So many dogs have GI tract issues due to inappropriate diet, stress, and other environmental problems. Prebiotics and probiotics provide nutrients to the gut microbiome that promote healing of the inflamed intestinal tract and lead to better overall health and longevity for your dog. Postbiotics are the end by-products of a healthy gut microbiome that play a significant role in your dog's metabolism.

Prebiotics are soluble dietary fibers that withstand digestion throughout the GI tract, allowing them to enter the colon undigested. In the colon, they ferment and create short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that stimulate the growth and activity of the body's beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics improve the composition of the gut flora by providing food for the beneficial bacteria, decreasing inflammation, supporting the immune system, and reducing the overall risk of disease. 

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) –Derived from fruit and root vegetables fructose molecules, FOS effectively regulates the canine intestinal microbiome and improves mineral absorption. 

Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) –Derived from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. MOS improves the immune system.

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are derived from dairy, beans, and root vegetables.

Inulin is the indigestible starch found in many fruits and vegetables.

Beta-glucan is the medicinal ingredient in mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms include shiitake, maitake, oyster, reishi, lion's mane, turkey tail, Cordyceps, button, Chaga, and king.

Mushrooms can be provided as an extract, in a soup, or made into a porridge. Dried powdered mushrooms are commercially available in pills and powders.

The benefits of mushrooms include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, and tumor-reduction properties. Mushrooms protect against viral and infectious diseases, stimulate the gut microbiome, stimulate the immune system, promote heart, liver, and GI tract health, manage diabetes, and delay aging. They are also used to prevent and treat intestinal parasitic diseases.

Chicory root naturally has a semi-sweet taste, making it very palatable for your dog. The medicinal property of chicory root is its high levels of inulin.

Chicory root benefits include improvement in digestion, anti-inflammatory properties for the GI tract that aid with constipation, acts as an antioxidant, and acts as an antiparasitic as the natural oil emitted by chicory is thought to assist in the elimination of intestinal parasites. 

You have probably been told that garlic is toxic to dogs. However, garlic has many benefits. It is only harmful in massive amounts!

The medicinal component of garlic is allicin, which is released when garlic is chopped or crushed. The benefits of garlic include preventing blood clots, regulating blood pressure, stimulating the lymphatic system, anti-cancer properties, antibiotic, anti-fungal, and antiparasitic properties.

Larch arabinogalactan is a soluble fiber found in small amounts in carrots, pears, corn, coconut, shiitake mushrooms, and some herbs like echinacea and astragalus. True larch arabinogalactan is found in the Western Larch tree as wood gum.

Benefits of larch arabinogalactan include protection of the intestinal lining against viruses and pathogenic bacteria, anti-inflammatory properties, management of diabetes, immune system support through the stimulation of macrophages and natural killer cells, anti-cancer properties, and support in the management of allergies, skin disorders, and ear infections.

There are many larch arabinogalactan supplements commercially available. Follow the instructions on the label to supply the correct dose to your dog.

Burdock root, although considered a weed, is abundant in inulin. The benefits of burdock root include support of the urinary bladder and the kidneys, support for skin issues, management of diabetes, detoxification of the liver, and acting as an antioxidant.

Burdock root also has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and treats cancer. It supplies many nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and B vitamins.

To prepare burdock root, you create a tonic by mixing 1 cup of cold water with 1-2 teaspoons of the dried form of burdock root (not the powder) or two tablespoons of fresh. Reduce the heat and simmer for roughly twenty minutes. Remove from heat and allow the tonic to cool for ten more minutes.  

The dosage for tonic is to add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon for every 10 lbs of your dog's body weight to his food daily.

Dandelion greens are abundant in vitamin C, K, beta-carotene, potassium, and inulin. You must use dandelion greens that you know have not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides!

Using a few leaves added to your dog's bowl weekly will provide excellent benefits, including support and detoxification of the liver, antioxidant properties, and acting as a natural diuretic and appetite stimulant.

Apples, bananas, and asparagus can all be used as treats, but avoid giving apple seeds to your dog as they can cause GI upset. Use bananas sparingly because they are high in carbohydrates and sugar. Just one inch a day or a half of a banana two times a week is sufficient. 

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that aid in restoring your dog's gut microbiome. They are supplied in fermented foods or as supplements. 

