Can Dogs Take Human Probiotics?

Can Dogs Take Human Probiotics?
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Every pet parent wants a healthy, happy dog full of tail-wagging swagger. We buy the best dog food possible and shower our pup's with endless treats and toys. It's always tempting to give them things we adore for ourselves, and you've probably done it more than once. But caution is warranted when discussing digestive issues, intestinal bacteria, and allergic reactions. We want the best for our dog's health, and it's not unusual to ask, "Can dogs take human probiotics?"

 

If your canine's gut health is suspect, your dog's food may not be to blame. Both humans and canines carry good and bad bacteria in their digestive systems, and what's good for human consumption may differ for our four-pawed friends. So before you give your furry friend probiotics for humans, you owe it to yourself and your pup to read our in-depth guide on the differences between probiotics for dogs and people and what works best for your dog's immune system!

 

What Are Human Probiotics?

Human probiotic supplements use live, good bacteria to combat the bad bacteria that cause bacterial infections or impair normal bodily functions. The word "probiotics" is an amalgamation of two words that mean "for life" — the Latin word "pro," meaning "for," and the Greek word "biotic," meaning "life." We have both good and harmful bacteria in our bodies, and human-grade probiotics rely on beneficial bacteria to support our immune system.

 

Human probiotics can help to:

 

  • Fight bacterial imbalance stress
  • Keep good gut health
  • Maintain healthy microbes and microbiome
  • Avoid intestinal inflammation
  • Reduce urinary tract infections
  • Minimize the effects of food allergies

 

The opposite of a human probiotic is an antibiotic. Taking an antibiotic treatment to treat a bacterial infection often kills both bad and good bacteria. Probiotics replenish and recharge your body's natural, good bacterial strains to get your body back in balance.

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palm full of human probiotics

 

 

Are Probiotics for People Harmful to Dogs?

Human probiotics are typically not harmful to dogs. However, that does not mean that probiotics for people are beneficial for dogs. As a general rule, it's best to avoid giving human probiotics to your dog. Most importantly, while we're both mammals, dogs, and humans have different strains of bacteria in their systems. When you introduce human probiotics into a dog's microbiome, you're altering their natural bacteria, which might not be for the best.

 

 

Can You Give Dogs Human Probiotics?

In theory, yes, you can give your dog human probiotics, but it's not advised that you do. Humans and dogs have very different gut flora. Probiotics for humans contain bacteria meant to strengthen the human digestive tract. Therefore, giving your dog probiotics meant for humans may not deliver the intended results you're looking for and can possibly do more harm than good.

 

There's a notion that if something is made for people, then it's okay for canines. A good example is that vets often discourage feeding your dog table scraps or other leftovers as they can lead to digestive issues. The same idea holds true for probiotics; stick with human probiotics for people and probiotic supplements made for dogs.

 

 

Why Shouldn't Dogs Take Human Probiotics?

Human probiotics are not designed for a dog's digestive system, and that's why reputable companies make specific dog probiotics for our four-pawed friends. A dog's digestive enzymes and overall digestive tract differ from ours. Dogs also have much more acid in their stomach than humans. Additionally, a dog's intestines are also shorter, which affects how dogs process food and nutrients. Most importantly, it's essential to know that probiotics for humans contain live bacteria strains that can help people but may actually inflame the digestive or allergy issues you're trying to solve for your dog.

 

 

What Should You Look For in Dog Probiotics?

Remember, probiotics are essentially live, packaged bacteria, and it's critical to ensure you're giving high-quality dog probiotics to your tail-wagger. At a minimum, look for products that contain millions of live cultures in every meal. The best dog probiotics also contain ingredients that provide additional support for your pup's healthy digestive tract, skin, and coat.

 

With so many companies selling questionable probiotics for dogs, we highly recommend you check and see if independent, third-party labs test a brand's products and provide the results to concerned dog owners. You'll be happy to know that at HolistaPet, all our probiotics for dogs are certified by third-party labs for purity and potency.

 

 

vet examining a dogs stomach

 

 

Are Probiotics Safe for Dogs?

High-quality probiotic strains for dogs are safe if you purchase them from reputable companies (like HolitsaPet) and follow the recommended dose. In the event that a particular product does not seem to help or makes matters worse, talk to your vet about probiotic supplements for your dog's diet. A daily probiotic may be just what the doctor orders!

 

It's important to understand that for good efficacy, probiotic supplements often need to be ingested on a regular basis. While occasionally giving them to your dog might not raise an issue, repeated use may cause discomfort such as bloating, dog diarrhea, or other digestional issues.

 

 

Signs Your Dog Needs a Probiotic

A dog's digestive tract depends on a healthy immune system and a healthy gut. Without it, you'll surely notice digestive issues or other signs that all is not well.

