Table of Contents
Just like us, our furry companions can have a bit of tummy trouble. This leads to irregular and uncomfortable bathroom habits. One great way to ensure that your dog’s GI tract is healthy is by giving it probiotics. Because your dog is a valuable member of your family, it is important to select a probiotic that is effective and healthy.
Unfortunately, probiotics are finicky supplements. As a result, many probiotics sold online are ineffective at the best. Nobody wants to spend money on probiotics that will not help their dog. To help you find the best probiotics for your lovely pooch, we have found the best dog probiotics in Canada in 2023.
If you are looking for a chew option, we recommend the Doggie Dailies Probiotics for its powerful punch and dog loving flavor. For a powder option, the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic is great.
Of course, these are not the only products we recommend. After analyzing 24 products over a period of 18 hours, we came up with the seven best dog probiotics in Canada in 2023. We also considered 1235 customer reviews to ensure we get the best products.
Without further ado, let’s check out the best dog probiotics in Canada in 2023. Your dog will be thankful you took the time to find the best probiotics for its tummy.
Our Top Pick Dog Probiotics in 2023
The Doggie Dailies Probiotics are our first choice for chew options because they are affordable, made with great strains, are independently tested, and more. You really can’t go wrong with this, unless your dog is a picky eater.
Pros:
- Five effective strains
- Large quantity
- Two flavor options
- Affordable
Cons:
- Some dogs do not like the flavor
If you are looking for a powder option, the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic is what we recommend. Even though it does not come with a seal, it is packed full of healthy probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes, helping your dog or cat maintain optimal health.
Pros:
- Multiple strains of pre and probiotics
- Enzymes included
- Formulated by veterinarians
Cons:
- No seal
Our selection of the best models available right now:
-
- Doggie Dailies Probiotics
- NatureVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
- Tummy Treats
- Profivex Probiotics for dogs and cats
- Pro-Pets Probiotics for dogs and cats
- Deley Naturals probiotics
- NatureVet Healthy Probiotics and digestive enzyme
- Active Chews Probiotics for dog
- Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora canine
Dog Probiotics Comparative Table
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chew Pick
|
Doggie Dailies Probiotics
|
8,8
|
Check Price on Amazon |
|
Powder Pick
|
NatureVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
|
9
|
Check Price on Amazon |
|
Budget Pick
|
Tummy Treats
|
8,6
|
Check Price on Amazon |
Our Top Chew Pick for The Best Dog Probiotics
Presentation of the Doggie Dailies Probiotics
The Best Chew
Doggie Dailies
The Doggie Dailies Probiotics are the best options for people who want to feed their dogs probiotics in chew form. With a tasty flavor and compact design, this chew makes giving your dog its daily dose of probiotics a breeze.
What We Think of The Doggie Dailies Probiotics
If you want to provide your dog the best chew on the market, the Doggie Dailies Probiotics is the way to go. From the ingredients to the flavor to the packaging, these chews will trick your dog into thinking it is receiving its favorite treat.
The number one reason why we list this as our best chew pick is that it comes with great ingredients. Most importantly, it includes five powerful strains of probiotics. This includes L. Acidophilus, L. Plantarum, L. Brevis, L. Fermentum, and L. Lactis. Each chew contains 1 billion CFUs.
Each strain is specifically picked out for puppy and dog health. With these five strains, the Doggie Dailies Probiotics are perfect for just about any dog, no matter its age, size, or breed.
Another great feature of these probiotics is that they come in two flavors, duck and pumpkin. These flavors are loved by dogs, making the probiotic taste more like a treat than a vitamin. At the same time, these probiotics are shockingly affordable, making them great for those who do not want to spend a fortune either.
This is a game changer for my Australian Shepherd puppy. He had diarrhea since he was a baby, but it cleared up within a day after using the probiotics. He is 50 lbs. I have been slowly adding it to his food to avoid shocking his system. Simply half a chew has done the trick. I am shocked and nothing else has worked as well. Buy it now.
