Quality Vegan Probiotics for Dogs - Significant Health Benefits

Best Vegan Probiotics for Dog Gut Microbiome Digestive and Immune Health

Vegan Probiotics for Dogs – Best Strains for Their Health

In recent years, pet owners have become increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining their dogs’ gut health. Probiotics have emerged as a promising solution for promoting digestive well-being in dogs. Not only do they aid in digestion, but they also contribute to a strengthened immune system and overall well-being. As a responsible pet owner, it’s essential to explore the world of vegan probiotics for dogs to ensure your canine companion leads a healthy and happy life. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the science of probiotics, their different types, sources, vegan-friendliness, and explore the best vegan probiotics for dogs.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer numerous health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. These beneficial bacteria primarily reside in the gut and help in maintaining a balanced and harmonious environment within the digestive tract. In dogs, probiotics work similarly to their function in humans, improving digestion, nutrient absorption, and promoting a robust immune system.

What Are the Sources of Probiotics?

Probiotics can be found in various natural vegan 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.
Probiotics and Probiotic Supplements: Vegan-friendly probiotic supplements formulated specifically for dogs are readily available in the market.

Section 4: Are All Probiotics Vegan-Friendly?

It is important to note that not all probiotics are vegan-friendly. 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.

As a conscientious vegan pet owner, it’s crucial to read product labels carefully and opt for specifically labelled vegan probiotic supplements or natural vegan sources like fermented foods and vegan yogurts.

Are Probiotics Beneficial for Dogs?

Yes, scientific research shows that probiotics can have a significant impact on dogs’ health. Probiotics, or good bacteria, carry out several vital functions in your dog’s body, such as:

Aiding in digestion
Promoting gut health in dogs
Creating essential vitamins (like vitamin K and B vitamins)
Producing serotonin to affect mood
Reducing the gut pH
Limiting harmful bacteria
Producing enzymes
Generating fatty acids that hinder harmful bacteria growth
Strengthening the immune system

How Probiotics Enhance Your Dog’s Immune System

The dog’s gut serves as a habitat for bacteria since they ferment the same food that your dog consumes, particularly fibre, which your dog can’t digest. The fermentation process results in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Therefore, dog probiotics serve as an excellent source of beneficial SCFAs. The three principal SCFAs include:

Acetate
Propionate
Butyrate

These SCFAs can either stay in the dog’s colon or move throughout the body. They are crucial for maintaining your dog’s health and immunity, performing functions like:

Fostering good bacteria and limiting the growth of harmful bacteria
Displacing harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi
Aiding the formation of the gut’s protective mucus layer
Serving as a barrier against toxins, drugs, heavy metals, cancer-causing substances, and allergens
Ensuring gut cells stay tightly bound (preventing leaky gut)
Lowering glucose levels, thus safeguarding against obesity and metabolic diseases
Developing vital T-cells in the immune system, thereby mitigating chronic inflammation
Guarding against food allergens Aiding in the absorption of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.
Generating essential vitamins (like vitamin K and B vitamins)
Reducing the gut pH
Creating enzymes
Producing serotonin to affect mood

As the majority (75-80%) of your dog’s immune system resides in the gut, maintaining a diverse and robust bacteria population is vital to your dog’s health.

Additional Health Benefits Of Vegan Dog Probiotics

The microorganisms that inhabit your dog are so crucial to their wellbeing that they outnumber your dog’s cells by a ratio of 95 to 1! Most dogs can significantly benefit from probiotics. There is a wide array of health problems that probiotics can assist with, such as:

Leaky gut
Yeast overgrowth
Urinary tract infections
Diarrhoea, Colitis, IBD and other bowel diseases and disorders
Pancreatitis
Obesity
Allergic reactions including food related reactions
Mood disorders

Even small shifts in the species of bacteria residing in your dog’s gut can have a noticeable impact. The previously mentioned conditions are all associated with changes in the bacterial populations in your dog’s microbiome.