 

Some signs that your dog needs a probiotic supplement include:

 

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Flatulence or other gastrointestinal system issues
  • Raw, sensitive skin, and scratching due to food or other allergies

 

Probiotics support dogs' digestive systems and immune systems for an excellent, healthy microbiome that eases digestive issues or allergy-related discomfort. Ultimately, you and your canine want a desirable intestinal microbial balance to keep Rover roving and loving life — probiotics for dogs can help.

 

 

Why Choose HolistaPet for Probiotics for Dogs?

At HolisaPet, we take probiotic quality and efficacy seriously and offer the best dog probiotics to help whatever may be ailing your pup. We only use natural ingredients and never add artificial sweeteners, flavors, fillers, or colors. It's quite literally the opposite of what most dogs eat and a much-needed break from what they're used to!

 

We make our probiotics for dogs right here in the USA. To ensure the purity and potency of our products, we provide third-party lab-tested Certificates of Analysis (COA) with every one of our dog supplements. A COA is a third-party document that certifies our products are safe for canine gut health and consumption. And you can rest easy knowing that our probiotics for dogs contain a variety of live microorganisms to help a range of digestion issues for your dog's gut health.

 

 

happy couple holding holistapet probiotics

 

 

Find the Right Probiotic for Your Pup

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to proper digestive health or allergy support, and that's why we offer a range of top-quality probiotic products. When it comes to pet health, HolistaPet provides a range of products to help your best friend live their best life:

 

Probiotic Soft Chews for Dogs

Unlike other companies, we don't skimp on the microorganisms in our canine probiotics! Our flagship dog probiotic supplements contain a proprietary blend of nine different types of live bacteria, providing three billion — yes, that's billion with a b! — CFUs of :

 

  • L. acidophilus
  • L. casei
  • L. salivarius
  • L. plantarum
  • L. rhamnosus
  • L. brevis
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Streptococcus thermophilus
  • B. lactis/longum

 

In addition to this proprietary blend of probiotics, our Probiotics Soft Chews for Dogs also includes a savory pumpkin and sweet potato flavor to add even more comforting support for your dog's stomach. Give these to your dog as a treat or a tasty complement to your pup's favorite dog foods — the choice is yours!

 

Multivitamin Soft Chews for Dogs

What's in our scrumptious Multivitamin Soft Chews for Dogs? Probiotics, vitamins, glucosamine, and MSM to support mobility, and salmon oil for a shiny, healthy coat.

 

It's all-around health and wellness all year long with our savory, bacon-flavored probiotic supplement that also includes:

 

  • Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric
  • Coenzyme Q10, a natural antioxidant
  • 500 million CFUs of a proprietary probiotic blend of B. subtilis and B. coagulans bacteria

 

Fresh Breath Soft Chews for Dogs

Not only do our Fresh Breath Soft Chews for Dogs support fresher breath and better dental health, but they also contain a proprietary probiotic blend with 300 million CFUs:

 

  • L. acidophilus
  • L. casei
  • L. salivarius
  • L. plantarum
  • L. rhamnosus
  • L. brevis
  • Bifidobacterium bifidum
  • Streptococcus thermophilus
  • B. lactis/longum

 

Each chew also comes packed with a garden of fresh breath and better health with:

 

  • Spirulina, a blue-green algae that supports immune system function
  • Kelp Powder, a powerful antioxidant
  • Parsley Powder, a natural diuretic
  • Peppermint Leaf Powder to freshen breath and improve digestion
  • Coriander, another all-natural diuretic

 

Every HolistaPet Probiotic Supplement Passes the Pooch Test

We test all our probiotic products with independent, third-party labs to ensure impartial results and then issue a COA for every batch. A QR code on the product label leads to the COA so that you can judge the results for yourself! We want our customers to know they purchase the best probiotics for dogs possible because we know nothing but the best will do for your pet child's health!

 

 

happy dog laying on gross

 

 

Save Money & Shop With Confidence at HolistaPet

You can be confident in our probiotics for dogs, and we walk the walk with free shipping for orders of $50 and above! When you sign up for our HolistaPoints reward program, you earn reward points on every order that you can apply for future savings.

 

You can save even more when you join our HolistaPal+ Membership program. Some of the many benefits you'll receive include:

 

  • 30% off every order
  • Free shipping with no minimum spend
  • Double Reward Points on every order
  • News about upcoming savings, deals, and products

 

 

Final Thoughts - Can Dogs Take Human Probiotics?

Every pet parent wants a healthy dog brimming with love, life, and happiness. Don't let digestive issues or allergic relations affect the joy your pup brings into your life. Probiotics work well in people, but for dogs, ensure the live bacteria and microorganisms in the natural probiotics you give them are made for a dog's digestive system.

 

Probiotics for dogs help keep your furry friend's GI tract in balance. Good, healthy bacteria help a dog's system with bacterial strains meant for dogs, not humans. While we love our dogs like human children, it's best to give them dog probiotics for the inner wolf inside them! So shout out a howl and order canine probiotics for your pack today by visiting our HolistaPet shop. While there, you'll find plenty of probiotic supplements for your dog to help them live a happy and healthy life!

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