Probiotics for Dogs: A UK Owner's Guide to Gut Health

If you have ever wondered whether your dog needs a probiotic, you are not alone. Probiotic chews have become one of the most popular dog supplements in the UK. This guide explains, in plain English, what probiotics and prebiotics are, what the numbers on the label mean, how to choose a good product and when you should speak to your vet instead.

What are probiotics?

Your dog's gut is home to trillions of bacteria. Together they are called the gut microbiome, and a balanced microbiome is part of healthy, everyday digestion. Probiotics are live, friendly bacteria added to food or supplements to help maintain that balance. Common strains in dog products include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Bacillus species.

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are not bacteria. They are types of fibre, such as FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), inulin and chicory root, that the friendly bacteria feed on. Think of probiotics as the seeds and prebiotics as the fertiliser. Many good products contain both.

What does CFU mean?

CFU stands for colony-forming units. It is the standard way of counting how many live bacteria a product contains, usually in millions or billions per serving. A higher number is not automatically better, but a clearly stated CFU figure per serving is a sign that the manufacturer is being transparent. Be wary of products that list probiotics without saying how many.

How to choose a probiotic for your dog

• A clear CFU figure per serving. You should be able to see exactly how many live bacteria your dog gets each day.
• Named strains. Good labels list each strain by name rather than just saying "probiotic blend".
• Prebiotics included. Fibres such as FOS and inulin give the friendly bacteria something to feed on.
• A feeding guide by weight in kilograms. Dogs vary enormously in size, so the amount should too.
• Quality manufacturing. Look for products made in a facility certified to recognised standards such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and ISO 9001.
• A format your dog will actually take. Soft chews are easy to give as a treat, with no powders to mix in or tablets to hide.
• An honest label. In the UK, supplements are sold as complementary feed. They support normal health; they are not medicines and should not claim to treat or cure illness.

How to introduce a probiotic

Start slowly. Give about half the recommended daily amount for the first week, then build up to the full amount. This gives your dog's digestion time to adjust. You can split the daily amount between morning and evening, and always make sure fresh drinking water is available.

Probiotics work best as part of a routine, so give them every day rather than now and again. Keep the tub sealed and store it somewhere cool and dry.

Everyday habits that support a healthy gut

• Feed a complete, good-quality diet and change foods gradually over about a week.
• Keep treats and table scraps to a minimum.
• Make sure your dog always has fresh water.
• Keep up regular exercise, which also helps digestion.

When to speak to your vet

A supplement is not a replacement for veterinary care. Please contact your vet if your dog has diarrhoea or vomiting that lasts more than a day, blood in their stools, a sudden change in appetite or energy, or if they seem unwell in any way. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with existing health conditions can become poorly more quickly, so seek advice sooner.

Our probiotic chews

Lakshio probiotic chews for dogs provide 6 billion CFU from five named probiotic strains per 2 chews, together with prebiotics (FOS, inulin and chicory root), digestive enzymes and pumpkin. Each 300 g tub holds 120 soft chews, they are made in a GMP and ISO 9001:2015-certified facility, and delivery is free across the UK. You can see our full range for digestion on our gut health supplements for dogs page.

This guide is general information for dog owners and is not veterinary advice.