Probiotics' roles include aiding digestion, providing immune support, aiding in the absorption of critical nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and iron, and providing a protective barrier against cancer-causing toxins, drugs, heavy metals, and possible allergens.  

Probiotics assist in producing vitamin K, vitamin B complex, enzymes, and serotonin.

Because probiotics cause a reduction in the gut pH, there is also a reduction in the growth of pathogen bacteria. Probiotics support the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). 

The benefits of SCFA include providing nutrients to the good bacteria, promoting the growth of the good bacteria, which in turn overcomes the harmful bacteria, assisting in the production of a healthy protective mucus layer that lines the intestinal tract, reducing glucose levels, which aids in the reduction of metabolic disease and obesity, the output of  T-cells, an essential component of the immune system; reducing chronic inflammation; protecting the intestinal lining from food allergens and increasing the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and iron. 

When there are even minor alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome, there can be substantial impacts on the dog's health. Many causes for shifts in the types of bacteria present lead to dysbiosis. 

The use of antibiotics is a common cause of dysbiosis. After a course of antibiotic therapy, it is best to provide your dog with either Saccharomyces boulardii or soil-based probiotics (Bacillus subtilises and Bacillus coagulans). 

Medications, exposure to toxins, aging, and eating an ultra-processed diet high in starch or fat are other ways your dog's gut microbiome can become compromised.

Many disorders within your dog's body result from the shift in the gut flora. Probiotics are very beneficial to your dog with these disorders, including leaky gut syndrome, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), yeast (Candida) overgrowth-often caused by antibiotic use, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, IBD, pancreatitis, and obesity. Skin issues due to food allergies and behavioral issues can stem from dysbiosis.

Microorganisms used for probiotics must pass the stomach–duodenum barrier without being destroyed to multiply and thrive in the large intestine. 

The probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardiiis is used to treat acute diarrhea and other digestive issues caused by chronic gut inflammation. This strain is also antibiotic-resistant.

Bacilli strains of probiotics are spore-forming bacteria that overcome harmful bacteria in the gut. With their anti-inflammatory properties, they are used for inflammatory digestive diseases.

Akkermansia muciniphila has recently been shown to have remarkable benefits for your dog. It promotes a healthy GI mucosal lining and supports the motility within the GI tract, preventing diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Probiotics in Food 

Probiotic yogurt is popular due to marketing campaigns for humans. However, common problems associated with using yogurt as a probiotic are that many dogs are sensitive to dairy products, resulting in inflammation and immune issues. Also, yogurt contains very few probiotics and is usually high in sugar.

Kefir is also a popular probiotic, but it can cause digestion issues due to the dairy component when fed to dogs.

Fermented foods such as Chaga and kimchi are abundant in prebiotics and probiotics. However, the taste may be too tangy for your dog.

Probiotic supplements should also contain prebiotics. Look at the label for "Contains Prebiotics" or a list of prebiotic foods in the ingredients.

You need to provide the proper amount of probiotics to be effective. Lactic acid bacteria are easily destroyed in the gut, so they must be supplied in large amounts, at least 10 billion CFU (colony forming units) for a healthy dog and up to 25-50 billion CFU for dogs suffering from digestive issues or immune disorders.

Provide Saccharomyces boulardii in a dose of 5 billion CFU. and Bacillus strains at 1 billion CFU.

For your dog's gut to truly heal, you must provide the complete combination of prebiotics and probiotics. If probiotics are given to unprepared gut flora, they will be less likely to colonize in the mucosal lining and eventually die off without the concurrent use of prebiotics. By preparing the gut with prebiotics, food that feeds the bacteria in probiotics, the probiotics will flourish and start crowding out the harmful bacteria.  

The term postbiotics is gaining popularity. Postbiotics, also called bioactive micro and macro-molecules, are derived from the microbiome in the gut. These substances play significant roles in regulating the host's metabolic pathways and promoting the growth, development, and reproduction of beneficial organisms. 

Digestive issues are common in dogs and can be influenced by diet, stress, medications, and environmental factors. A healthy gut begins with a healthy gut microbiome, the community of beneficial microorganisms that lives in the digestive tract. These microorganisms help support digestion, immune function, and overall health.

Prebiotics and Probiotics Boost Your Dog's Health

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