When it comes to taking care of your dog, one way you can do so is through the use of supplements. Supplements are designed to provide health benefits to your dog. Probiotics are one type of supplement you can give your dog. Before you start to give your dog probiotic supplements, it is important to understand the use of probiotics as well as the pros and cons of giving your dog a probiotic supplement.

Probiotics Add in Digestion

Just like with people, probiotics for your dog are also designed to help aid in your dog's digestive process. They do this by providing your dog's digestive system with the good bacteria your dog needs in order to easily break down dog food. Probiotics for dogs are designed to help more easily extract the nutrients that your dog needs from their food.

Increase Quality of Stool

Sometimes, your dog might have a hard time going to the bathroom. Probiotic supplements are designed to help your dog have more frequent and higher quality stool. This feature can be helpful if your dog has a sensitive digestive system.

Help with Digestive Issues

Dog probiotic supplements are also designed to help with other digestive issues, such as intestinal inflammation and UTIs. If your dog suffers from either intestinal inflammation or UTIs, you should check with your vet to see if using probiotic supplements will be beneficial for your dog.

Many Probiotics Need to Be Refrigerated

Due to the ingredients that they contain, many dog probiotic supplements need to be refrigerated in order to stay fresh.

They also have short-term expiration dates, so you need to watch the expiration date and make sure you give your dog the full supplement before the date or throw it out when it reaches its expiration date. Due to the refrigerated nature of probiotic supplements, they don't have the long shelf life of other supplements.

The Right Dosage Is Critical

With dog probiotics, the right dosage is critical. The right dosage is based on the size of your dog and may also be based on the breed of your dog. Always follow the dosage recommendations on the package and provided by your vet. Don't just wing the dosage, as the wrong dosage can lead to issues such as diarrhea and discomfort for your dog.

Dog Probiotic Supplements Are Not the Same as Human Probiotic Supplements

You should not try to give your dog probiotic supplements made for humans, nor should you take your dog's probiotic supplements.

Dog's probiotic supplements contain the right bacteria that your dog needs to break down dog food, which is different than the bacteria you need to break down human food, so don't mix up these two things just because they both have the word probiotic in them.

When it comes to taking care of your dog's digestive health, dog probiotic supplements can help aid your dog's digestion, reduce digestive issues, and result in more consistent stool. Always administer supplements according to the directions provided by your vet and by the manufacture. With dog probiotic supplements, keep an eye on the expiration date and refrigerate them if called for.

Contact a pet supplement distributor to learn more.