Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to maintain the balance of healthy organisms in the digestive system. When used in dogs, they offer various health benefits such as improved digestion, stronger immune systems and better quality skin and coat. In this article, we will discuss the nine main health benefits associated with probiotics for dogs.
Probiotics are live microorganisms found naturally in yoghurt, certain fermented foods and dietary supplements. They contain beneficial bacteria that help regulate the digestive system by restoring a balanced level of good bacteria in the gut flora. In this way, probiotics reduce inflammation throughout the body and boost overall immunity. They may also promote healthy skin and coat growth by acting as anti-inflammatories on inflamed tissues.
Digestive health
One of the most important benefits of probiotic supplementation is its ability to improve your dog’s digestion. This can be particularly helpful if your dog is having difficulty digesting food properly, or is suffering from bloating or loose stools due to poor gut health. The extra beneficial bacteria provided by a probiotic supplement helps to break down food more efficiently while increasing nutrient absorption.
Immune system support
The extra good bacteria provided by a probiotic supplement helps strengthen your puppy’s immune system against infections and disease-causing pathogens such as E-Coli or Salmonella. Research has shown that regular probiotic supplementation can increase the production of white blood cells, which play an important role in fighting off any foreign invaders that enter the body. As a result, it reduces your pet’s risk of developing common infections such as kennel cough, parvo virus and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Skin and coat health
The anti-inflammatory effect of probiotics on inflamed tissue helps to improve skin health by reducing itching, dryness, redness and other signs of irritation. In addition, research shows that daily probiotic supplementation may also promote coat growth, resulting in a softer, shinier coat over time.
Weight management
Regular use of a high quality probiotic supplement can help support weight management goals in dogs by providing additional fibre, which increases satiety after meals. This means that your furry friend will feel fuller sooner, which means they will eat smaller portions at mealtimes, resulting in lower calorie consumption throughout the day.
Allergy reduction
Regular use of probiotics can help reduce allergy symptoms such as severe itching, sneezing, coughing and runny eyes caused by environmental allergens such as pollen or dust particles. This is because when there is an imbalance between bad and good bacteria in the stomach, it affects how our bodies react when exposed to different substances such as pollen or dust particles, causing an allergic reaction. Therefore, supplementing with high quality probiotics helps to restore the proper balance within the gut flora, leading to fewer allergy-related problems over time.
Improved behaviour & mood
Recent studies have shown that regular consumption of certain types of beneficial bacteria can have a positive effect on mood regulation, thereby improving behavioural problems such as anxiety, aggression or hyperactivity seen in some pets. It works by restoring balance in the gut, which directly affects areas of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, leading to less anxious behaviour over time.
Supporting heart health
Supplementation with certain types of beneficial bacterial strains can help reduce levels of bad cholesterol due to their ability to absorb bile acids produced during the digestive process, preventing them from re-entering our bloodstream where they could potentially raise LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease in later life if left unchecked for too long.
