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SEPTEMBER 24, 2020--All bacteria are not as harmful as evident from probiotics, which are helpful bacteria that improve dog health. These bacteria occur naturally in the digestive tracts and available as supplements that can help your dog

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develop a robust immune system that can take care of several health issues related to digestive tract and allergies. Different species of probiotics like Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus are present in the intestine. Additional supplements can help maintain the right levels that ensure good health, especially during and after antibiotic and steroid treatments.

The best probiotics for dogs are available in different forms like chews and powder, and you can choose the type by considering what your dog likes.   Probiotics ensure that the dog’s immune system remains strong by ensuring a healthy digestive system, which largely contributes to building a robust immune system. Providing a daily dose of probiotics is an effective way to strengthen your dog's digestive health. Like humans that benefit a lot from probiotics, dogs, too, can derive similar health benefits.

Probiotics for dogs

Probiotics are bacteria or yeast, which are living microorganisms that offer several health benefits when administered to dogs or humans.  Vets believe in probiotics' power to cure a variety of diseases and illnesses, especially the ones related to the gastrointestinal system. They inhibit the spread and growth of harmful bacteria like E Coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella while providing other advantages to the intestine. When probiotics are added to the body, it passes through the body and builds colonies in the intestine. It starts giving several benefits like treating or preventing diarrhea, improving inflammatory bowel disease, and other intestinal conditions.

Beneficial for dogs

Regular use of probiotics has positive health effects on dogs as the supply of healthy bacteria impacts chronic GI abnormalities positively and does a lot of good for liver disease, obesity, and behavior and mood disorders. Besides, daily intake of probiotics has some other benefits too for dogs like improving skin and coat appearance, improved breath, reduction in gas and allergy symptoms, and a reduction in yeast associated disorders while regulating the bowel function. 

Types of dog probiotics

Probiotics are available in different forms for dogs and other animals, and humans have for long benefited from it. From pills to powders and paste as well as solutions, probiotics are available in various forms.  Each probiotic supplement can contain multiple bacteria or yeast that serve multiple functions. For example, to slow down diarrhea in dogs, it is advisable to use probiotics that contain Bifidobacterium, which is also helpful in boosting the overall immune system. Other strains like Lactobacillus is well known or increasing the absorption of nutrients and optimize the digestive system.

It will be hard to find a single probiotic supplement that serves multiple purposes. Consult your veterinarian to choose the appropriate probiotic after going through some trials to understand how effective it is for your dog. Choose probiotics especially meant for dogs, although there is no clear evidence about how effective probiotics for humans might be for dogs.