Angie C.
To ensure that the Doggie Dailies Probiotics are safe and effective, they are even tested by an independent lab. Their facility is cGMP compliant and Level 3 SQF certified. This ensures a safe production and creation environment.
The majority of reviews about the Doggie Dailies Probiotics are positive, but there are always a couple of naysayers.
Despite the fact that duck and pumpkin are two flavors dogs typically like, multiple users noted that their dog refused to eat these chews. This might be due to some other ingredient in the probiotics, but it is something interesting to consider before purchase.
Even though some dogs do not like the flavor of these chews, we still recommend them as our favorite chew options. Because of their powerful strains and flavor options, as well as the affordable price, the Doggie Dailies Probiotics are a great choice to feed your dog.
Doggie Dailies Probiotics Specifications
- Flavor: Duck or pumpkin
- Size: 225 soft chews
- Breeds: All
- Probiotic Strains: Acidophilus, L. Plantarum, L. Brevis, L. Fermentum, and L. Lactis
- Feeding Method: Chew
Doggie Dailies Probiotics Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Five effective strains
- Large quantity
- Two flavor options
- Affordable
Cons
- Some dogs do not like the flavor
Our Final Opinion About the Doggie Dailies Probiotics
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.7 Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price:4.7]
The Doggie Dailies Probiotics are our first choice for chew options because they are affordable, made with great strains, are independently tested, and more. You really can’t go wrong with this, unless your dog is a picky eater.
Our Top Powder Pick for the Best Dog Probiotics
Presentation of the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
The Best Powder
NatureVet
The NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic is a great choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Its powder form makes it easy to transition to the probiotics and food sources. The formulation is veterinarian approved, manufactured in the USA, and is made in a cGMP compliant facility.
NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic Video Review
What We Think of the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
Even though chews can be really easy to feed to your dog, powder options can be great for transitioning diets, alternating portions, and more. If you are interested in a powder probiotic for your dog, we recommend NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic.
This powder probiotic contains alpha-Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Protease and Bacillus coagulans. It also contains essential enzymes, such as Alpha-Amylase. This enzyme helps to hydrolyze starch.
Something else we really like about this product is that the ingredients are all formulated by veterinarians, assuring that they are not only safe for your dog but effective. More so, it is manufactured in the USA, ensuring that it is FDA audited and made in a cGMP compliant facility.
Just as with any other powder option, a drawback of NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic is that it takes a little bit more effort to use. You will need to measure out the quantity and then apply it to the animal’s food. This is to be expected of any powder option.
I have introduced this into her diet, and it has helped her dramatically. This, mixed with healthy foods, have improved her bowel movements and she does not hardly pass gas anymore.
Debblydeb
As a whole, this is one of the highest rated products, meaning that there are very few negative reports. Something that came up rather frequently is that it does not come with any seals. This can be incredibly dangerous since you do not know if the probiotic was contaminated at some point.
Most likely, the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic will not be contaminated during the trip. If you are not worried about this happening, we definitely recommend this as our favorite powder option. Many people love this probiotic and claim it helps their dogs dramatically.
NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic Specifications
- Flavor: None
- Size: 4 oz, 8 oz, 1 lb.
- Breeds: All, dogs and cats
- Probiotic Strains: Alpha-Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Protease and Bacillus coagulans
- Feeding Method: Powder
NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Multiple strains of pre and probiotics
- Enzymes included
- Formulated by veterinarians
Cons
Cons
- No seal
Our Final Opinion About the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.7 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
If you are looking for a powder option, the NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic is what we recommend. Even though it does not come with a seal, it is packed full of healthy probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes, helping your dog or cat maintain optimal health.
Our Budget Pick for Dog Probiotics
Presentation of the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats
The Value Pick
PlanoPaws
Not every probiotic has to cost a fortune. The PlanoPaws Tummy Treats are highly affordable, yet they also offer great health benefits because of their ingredients and diligent formulation.
