:

• Onset of diarrheawas it sudden or gradual?
• Has diarrhea persisted for several days?
• Has there been a change in diet for the dog? More wet food, too many table scraps?
• Has the dog been given veterinary-prescribed medication for the diarrhea and continues to suffer from loose stools?
• Have you considered using probiotics for dogs with diarrhea?

What Causes Diarrhea in Dogs?

• Dietary changes, such as switching to another brand of dog food, overfeeding, underfeeding and giving the dog too much people food or canned food.
• Ingesting spoiled food, outside debris, toxic substances or foreign objects
• Viral, fungal or bacterial infections (rotavirus or leptospirosis)
• Food allergies to fillers and by-products found in some commercial dog food
• Parasitic infestations of the intestines (roundworms, tapeworms, giardia or coccidia)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) caused by a constant and excessive influx of white blood cells entering the colon and/or intestines.
• Liver or kidney disease
• Digestive tract tumors (malignant or benign)
• Inflammation of the colon (colitis), an often chronic condition produced when the colon is irritated by parasites, infections, stress, IBD or ingestion of contaminated food.
• Canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (CHGE), a serious illness characterized by bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Symptoms Accompanying Diarrhea in Dogs

Dogs that have only one or two loose stools generally do not exhibit other symptoms. When dogs experience diarrhea for more than two days, the risk of dehydration dramatically increases. Although a dog with diarrhea may continue to drink water, the amount of fluids lost is greater than the fluid taken in. Signs of dehydration and other complications resulting from untreated diarrhea include:

• Lack of energy, lethargy
• Fast breathing and/or excessive panting
• Rapid weight loss
• Attitude changes (more apprehensive, passive or skittish)
• Dry nose, gums and mouth
• Loss of skin hydration and elasticity (pinching a small piece of the dogs skin between your forefinger and thumb and then releasing the skin should show the skin immediately resuming a normal shape. If the dogs skin moves too slowly or doesnt move at all, the dog may be seriously dehydrated).
• Has a rectal temperature greater than 105 F
• Unsteady gait or inability to rise from a prone position

Diagnosing Dog Diarrhea

Veterinarians diagnose the cause of dog diarrhea by:

• Gathering information from the dogs owner about the dogs diet, living environment, daily routine and past health history.
• Performing a complete physical exam on the dog
• Testing fecal samples brought in by the dogs owner. Fecal smears and fecal flotations provide evidence of parasites, parasitical eggs and bacterial/viral infections
• Blood and urine samples may be taken from the dog if fecal sampling results are inconclusive. Complete blood counts can detect evidence of illnesses not detectable in fecal smears, such as pancreatitis, Addisons disease, liver/kidney abnormalities and vitamin/mineral deficiencies.
• Abdominal X-rays and ultrasonographies can reveal intestinal obstructions and other foreign bodies that may be causing chronic diarrhea.

Treating Diarrhea in Dogs

With the emergence of serious clinical research over the past decade into the natural, restorative effectiveness of probiotics, dog owners have found that probiotics also provide a safe, healthy alternative to fasting or antibiotics for treating dog diarrhea.

A type of natural, living bacteria that supplement the beneficial bacteria within your dogs system, probiotics are ingested orally and begin colonizing in a dogs intestinal tract within minutes of ingestion. As they colonize, theystart readjusting the bacterial imbalance in the intestines that causes dogs to have diarrhea while reducing bacteria motility and increasing the amount of good bacteria for rapid relief from diarrhea.

Supplementing a dogs diet with probiotics can reduce the likelihood that the dog suffers diarrhea due to stress, chewing on outside debris or having an older, less vital immune system.

Human Probiotics for Dogs

One of the most common questions about dog probiotics is can I give my dog human probiotics?

The answer is that you can.

If you ask yourself, should I give my dog human probiotics? The answer to this question is no.

Human probiotic supplements are not harmful to your pet but theyre not beneficial either. This is because your dog needs probiotics specific to them.

The digestive tract is the largest organ that your dog has. You want to make sure that your pet is benefiting the most from their probiotic supplement. The bacteria in these supplements help your canine. There are specific strains of bacteria that you should look for in a dog probiotic to help your pet and include:

• Enterococcus faecium
• Bacillus coagulans

The bacterial strain Enterococcus faecium is beneficial to pets. A study conducted showed an improvement in gut flora. An increase in levels of an antibody created in their intestinal lining also occurred. This antibody defends them from bacteria and viruses. Its called fecal secretory IgA.

Bacillus coagulans is another strain of bacteria that is beneficial to canines. This strain can help protect dogs from different types of diarrhea. It also minimizes common digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) etc.

What Makes a Good Probiotic for Dogs?

Selecting the top 5 probiotics for dogs was not an easy task.

To help us pick the best ones from a wide selection, we defined a set of must-haves that each dog probiotic needed.

Those requirements were:

Made For Dogs

We do not recommend giving your dog probiotics meant for humans mainly because human probiotics can contain ingredients not meant for them.

We also removed any probiotics marketed for both dogs and cats.

Contains Bacterial Strains

We noticed a pattern of brands marketing all-in-one supplements with probiotics as one of the last ingredients or digestive enzymes marketed as probiotics.

We want a dog probiotic that does one thing very well promote good bacteria!

Least Amount of Ingredients

With dogs having a variety of food sensitivities, these probiotics needed to contain few ingredients.

It was a bonus if they were free of gluten, lactose, and other problematic fillers.

A Higher Number of CFUs

A higher number of colony-forming units (CFUs) in each probiotic, the more colonies that can form in the intestinal tract, the more beneficial bacteria can grow.

Easy to Give

You know this, and other dog parents do too giving your dog medicine can be tricky!

