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Understanding Gut Health

Can Dog Probiotics Cause Side-effects?

Can Dog Probiotics Cause Side-effects?

Have you ever thought about giving your dog probiotics? If so, you’ve probably wondered if there are any side-effects you need to know about. So, let’s explore probiotics for dogs, their possible side-effects, and what you can do as a pup parent if your dog experiences any issues.

What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics For Dogs?

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing live microorganisms—usually bacteria—that are beneficial to your dog’s gut. Dogs have trillions of microbes living in their gut, and probiotics work to support and replenish them.

Probiotics may benefit your dog by[1-3]:

  • Supporting and replenishing the beneficial bacteria living in their gut

  • Aiding digestion

  • Interacting with and supporting their immune system

  • Supporting their gut in preventing infections

Some probiotic products also contain a prebiotic, which acts as food for the beneficial bacteria. These combined products are called synbiotics.

What Are The Side-effects Of Probiotics For Dogs?

Side-effects from probiotics are uncommon[4]. Although we don’t have any veterinary studies looking into the side-effects of probiotics in dogs specifically, the things owners report from time to time appear to mirror the side-effects seen in people[5].

This may include:

Diarrhea

Probiotics have been known to upset dogs’ stomachs and cause diarrhea. If this happens, don’t panic—although never nice for your pup or you, it’s usually short-lived and mild. Many types of probiotics increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut[6], and an influx of these can make things move faster in the gut, leading to diarrhea. This should resolve within a few days, as your pup gets used to the SCFAs’ production levels.

Constipation

While some probiotics can speed things up when it comes to digestion, there are examples of probiotics slowing things down, resulting in the opposite problem to constipation—dogs not pooping! Once again, these symptoms should resolve within a few days.

Flatulence And Abdominal Discomfort

So, you may have heard about it as a side-effect in people, but can probiotics cause short-term gas in dogs? Sorry, but it’s a yes—you may well notice your pup being more gassy or smelly than usual. Adding a probiotic can lead to the gut bacteria temporarily producing more gas than usual, which builds up in the intestine until it can find its way out!

Some dogs may also experience mild abdominal discomfort from gas build-up and bloating, or from muscle cramps in the intestine. Again, these short-term side-effects should resolve after a few days.

Nausea, Vomiting, And Loss Of Appetite

On rare occasions probiotics may cause dogs to feel a bit queasy, but actual vomiting is unlikely. Anything that causes tummy discomfort or mild nausea can put your pup off their food, but again this is uncommon and usually passes in a day or two, after their gut has got used to the probiotic.

Considerations For Allergies

While we don’t have a wealth of studies investigating the matter, it’s extremely unlikely a dog would be allergic to probiotics. However, if your dog has a known allergic disease, make sure you discuss probiotic options with your veterinarian first.

Can A Dog Overdose On Probiotics?

Probiotic supplements are generally extremely safe to give to your dog, so if they have an overdose of a probiotic, they’re unlikely to experience significant side-effects[7]. Some signs you may see with a probiotic overdose include abdominal discomfort, increased flatulence or signs of an upset stomach such as diarrhea or, more rarely, nausea. All of these should quickly subside once the higher dosage has been stopped.

What Should I Do If My Dog Has Side-effects From Probiotics?

Because side-effects from probiotics are often passing and mild, they should resolve on their own as your pup’s body gets used to the probiotic. If you notice mild symptoms, consider continuing treatment to see if they settle down, or simply stop treatment.

If your dog is unwell, showing significant side-effects or your veterinarian has recommended probiotics to your dog for a specific reason, then it’s worth a trip to your veterinary care provider to discuss the options. They may suggest altering the dose or trialing a different product depending on your dog’s individual needs.

Final Thoughts

While dog probiotic side-effects are uncommon, they can happen, especially if your dog is new to probiotics or has a high probiotic dose. These changes result from your pup’s gut getting used to the probiotic, so it’s very unlikely any side-effects will be severe or long-lasting. However, if you’re worried, always chat things through with your veterinarian.

  1. Pilla and Suchodolski (2020) The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00498
  2. Cornell Veterinary University (2023) The power of probiotics. Available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00498
  3. Sivamaruthi et al. (2021) Influence of Probiotic Supplementation on Health Status of the Dog: A Review. Applied Sciences. DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311384
  4. Kelley et al. (201) Safety and Tolerance of Dietary Supplementation with a Canine-Derived Probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis Strain AHC7) Fed to Growing Dogs. Veterinary Therapeutics 11(3) E1-E4
  5. Khatri (2023) WebMD: Risks and Benefits of Probiotics. Available at https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/probiotics-risks-benefits
  6. Yang and Wu (2023) Gut probiotics and health of dogs and cats: benefits, applications and underlying mechanisms. Microorganisms. DOI 10.3390/microorganisms11102452
  7. Schmitz and Sucholdolski (2016) Understanding the canine intestinal microbiota and its modification by pro-, pre- and synbiotics – what is the evidence. Veterinary Medicine and Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.17
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