What We Think of the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats
If you are on a tight budget, we recommend the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats. The probiotics are suitable for all dog breeds, and they will not cost a fortune. Though they are still more expensive than cheap products, they have great value because of the quality of their ingredients and amount in a single pack.
The PlanoPaws Tummy Treats are formulated with dog specific ingredients. This means that the chews are free of grain, corn, wheat, and soy. Additionally, it does not include dairy, sugar, salt, or gumming agents. This ensures that the product as a whole is dog-friendly.
In addition to the dog-friendly ingredients, it comes with five strains, three of which are canine specific. The blend also includes six essential digestive enzymes, ensuring that your dog’s digestive health is as it should be.
My dog Cooper loves these. I feed it to him every day before breakfast. This is an excellent probiotic for dogs.
Karyn
Another reason why we have made this our value pick is that it does more than just help the GI tract. It also helps to alleviate allergies and freshen breath. Although we should mention most probiotics should naturally improve allergies, not all target breath freshness as well.
Most of the negative reviews mention of the price. As we mentioned above, it is more expensive than some other products on the market. This is our value pick because it actually includes ingredients that works. Most other cheap options do not include probiotic samples that actually do anything for your dogs.
A few people also noted that the flavor or texture was not a favorite. The users noted that they could crumble the treat over the top of their food, but that seems to defeat the purpose of a chew entirely.
Nevertheless, the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats are a great choice if you are on a budget. As our value pick, these probiotics include key ingredients that improve your dog’s health without breaking the bank.
PlanoPaws Tummy Treats Specifications
- Flavor: Chicken
- Size: 120 chews
- Breeds: All
- Probiotic Strains: Not listed
- Feeding Method: Chew
PlanoPaws Tummy Treats Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- High value
- Dog-specific probiotics
- Includes enzymes
- Freshens breath
Cons
- More expensive than cheap options
- Some dogs do not like thee flavor
Our Final Opinion About the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats
Quality 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price:4.8]
Although the PlanoPaws Tummy Treats are more expensive than cheap varieties, they offer key nutrients at a much more affordable price. This makes them a great value pick if you are looking for probiotics that actually work but will not break your budget either.
Alternative Products to Consider
Presentation of the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
The Multi-Pet Pick
Profivex
Cats need probiotics too. The best choice if you have both dogs and cats in your household is Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats. This powder probiotic includes five strains of clinical strength probiotics and two prebiotics, all of which being perfect for both your canine and feline friends.
What We Think of the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
If you have both dogs and cats, you likely want probiotics for both. If that is the case, we recommend the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats. This probiotic is specially formulated for both types of animals and includes veterinary strength ingredients.
This probiotic includes five strains of probiotics, in addition to two prebiotics. The prebiotics are formulated from FOS and sweet potato fibers. What is great about this product is that it provides 5 billion CFUs per scoop, which is about five times more than most chews.
With small pets, this powder also lasts a long time. When you select the 8.5 ounce option, it can last for four months for pets that weigh under 40 lbs.
This has a great flora balance. When I sprinkle it on my picky dog’s food, she does not notice it. We saw a difference in about 2 to 3 days. It seems to eradicate yeast and foot odors. After changing her diet and adding this probiotic, it all is cleared up. We have been using it for three weeks and everything is consistent.
MOTHEROFDRAGONS
Even more impressively, the formulation is formulated by veterinarians specifically. It is even a brand that veterinarians recommend. This ensures that the product you select is actually effective and safe for your cats and dogs.
The most immediate drawback of the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats is its price. It is notably more expensive than many other options, though it may save you money if you have multiple pets.
Another drawback that seemed to occur frequently with it is taste. Multiple dog owners claim that their dog did not like the taste. A couple of cat owners said the same thing, but it seemed that cats generally enjoyed this flavor more than dogs.
If you are willing to shell out extra money for this product and do not think your pet will have issues with the flavor, this is a great option for dog and cat owners. Between its great ingredients and multi-pet formulation, this is a nearly unbeatable product.
Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats Specifications
- Flavor: Pork
- Size: 25 oz or 8.5 oz
- Breeds: All, dogs and cats
- Probiotic Strains: Not listed
- Feeding Method: Powder
Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Suitable for dogs and cats
- 5x CFUs of other brands
- Lasts a long time
Cons
- Expensive
- Some dogs do not like the flavor
Our Final Opinion About the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
Quality 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price:4.3]
Pet owners of both dogs and cats will like the Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats. Using high quality ingredients with a multi-pet formulation, these probiotics will keep all your furry friends happy and healthy. Just expect to pay a bit more for this product than others. At least it lasts a long time!
Presentation of the PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
The High Survivability
PRO-Pets
The PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats a is a great choice if you want a probiotic that is ensured to be effective and survive longer than others. With the slow releasing formula, it is guaranteed to improve your dog’s GI tract.
What We Think of the PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
One issue many probiotics face, including those made for dogs and humans alike, is survivability. Unless the probiotic organisms can remain alive, the probiotics are completely ineffective. This is why you can find so many cheap probiotics that do not get the job done. Their organisms do not survive, making them a cheap and ineffective product.
When you select a high survivability product, however, you are much more likely to get the results you want from the probiotic. More so, the result is much more outstanding and effective than other probiotics, even those with some survivability.
The PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats include a time release feature, ensuring that the probiotic organisms can actually survive. This allows the probiotics to be 15 times more effective than many other products.
I was impressed with this. It is super easy to feed. I do not have to use a pill gun because I can just place it in my cat’s mouth. It just rolls in and makes feeding so much easier.
Salmonmeh
In addition to having high survivability, we love that these chews are designed to be easy to swallow. This makes them perfect for dogs or cats that are aged or have some other mouth issue. Though these probiotics are perfect for dogs of any age, the easy to swallow feature makes it perfect for aged dogs specifically.
Because of its high survivability, this probiotic certainly is more expensive than others. This is a notable drawback. Most people will not want to pay this price every month or so. Some people also do not like the fact that it does not target gas and other GI related issues as strongly as other products.
Despite these few negative comments, the majority were overwhelmingly positive. Because of the high survivability, these probiotics are much more effective than other options, making them the perfect product for those who are willing to spend a little extra on their dog’s probiotics.
PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats Specifications
- Flavor: Beef
- Size: 60
- Breeds: All, dogs and cats
- Probiotic Strains: Not listed
- Feeding Method: Chew
PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- High survivability
- Time released
- Easy to swallow
Cons
Cons
- Expensive
- Not worth the price to some
Our Final Opinion About the PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats
Quality 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.7 Price 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Once again, the PRO-Pets Probiotics for Dogs and Cats offer a high survivability, making them much more effective than many other options. Although these probiotics are notably more expensive than other options, they will certainly get you the results you are looking for.
Presentation of the Deley Naturals Probiotics
The Flavor Pick
Deley
If your dog has a picky palate, you might want to try the Deley Naturals Probiotics. These probiotics come with the chicken flavor that virtually no owners complained about. This makes it a great option for dogs who do not necessarily like many flavorings.
What We Think of the Deley Naturals Probiotics
In case you have not notice so far, one issue that has come up with just about every single product we have looked at so far is flavor. Probiotics can come with a weird flavor, even if they are masked. This can cause dogs or cats to not like the flavor of the product.
If you have an issue with your dog not liking flavors, you might want to pick the Deley Naturals Probiotics. Next to no customers have complaints about their picky pooch liking the flavorings. In fact, it seems the opposite is true. Even picky dogs love this probiotic.
Most likely, part of the reason dogs love these flavorings is that all of the ingredients are sourced within the United States. This allows for quality control for both the individual ingredients and product as a whole.
In addition to the tasty flavor, the Deley Naturals Probiotics include 4 billion CFUs and six enzymes. These ingredients are highly powerful and allow the dog to experience a healthier GI tract. The chews are not made with any artificial colorings or flavorings either, ensuring that the product is dog-friendly.
This is a great chew. I feed my large breed three a day. She likes the taste, and her spirit improves whenever she eats them. Her poop is more regular, but she has gotten gas. Plus, the company sent us a hello email and was very nice.
Val
Of course, we have to mention a few drawbacks of this product too. Although most dogs liked the flavor of these chews, a couple did not like the texture.
How most owners know that the flavor was not the issue was that the dogs had no problem eating the chews once they were crumbled up. It was only when they were in chew form that the dog would not eat them.
Another issue with these chews is that multiple customers noted that they did not see fast improvements in their dog’s health. Some said that they did not see any at all. On the other side of the argument, many customers noted that the probiotics helped tremendously.
Depending on who you ask, the Deley Naturals Probiotics are a great option for picky eaters. Since there are always going to be some dogs who do not like a product, it makes sense that some users noted this product did not work.
Deley Naturals Probiotics Specifications
- Flavor: Chicken
- Size: 120 chews
- Breeds: All
- Probiotic Strains: Not listed
- Feeding Method: Chews
Deley Naturals Probiotics Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Tasty
- All ingredients are sourced in the US
- Affordable
Cons
Cons
- Some dogs do not like the texture
- Complaints about effectiveness
Our Final Opinion About the Deley Naturals Probiotics
Quality 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.4 Price:4.7]
In terms of flavor, you will not find a better dog probiotic than the Deley Naturals Probiotics. Although the texture is not necessarily the best, most dogs absolutely love the flavor, making it a perfect pick for picky pooches.
Presentation of the NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme
The Food Transitioning Pick
NatureVet
NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme is a great product if your dog is transitioning from one food to another. This change might be because of changes in their age, health conditions, or pallet.
What We Think of the NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme
A common source of GI tract issues is whenever dogs change from one food to the next. Whether your dog is changing stages in life or is experiencing changes in its palette, you might be needing to transition its food, which can cause the side effect of a disrupted GI tract.
To avoid this from happening, we recommend feeding your dog NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme. This probiotic supplement will help to regulate your dog’s GI tract, despite the fact you are changing its food sources.
By adding this product into your dogs diet, it provides healthy probiotics and enzymes that can help your dog breakdown its new food. It also helps your dog to absorb the nutrients found in the new food. This can lead to an overall healthy GI tract, even during food transitioning phases.
I have a Boston Terrier who has a sensitive stomach. So does my daughter’s Boston Terrier. The difference after the introduction of this product was amazing. This is a very good and effective product.
E.
We especially like that it includes Alpha-Amylase, which hydrolyzes starch. This is an essential enzyme that helps your dog make the most of its nutrients.
Being the last product in our roundup, it obviously comes with some drawbacks. The main reason we list it at the bottom is that many users noted that it did nothing for their dogs. Some explained that the quality of the probiotics were also troublesome, some of which listing the product being hard and dry on arrival.
The combination of ineffective results and poor quality control places it at the bottom of our list, though many customers report the opposite in their experiences.
With this in mind, this is a great product for food transitioning, but it certainly is not the best option on this list.
NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme Specifications
- Flavor: Not listed
- Size: 120 chews
- Breeds: All over 6 weeks
- Probiotic Strains: Not listed
- Feeding Method: Chews
NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Helps with food transitions
- Includes vital enzymes
- Helps with gas specifically
Cons
- Many complaints of ineffectiveness
- Complaints about poor quality control
Our Final Opinion About the NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.2 Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Price 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
The NaturVet Healthy Probiotics and Digestive Enzyme is a good choice if you are changing your dog’s diet. It is not the best choice on this list, but it is certainly better than many other probiotics out there.
Presentation of the Active Chews Probiotics for Dogs
The Chew Choice for all dogs
Active Chews
If you are concerned that adding a probiotic to your dog’s meal will affect their eating habits, a chewable probiotic is the obvious choice. The Active Chews probiotics for dogs is the best chewable alternative to powder probiotics, and it is flavored to entice your dog into eating this safe, healthy treat.
What We Think of the Active Chews Probiotics for Dogs
As chewable dog probiotics go, there aren’t many companies that make one as high-quality as this Active Chews probiotic. Although it doesn’t contain any vitamins or other nutrients, it has all the makings of an excellent probiotic. Its duck flavor is appealing to almost every dog, and since it doesn’t go directly into their food, you can feed it as a treat every day and keep the rest of their routine consistent.
Each bag will include 120 chews, and depending on the size of your dog, you will use between 1 and 4 chews each day. Evidently, small dog owners will get the longest amount of time out of each bag, but with a highly affordable price, even owners of giant dogs will see the value in this choice. Whether your dog is still a puppy or an aging senior or anywhere in between, this probiotic will be safe and beneficial.
I recently started looking into getting a probiotic for my rescue dog, but she is really sensitive about her food so I didn’t want to add anything to it that might turn her off her food. I was really happy to find this chewable probiotic, and since she’s a small dog, the bag lasts a long time for me. I feel better knowing I’m doing what I can to help her gut stay healthy. Very happy with this product, she loves them.
casey r.
If your dog suffers from bad breath, diarrhea, or gas, this probiotic can help improve the cause of these symptoms by improving overall gut health. Two billion active microorganisms of 6 different probiotic strains are present in every chew, so you be confident that you are spending your money on something that can actually help your dog.
Active Chews Probiotics for Dogs Specifications
- Flavour: Duck
- Breeds: All
- Size: 120 chews
- Probiotic Strains: 6
- Feeding Method: Chews
Active Chews Probiotics for Dogs Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Safe for dogs of all life stages and breeds
- Can help improve diarrhea, bad breath, gut health, and gas
- Has 2 billion CFUs (active microorganisms) per serving
- Can be given as treats to ensure dogs don’t go off their food
Cons
- No vitamins or other nutrients are included
Our Final Opinion About the Active Chews Probiotics for Dogs
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.2 Design 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Price 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall, the Active Chews probiotics for dogs is an excellent chewable product that your dog(s) will love. It is packed full of active microorganisms to combat an upset digest tract and improve gut health. It is highly affordable and safe for all dogs, no matter their breed or age.
Presentation of the Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine
The Immunity-Focused Pick
Purina
While many probiotics are full of active bacteria that can improve gut health, not many take a look at other areas of immunity and health. The Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine is a probiotic supplement that includes antioxidant vitamins and some extra nutrition to supplement your dog.
What We Think of the Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine
There are two main considerations to make before you decide to go ahead with this probiotic product. First of all, it should only be given to a dog on the recommendation of a veterinarian, or after consulting with one. Second of all, since there are only 30 servings given in each box, this product is more expensive than most of the other dog probiotics on the market. Its benefits are worthwhile, but the cost is something to consider.
Since this probiotic comes in a powder form, it will need to be added to your dog’s meal. Even picky dogs should be okay with this feeding method though, because it is highly palatability and should not really be noticed except as a texture. This powder contains a combination of fat, protein, and fiber in addition to the active bacteria, so it provides a degree of supplemental nutrition as well.
I definitely think this probiotic product is worth the money. I was a bit skeptical when my vet first recommended it, just because each box only lasts for a month, but the improvement I’ve seen in my dog has assuaged my concerns. His diarrhea is much less frequent and I like that it has some nutrition and vitamins in there to improve his immune system as well. I recommend this Fortiflora to other owners.
rachel t.
The actual probiotic components of this product include active cultures that promote overall gut health and improve symptoms such as gas and diarrhea. It also contains a sufficient supply of antioxidant vitamins A, E, and C. These vitamins will improve your dog’s overall immunity, so you receive a number of benefits from each sachet every day.
Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine