How to add probiotic powder to your dog's or cat's dinner

A probiotic powder only does its job if it goes in the bowl every day, and it only goes in the bowl every day if it is easy. This is the practical side: how much, how to hide it, and what to do when a cat decides the dinner has been tampered with.

How much

The Petdentist® 90 g probiotic powder comes with a flat 3 g scoop. Cats of all sizes get one scoop. Dogs up to 7 kg get half a scoop, 7 to 17 kg one scoop, 18 to 40 kg two scoops, and over 40 kg two to three scoops. Once a day is the serving; there is no benefit in giving more, and the label says not to exceed it. The 500 g High Fibre powder for dogs has its own 10 g scoop and its own serving table on the tub.

Start gradually

Give half the serving for the first three or four days, then the full serving. A sudden change to anything in the diet can unsettle a stomach, and a gradual start avoids it. If your pet has loose stools that do not settle, or any change in appetite, stop and speak to your vet; the powder is a complementary feed for healthy pets, not a remedy, and Petdentist® products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

Wet food

The easiest route. Sprinkle the serving over the food and stir it through with a fork. The powder is fine and mild and disappears into pâté, chunks in gravy or raw food without a trace.

Dry food

Powder slides off dry kibble and ends up at the bottom of the bowl. Sprinkle it on, then add a splash of warm water or a spoonful of wet food and stir so the powder coats the kibble. Some owners mix it into a little plain yoghurt or a spoon of the pet's usual wet food and serve that first, before the dry food.

The fussy cat

Cats notice everything. Start with a quarter of a scoop stirred into a food the cat already loves, and build up over a week. Serve it when the cat is hungry rather than topping up a full bowl. If your cat sniffs and walks away, mix the powder into a teaspoon of water and offer it on your finger, or stir it into a lickable treat. Most cats accept it within a few days once it is simply part of dinner.

Multi-pet homes

The 90 g powder is for both dogs and cats, so one tub serves the house, but each pet needs its own serving in its own bowl. A 40 kg dog and a cat eating from a shared dish will not get the right amounts. If you have a dog on the High Fibre powder, keep it for the dog; it is not for cats.

Storage and hygiene

• Keep the lid tightly closed between servings and store below 30°C in a cool, dry cupboard. No fridge.
• Use the scoop provided and keep it dry; a wet scoop clumps the powder.
• Do not use the tub if the seal is broken, and finish it within the storage life on the label.
• Fresh drinking water should always be available.

Where it fits in the routine

Dinner is also a good moment for the dental routine: brush the outer surfaces of the teeth with a pet toothpaste before the food goes down, then the probiotic serving goes over the food. The probiotic supports normal digestion; it does nothing for the teeth, and we do not pretend it does. Brushing is the dental part. Our article on what a complementary feed can and cannot do covers the claims to be wary of.

Questions people ask

Can I give the powder with other supplements?

Usually yes, but if your pet is on any medication or under veterinary care, ask your vet before adding a complementary feed.

Can I give it in the morning instead of at dinner?

Yes. Once a day at whatever meal is easiest to remember; consistency matters more than the time.

How long does a tub last?

The 90 g tub is 30 servings of 3 g, so a month for a cat or a 7 to 17 kg dog, two months for a dog under 7 kg, and about two weeks for a dog over 40 kg. The 500 g High Fibre tub lasts a medium dog around five weeks.

Read next: Probiotics for dogs: what a complementary feed can and cannot do, Caring for your dog's teeth at home, Shop probiotics.

About the author. Dr Deepak Songra BDS (GDC 68552) is a dental surgeon with more than 35 years in clinical practice and the founder of Petdentist®. He is not a vet. He lives with Merlo, the Cavapoo you will see across this site.

This article is general information about daily care, not veterinary advice. Petdentist® products are non-medicinal daily-care products for dogs and cats and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are worried about your pet, please see your vet. Petdentist® is the trading name of Pet Dentist L.L.C-FZ, Meydan Grandstand, 6th Floor, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE. UK orders are dispatched from Northampton.