Probiotics for dogs: what a complementary feed can and cannot do

Walk down any pet aisle and probiotics are credited with everything from shinier coats to fresher breath. We sell two probiotic powders, so it would be easy to join in. We would rather tell you what they are, what the words on the label mean, and where the line is.

What a complementary feed is

In Great Britain a probiotic powder for pets is a complementary feed: something you add to a normal diet rather than a food in its own right, and not a veterinary medicine. The live microorganisms in it are feed additives, and the ones that can be used are listed and authorised for the species. The label has to describe the product truthfully, which is why ours says it supports normal digestion and a balanced gut in healthy dogs and cats, and nothing more.

What 'supports normal digestion' means

It means the product is part of keeping a healthy gut doing what a healthy gut does. It does not mean the product fixes an upset stomach, a food intolerance or anything a vet would diagnose. If your dog has loose stools that do not settle, vomiting, a change in appetite or weight, or is on medication, that is a conversation with your vet before you add anything to the bowl.

What is in ours

The Petdentist® 90 g probiotic powder is for dogs and cats. Each 3 g serving carries 17 live strains at 73 billion CFU, in a neutral base with no salt, wheat, gluten, lactose, artificial colours or artificial preservatives. One tub is 30 servings and it needs no fridge. The 500 g High Fibre probiotic powder is for dogs only and is made in the UK: 45.2% crude fibre from oat bran, alfalfa and beetroot, with the gut flora stabiliser Enterococcus faecium, vitamin C and coenzyme Q10. Choose the 90 g tub for cats or a straightforward probiotic, and the High Fibre tub for a dog you also want to give more fibre. It contains oats and wheat.

How to serve it

• Sprinkle the daily serving over food, or stir it into a little water, once a day.
• 90 g powder: cats 1 scoop (3 g); dogs up to 7 kg half a scoop; 7 to 17 kg 1 scoop; 18 to 40 kg 2 scoops; over 40 kg 2 to 3 scoops.
• Introduce it gradually over three or four days, starting with half the serving.
• Keep the lid tightly closed and store below 30°C.
• Fresh drinking water should always be available.

Our guide to adding probiotic powder to a pet's dinner covers fussy eaters, wet versus dry food and multi-pet homes.

Where it sits in the Petdentist routine

Our routine is brushing first, dental play second, and a balanced diet around both. The probiotic is part of the diet side. It is not a dental product, it does nothing for the teeth, and it does not replace a single brushing session. We put the probiotic in the routine because owners who think about one daily habit tend to keep the others, not because it does anything for the mouth.

Claims to be wary of

• Anything that says a probiotic treats, cures or prevents a condition. A complementary feed is not allowed to make that claim, and if it needs to, it is a medicine and needs a vet.
• Anything that promises results in a set number of days. A daily feed is part of the normal diet, not a course with an end point.
• Anything that credits a probiotic with fresher breath or cleaner teeth. Breath and teeth come from brushing and the vet.
• Strain counts without the strains named. The strain names and amounts should be on the label, as they are on ours.

Questions people ask

Can my dog and cat share one tub?

Yes, the 90 g powder is for both, at the serving sizes above. The 500 g High Fibre powder is for dogs only.

Does the powder need to go in the fridge?

No. Keep it below 30°C in a cool, dry place with the lid closed, and do not use it if the seal is broken.

My dog is on medication. Can I add a probiotic?

Ask your vet first. The same applies to any dog that is unwell, pregnant or under veterinary care.

Read next: How to add probiotic powder to your pet's dinner, 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.