If your dog has diverse bacteria in his gut, these shifts are less significant. Large bacteria populations mean that bacterial shifts will have a minor impact on your dog’s health. However, bacterial shifts are constantly occurring, and they can be instigated by factors like:

Best Probiotics For Dogs

The following are the best researched and most effective types of probiotics for dogs:

Lactic Acid Probiotics

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.

These species convert milk sugar to lactic acid, hindering the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine. Like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium species produce lactic acid, but they are not considered a lactic acid bacteria. They live in the colon and can interact with immune cells, displacing harmful bacteria, and supporting the immune system. Low levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been associated with anxiety.

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics are relatively fragile, and they usually last only about 24 hours before being eliminated from the gut. Their DNA, however, remains and can still offer many health benefits. They are particularly beneficial for dogs with diarrhoea.

Some lactic acid probiotic strains include:

Lactobacillus Acidophilus: This is a reliable bacteria found in most probiotics. It has been well researched in dogs and can increase Lactobacillus populations in the gut and decrease populations of harmful clostridia. It also has a favourable effect on immune cells.
Lactobacillus Casei: This probiotic resides in the mucus membrane of animals and plays a crucial part in the gut-brain axis, affecting mood and emotions.
Lactobacillus Plantarum And Lactobacillus Rhamnosus: These probiotics have been researched in dogs and demonstrated a much better survival rate. They assist in building healthy colon walls in dogs with IBS and can reduce antibiotic-related diarrhoea. Low levels of Lactobacillus rhamnosus have been associated with anxiety in dogs.
Bifidobacterium Animalis: This probiotic has been found useful in managing acute diarrhoea in dogs.
Bifidobacterium Longum: This probiotic has been researched in dogs and works on the gut-brain axis. A study done by Purina found that larger numbers of Bifidobacterium longum can reduce signs of stress in dogs. B. longum can also assist with diarrhoea and food allergies.
Enterococcus Faecium: Enterococci are another 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. Although it’s beneficial for dogs, there are concerns that it can cause antibiotic-resistant enterococcal infections in humans.
Pediococcus Acidilactici: P. acidilactici is another lactic acid bacteria showing promise in canine studies. It’s been successfully used to manage skin conditions and leaky guts.
Lactobacillus reuteri: Native to the dog’s intestinal tract, Lactobacillus reuteri has shown to inhibit bacterial growth like Salmonella. It has been beneficial for dogs suffering from digestive disorders, including acute diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome. It enhances gut health, reduces inflammation, and supports immune function.

Probiotic Yeast

Saccharomyces boulardii is a healthy yeast included in the category of dog probiotics. It is used to treat acute and chronic diarrhoea in humans and has shown similar benefits in dogs. S. boulardii has also been successfully used to treat Candida and yeast. It can alter cell signalling pathways in the immune system.

What sets S. boulardii apart is its resilience to antibiotics. It can be taken concurrently with antibiotics to help protect the beneficial gut bacteria and prevent antibiotic-related diarrhoea. So, it is one of the best probiotics for dogs on antibiotics.

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 various health benefits.

Some examples of spore-forming probiotics are:

Bacillus Coagulans: Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic that is often used in human and veterinary health. It has been associated with a variety of health benefits, including improvements in digestive upset, such as diarrhoea or constipation. Bacillus coagulans can also enhance the immune system and may have anti-inflammatory properties.
Bacillus Subtilis: Bacillus subtilis is another commonly used spore-forming probiotic. 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.
Bacillus Licheniformis: Bacillus licheniformis is known for producing a broad-spectrum antibiotic called bacitracin, which is capable of combating harmful bacteria. It can also produce enzymes to aid digestion and contribute to immune system regulation.

The benefits of these spore-forming probiotics are similar to other types of probiotics, and include enhanced digestive function, improved immune system performance, and overall wellbeing. However, what sets them apart is their enhanced ability to survive in harsh conditions and still deliver the intended health benefits to dogs.

Food Sources of Probiotics?

Probiotics can be found in various natural vegan 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.