They will sense and sniff when there is something in their food. These probiotics should not make your life harder than it needs to be.

Using the rules above made it easier to pick the best from the bunch.

The list of pros for each brand also contains additional benefits that we thought were worth mentioning.

Now onto the actual list of the best dog probiotics!

The Best Probiotics for Dogs

1. Probiotics for Dogs from Tails N Tummies

Pros

• Pork flavor
• Gluten-free
• Lactose-free
• Soy-free
• Corn-free
• Poultry-free
• No side effects
• Time-release tablets
• 1 billion CFUs per tablet
• Great price & free shipping

Cons

• Large dogs will need two bottles

If you are the type of dog parent who cares about what goes inside your dog, as we do, then this is the one for you.

Made with minimal ingredients and containing a proven strain of beneficial bacteria, Probiotics for Dogs from Tails N Tummies takes the top spot on our list.

Allow us to emphasize this point finding a probiotic with the fewest ingredients possible is no easy task!

Because it only contains a few, we think it is the best choice for dogs with food sensitivities as it doesnt have problematic ingredients.

Your dog will have no gas, bloating, cramping, or any other side effects that generally come with probiotics.

The tablets are small and mix easily with food, so giving them to your dog should not be a problem.

Because the tablets are time-release, only one dose a day is needed to work around the clock.

The only negative we found was that you would need two bottles for a months supply if your dog weighed over 50 pounds.

But at the lower-end price of $24.95 per bottle on their website, this may not be an issue.

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2. Daily Probiotic from Petaxin

Pros

• Corn-free
• Wheat-free
• Grain-free
• Contains prebiotics
• 1.5 billion CFUs per chew
• Great price

Cons

• Contains chickpea flour
• Contains potato flour
• Contains cane molasses
• Contains cheese
• Contains chicken product

Picking the runner-up on our list came down to Daily Probiotic from Petaxin and Probiotic Support from NomNomNow.

Ultimately, we picked Petaxin over NomNomNow because dogs prefer soft chews over powder, and its easier to give.

We love the fact that this dog probiotic contains prebiotics, although studies havent shown dogs need it, and the chews come in a cute heart shape.

Although its a good product, we did not place this at number one because it contains ingredients that can be problematic for your dog.

Chickpeas can cause gas, abdominal cramps, and bloating. Potato flour and cane molasses are carbohydrates that may be unnecessary, especially if your dog is overweight.

Lastly, if your dog has any lactose intolerance, the cheddar cheese may cause issues.

Its also worth mentioning that the chews contain chicken flavor, and it may be best to avoid it if your dog is allergic to chicken.

If your dog has no food sensitivities at all, Daily Probiotic is a great choice, and they sure love eating it!

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3. Probiotic Support from NomNomNow

Pros

• Contains prebiotics
• Minimal ingredients

Cons

• No flavor
• Powder form
• Contains maltodextrin
• Expensive

Like Probiotics for Dogs from Tails N Tummies, Probiotic Support from NomNomNow contains minimal ingredients.

As mentioned above, probiotics that contain few ingredients are great for dogs with food sensitivities.

It makes it easy for the probiotics to do their job inside of your dogs intestinal tract.

However, Probiotic Supports strength may be its weakness because it may be too bare minimum for dogs and their owners.

It has no flavor at all, and it comes in powder form that you have to add to your dogs food.

You may know this its not easy to give dogs powered medicine, and they may stare at their food suspiciously.

But you will have to determine how picky your dog is and if they will be receptive to it.

If you want to make it work, a favorite trick among dog parents is to add it to peanut butter to disguise it.

NomNomNow makes good products, and this probiotic is no exception.

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4. Probiotics from Pet Ultimates

Pros

• Contains prebiotics
• Minimal ingredients

Cons

• No flavor
• Powder form
• Expensive

Another probiotic in powder form, Pet Ultimates, is a solid choice to give your dog probiotics.

Its very similar to Probiotic Support from NomNomNow in that it contains minimal ingredients and no flavor.

But unlike Probiotic support, this one contains inulin as its first ingredient for prebiotics.

You will often hear that prebiotics is necessary for probiotics, but no study has shown this to be the case in dogs.

Too much inulin can cause gas, bloating, and abdominal cramping in dogs.

It is unclear the exact amount of inulin in this formula, and it may not be something to worry about but something to keep in mind.

This dog probiotic is an excellent choice by a reputable dog brand.

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5. FortiFlora from Purina

Pros

• Liver flavor
• Contains vitamin E
• Contains vitamin C
• Good price

Cons

• Non-minimal ingredients
• Powder form
• Contains yeast

Rounding out our list is FortiFlora from the well-known dog brand, Purina.

If you have done any prior research on probiotics for dogs, you have probably come across it.

It is probably the most familiar probiotics for dogs product on the market, and for a good reason because it works.

Unlike the other two powdered form probiotics on our list, this one contains liver flavoring, which can be more palatable for dogs.

However, unlike Probiotic Support from NomNomNow and Probiotics from Pet Ultimates, this one is not minimal in ingredients.

Except for yeast, which is known to cause some issues in dogs, all the other ingredients are acceptable.

One packet a day in your dogs food is all they need to get the beneficial bacteria in their bodies.

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Final Thoughts

We hope that our list of the best probiotics for dogs this year helps you determine which dog probiotic to give to your furry friend.

Just like vitamins, we recommend giving your dog probiotics for as long as possible to maintain healthy levels of good bacteria in their body.

With stress, antibiotics, and processed dog food being ever-present factors, it is crucial to supplement your dogs diet with it continually.

Your dogs health and immune system will thank you for it.

Discuss this list of recommended dog probiotics with other dog parents below and let us know what you think!