Does my pet need probiotics?
Taking care of your pet's gut health is essential to maintain overall health and keep your pet feeling their best. Dog probiotics and cat probiotics offer a simple and natural way to keep your pet's gut healthy and improve their digestion, and a great step to incorporate into your pet's routine.
Signs your pet needs probiotics
Probiotics for pets can be used both as a preventative measure to stay on top of gut health and to treat gastrointestinal and digestive issues. Some signs your pet needs a probiotic supplement are:
- Soft stool or diarrhoea
- Irregular bowel habits
- Stomach discomfort
- Excessive gas
- Allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, or itchy skin
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bad breath not caused by bad dental hygiene
- Change in behaviour
- Recurrent vomiting
- Low energy
- Repeated ear or yeast infections
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to book an appointment to see your vet. Some dog and cat breeds are more susceptible to digestive disorders and gastrointestinal issues, such as German Shepherd dogs.
How probiotic supplements work
Probiotic supplements introduce beneficial bacteria into your pet's digestive tract, which helps break down food and absorb nutrients. They help to rebalance the microbiome, support the gut lining, calm inflammation, and improve digestion. This leads to better stool quality, less gas, and fewer flare-ups in the gastrointestinal tract.
Most pets begin to see improved symptoms such as firmer stools and more energy after one to three weeks of probiotics.
What options are available?
Gut health supplements for pets come in several different forms, including powder, paste, and capsules. The right form of probiotic supplement for your pet depends on their individual needs, so make sure to speak to your vet if you are unsure what kind of probiotic supplement will work best for your pet. PetPA sells a range of probiotic and digestive supplements from various brands including Pro Plan, Protexin Veterinary, and ZamiPet.
Gut health supplement options
- Pro Plan FortiFlora powder sachets
- Protexin Veterinary Pro Kolin paste
- ZamiPet High Strength Probiotics+ Gut Protect powder sachets
-
ProN8ure Multi-Strain Probiotic Powder
- Protexin Veterinary Synbiotic D-C capsules
- PAW Digesticare powder
- Natural Animal Solutions Gut Balance Probiotic
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What else can I do to help my pet's gut health?
Specialty diets that support digestive and gastrointestinal health, such as those from Royal Canin, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Pro Plan, are a great option for daily gut health care if recommended by your vet.
If your pet eats too fast, a slow feeder can help them slow down during meal times, which reduces bloating and improves digestion.
Can I give my pet human probiotics?
Probiotic formulas for humans are made with different ingredients and may not always be effective or even safe for cats and dogs to consume. Always make sure to use supplements designed specifically for cats or dogs.
Where can I buy Pro Kolin for dogs?
Protexin Veterinary Pro Kolin+ paste, Pro Kolin Enterogenic sachets and Pro Kolin Advanced paste are all available from PetPA with fur-ever low prices!
