What Makes Bonza the Best Vegan Probiotic Dog Food in the UK?
Although our claim to being the ‘Best Probiotic Vegan Dog Food’ may seem like shameless marketing, we hope that the following article helps you to understand why we stand by this.
When choosing a probiotic vegan dog food for your dog there are a number of things you will no doubt be considering:
- Does the vegan dog food provide my dog with the best nutrition, with or without the inclusion of probiotics?
- Other than the probiotics what other areas of my dog’s health does the food provide support for?
- Is the probiotic included in the vegan dog food actually vegan?
- Are the probiotics used the best natural probiotics for dogs?
- Have the probiotics been clinically researched in dogs?
- What health benefits does the particular probiotic strain offer my dog?
Does the vegan dog food provide my dog with the best nutrition, with or without the inclusion of probiotics?
Bonza Superfoods and Ancient Grains formula has a number of unique nutrients which deliver far-reaching, lifelong health benefits for dogs.
Bonza is the only vegan dog food with:
- Probiotics – Calsporin® clinically researched probiotic (1, 2, 3)
- Postbiotics – TruPet™ a clinically researched postbiotic for dogs (23)
- Prebiotics – Yucca Schidigera extract and Baobab (a more effective prebiotic than ‘gold’ standard prebiotic inulin) (4)
- DHAgold® – Omega-3 with DHA + EPA + DPA with clinically researched health benefits (5, 6)
- Organic (Cheated) Minerals – more stable and bioavailable than inorganic minerals (7, 8, 9)
- Glucosamine – clinically researched benefits for dogs with joint and mobility issues (10, 11)
- MSM – researched benefits for joint and mobility, pain relief, immune support and oxidative stress (12, 13)
- PhytoPlus® – a proprietary blend of natural plant-based phytonutrients, potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidants, formulated to protect your dog against the most common health issues dogs suffer from.
- Adaptogens – multiple researched health benefits for dogs (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- Hypoallergenic – No Meat, Corn, Wheat or Soy known allergens (21, 22)
- Cold Extruded – lower temperature cooking preserves nutrient, vitamin and mineral integrity
Other than the probiotics what other areas of dog health does the food provide support for?
Other than probiotics, which research shows provide gut, digestive and immune health benefits, Bonza includes bioactive ingredients known to provide health support for the following issues dogs are likely to suffer from through their lives:
- Digestive Support
- Skin and Coat Health
- Boost Immune Health
- Joint and Mobility Support
- Brain and Cognitive Health
- Heart and Cardiovascular Support
- Vision and Eye Health
- Reduced Anxiety and Stress
- Oral and Dental Health
Is the probiotic included in the vegan dog food actually vegan?
While many of us assume that all probiotics are vegan, not all are. Some probiotics may contain animal-derived ingredients such as dairy or be produced using animal-based mediums. Probiotics produced from lactic acid (derived from milk) are not vegan for example.
There are 3 distinct types of probiotics:
- Lactic Acid: Most dog probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, typically derived from fermented milk. You’ll see their strain names on the supplement label, along with the species name. The species Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are often abbreviated as B. or L., e.g., B. Longum or L. acidophilus.
- Probiotic Yeast: Unlike the bacterial probiotics above yeast probiotics are not a type of bacteria. It’s a yeast that happens to function like a probiotic in the body.
- Spore Forming Probiotics: Unlike Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, the Bacilli strains of spore-forming probiotics are strains from the Bacillus family, which can form endospores. These endospores are hard, non-reproductive structures that allow the probiotics to survive harsh conditions, such as the acidic environment of the stomach, and make their way to the intestines where they can be most effective. Once in the intestine, these probiotics germinate and proliferate, providing multiple health benefits.
As there are multiple strains and types of probiotics in each family it is important to check labels to confirm whether it is a vegan probiotic for dogs or not. If the label does not specify whether it is vegan friendly food additive check with the dog food manufacturer.
Are the probiotics used the best natural probiotics for dogs?
Probiotics can be found in various natural vegan food sources, and some of them include:
- Fermented Foods: Foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented vegetables are excellent sources of naturally occurring probiotics that can benefit your dog.
- Plant-Based Yogurts: Vegan yogurts made from almond, coconut, soy, or other plant-based milks can be rich in probiotic cultures.
- Fermented Vegan Cheeses: Certain vegan cheeses contain probiotic strains that support gut health.
- Vegan Kombucha: This fermented tea is not only rich in probiotics but also packed with antioxidants, offering a health boost to your dog.
Spore-based probiotics or SBOs ( Soil-based organisms) are the names given to these tiny organisms found naturally occurring in the soil. As outlined previously, these naturally occurring probiotics are more effective because the endospores that encapsulate the strains are highly resistant to stomach acid, potentially resulting in the delivery of more viable probiotics to the small intestine. (23)
Bonza uses a vegan, spore-based probiotic strain, Bacillus subtilis/Bacillus velezensis, in our probiotic vegan dog food.
Have the probiotics been clinically researched in dogs?
The truth is there are very few probiotics that have been clinically researched, and approved for use in the EU and UK, for dogs and in dog food under the European Union Register of Feed Additives.
- Bacillus subtilis C-3102/Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544
- Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415
- Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 13241
- Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663
What health benefits does the probiotic strain offer my dog?
For a probiotic to be effective, it must survive not only the manufacturing process of pet foods, including high temperature extrusion, but also the entire journey through the animal’s gastrointestinal tract.
Enterococcus Faecium NCIMB 10415/DSM 10663: Lactic acid bacteria that hinder the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut. This probiotic does a better job of surviving the acidity of the dog’s gut than most Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species but are not as resistant as spore-based probiotics. Although it’s beneficial for dogs, there are concerns that it can cause antibiotic-resistant enterococcal infections in humans.
Bacillus subtilis C-3102: Spore-forming probiotics, such as Bacillus subtilis C-3102/Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544, found in the EU registered probiotic Calsporin®, offer a notable advantage over other probiotics. Their spores provide a natural protective shield, making them resistant to the acidic gastric fluid and harsh manufacturing conditions, ensuring their viability over a long shelf-life.
It is known for its ability to promote a healthy gut environment by crowding out harmful bacteria and making room for beneficial ones. It can also stimulate the production of enzymes that aid digestion.
This improvement in digestion has been linked to more well-formed stools, reduced foul odour, and overall enhanced intestinal health. (24)
Calsporin®’ effect on the microbiota also benefits dogs with chronic diarrhoea. Dogs that had severe diarrhoea at the beginning of a study showed improved faecal consistency when given Bacillus subtilis C-3102(Bacillus velezensis DSM 15544). It also positively affected skin and coat condition, resulting in shinier and brighter coats. (25)
What is the best probiotic vegan dog food?
For all of the reasons outlined above we contend that Bonza is arguably not just the best probiotic vegan dog food, but the best probiotic dog food available for your dog.
