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By Judyvein Cheng, CPCN, BRNC
Certified pet nutritionist in Singapore
QUICK ANSWER
Over 80% of your dog's immune system lives in the gut, so good nutrition only goes as far as the gut can absorb it. A good probiotic helps restore balance. Strains that come from dogs are better suited to a dog's gut than human strains, which is why I recommend species-specific probiotics, rotated between brands.
A busy world inside your dog
Gut bacteria make up about 0.5–1% of your dog's body weight. For a 9kg dog, that's roughly 45–90g of bacteria. They do a lot of work:
✓ Ferment fibre into compounds that nourish the gut lining
✓ Make vitamins, especially B vitamins and vitamin K
✓ Train and support the immune system
✓ Crowd out harmful bacteria
✓ Produce hormones that support metabolism and the nervous system, including the gut-brain connection that affects mood and behaviour
What upsets the balance
✓ Antibiotics, NSAIDs and steroids
✓ Over-vaccination
✓ Highly processed food
✓ Stress
✓ Grains and beans, which contain lectins that can irritate a sensitive gut
When the gut is out of balance, vitamin production drops and immunity weakens. Over time, gut imbalance is linked to digestive upsets, itchy skin, IBD, autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism and even cancer.
Poop-eating can be a gut sign. Coprophagia isn't always just a bad habit. It can point to a gut imbalance, or a gut-brain issue, rather than a purely behavioural problem.
Why dog-specific strains matter
Most probiotic research has been done in humans, and most probiotics use human strains. But a dog's gut is a different environment, so bacteria that come from dogs are better suited to it. A good canine probiotic should:
Survive stomach acid, so it reaches the gut alive
Improve digestion
Support the immune system
Support the gut-brain axis
Produce compounds that hold back harmful bacteria like Clostridia, Salmonella and E. coli
Not contribute to antibiotic resistance
Help the gut recover after illness, stress or antibiotics
Canine-origin strains have now been isolated from dogs, grown in fermentation facilities, tested in feeding trials, and combined with prebiotics to feed them. Expect to see more species-specific probiotics in the future.
The probiotics I recommend
✓ Adored Beast Fido's Flora: species-specific, made from canine-origin strains.
✓ Adored Beast Love Bugs: a pre- and probiotic I use as a general everyday option.
✓ Adored Beast Gut Soothe: when there's inflammation in the gut.
✓ Green Juju Soil: for gut healing.
✓ Four Leaf Rover Protect: a good one to add to your rotation.
✓ Adored Beast Plant Powered Healthy Gut: plant-powered digestive enzymes to support digestion alongside a probiotic.
Keep rotating. I always recommend rotating probiotics from different companies, so your pet gets a wider variety of bacterial strains rather than the same few every day.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE
BeanBean has a daily rotation of Adored Beast Soil & Sea, Four Leaf Rover Gut Guard and Green Juju Leaf. Rotating like this gives her gut a wider mix of strains from different companies, instead of relying on one product.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my dog a human probiotic?
You can, but some human strains aren't needed by dogs, and you'll be missing the important strains a dog's gut does need. A dog-specific probiotic like Fido's Flora is better suited to a dog's gut.
When should I give a probiotic?
Daily as maintenance, and especially during and after antibiotics, illness or stress.
Should I stick to one probiotic?
No. Rotating between brands gives your dog a wider range of beneficial strains.
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This article is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for veterinary care. If you're concerned about your pet's health, please seek professional advice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judyvein Cheng, CPCN, BRNC
Judyvein is a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist and Certified Raw Nutrition Coach for Cats & Dogs, and the founder of JOOF Holistic Pet. Her journey began with her Frenchie, Wangcai, and today she helps pet parents in Singapore take a root-cause approach to their pets' health.
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