How To Give Probiotics To Dogs

When giving your dog probiotics, make sure to buy a product that is specifically made for dogs, and follow the instructions on the label for the correct dosage. Start with a lower dose and gradually increase to the full dose over a week or two. This gives your dog’s digestive system time to adjust to the new bacteria.

Some premium dog foods, including the best probiotic vegan dog food, include well researched probiotics for dogs in their formulation. This ensures your dog is getting the benefits of probiotic supplementation with every meal. It is important that the probiotic used is resilient enough to withstand the gastric juices in the dog’s gut.

Lastly, consider giving your dog prebiotics in addition to probiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system in ways claimed to be beneficial to health. In other words, prebiotics are food for the good bacteria. Adding prebiotics to your dog’s diet can help the probiotics to be more effective. The synergistic effect of probiotics and prebiotics is referred to as synbiotics and is a key area of current research for dog health.

What Is The Best Vegan Probiotic for Dogs?

Many of the commonly included probiotics in dog food, or probiotic supplements, are not vegan – these include any of the probiotics derived from lactic sources or derived from animal sources as noted in the descriptions of each earlier in this article.

For the 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.

Spore-forming probiotics, such as Bacillus subtilis C-3102, found in the EU registered probiotic Calsporin®, offer a notable advantage. Their spores provide a natural protective shield, making them resistant to the acidic gastric fluid and harsh manufacturing conditions, thereby ensuring their viability over a long shelf-life.

The gut health of a dog is tied to a healthy and stable microbiota. The gut microbiota, a community of microbes in the intestinal tract, plays a key role in food digestion, immune function, and infection protection. Any disturbance to the microbiota can lead to digestive issues and unpleasant stool odour. However, fostering beneficial bacteria growth and increasing microbial diversity can support a stable microbiota and thereby the overall health of the dog.

Calsporin® has been demonstrated to stabilise the gut microbiota in dogs, enhancing microbial diversity and improving digestion. Its inclusion in dog diets has shown to increase the count of beneficial microbial groups, such as Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium and Allobaculum. Better digestion, resulting from a stable gut microbiota, has been linked to more well-formed stools, reduced foul odour, and overall enhanced intestinal health. (1)

Calsporin®’s 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. It also positively affected skin and coat condition, resulting in shinier and brighter coats. (2)

However, for a probiotic to be effective, it must survive the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract. Bacillus subtilis C-3102 has shown resistance to gastric acids and bile salts, indicating its ability to survive through the digestive tract.

While antibiotics can be effective against harmful bacteria, they can also impact beneficial microbial species, destabilising the microbiota. In such cases, probiotics can help restore balance of the gut microbiome, as long as they are not killed by the antibiotic treatment.

Probiotic viability during food manufacturing is crucial. Calsporin® has been extensively tested and found to be thermostable, resisting temperatures up to 100℃, making it suitable for use in pellets, treats and pressed tablets. Different coating strategies have also been developed to maintain the viability of the probiotic during high-temperature and high-pressure processes.

Moreover, Calsporin® has been shown to maintain its viability even after two years of storage, under various conditions.

In conclusion, including a stable and viable Bacillus subtilis C-3102 in a dog’s diet can promote a healthy and stable gut microbiota, resulting not only in the dog’s well-being but also in improved faecal characteristics much appreciated by dog owners. Despite the challenges of ensuring probiotic survival through the gastrointestinal tract and during food manufacturing, Calsporin® proves to be an excellent probiotic solution for dog food products.

Bonza premium vegan dog food includes Calsporin® in its Superfoods and Ancient Grains formula. It also contains a variety of different prebiotic ingredients including Yucca Schidigera, oats, chickpeas, fava beans, peas, baobab and cranberries, which provide powerful health benefits of synbiotics for dogs.

As Bonza used a cold extrusion cooking method, where the food is extruded at a temperature of 70°C the effectiveness of the probiotic remains intact as well as the nutritional integrity of the quality ingredients used in Bonza’s food.

Bonza is the only vegan dog food that includes clinically researched probiotics, Calsporin, and Omega-3 + DHA, EPA and DPA , DHAgold, that deliver significant boost to your dog’s health and wellbeing.