Can Your Dog Take Human Probiotics?

There’s a lot we share with our furry friends. Just as we need our gut health to stay balanced, our dogs also need the right supplements to keep up with their gut. With so much said and promised regarding probiotics for humans, we don’t blame you for asking – can my dog take human probiotics?

Why Probiotics for Dogs?

Like their human friends, dogs can highly benefit from taking probiotics. There’s research suggesting that probiotics can positively impact dogs with chronic gastrointestinal abnormalities, liver disease, obesity, and even behavioral disorders.

Also, probiotics can help dogs with allergy symptoms, regulating bowel function, and improving their breath. Probiotics for dogs have almost the same benefits as human-grade probiotics, so why not share them?

Types of Probiotics for Dogs

The issue with sharing lies within the different types of probiotics. Some probiotics strains can support a dog’s gut health, and they may work within their system. These strands include:

• Enterococcus faecium
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Bifidobacterium animalis

However, from all those strands, you will only find lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in human probiotics. Not to mention, the bacteria in human-grade probiotics can help strengthen our intestinal tract – not your dog’s.

Does My Pooch Need Probiotics?

Many dogs can benefit from taking probiotics; however, discussing with your vet is always the best practice before introducing a new supplement. In the meantime, look for these signs that show your dog could benefit from probiotics:

• Whining
• Scratching
• Bad breath
• Bad odor
• Diarrhea and loose stool
• Itchy and flaky skin
• Ear infections

Are Human Probiotics Safe for Dogs?

It’s hard to tell. While there are no studies proven otherwise, most veterinarians will recommend pet owners to op for pet-specific probiotics that contain the specific strains your dog’s gut needs.

What Would You Do?

Now that you know a bit more about pet versus human probiotics, we want to know: would you give your dog human-grade probiotics? Join the conversation in the quiz below.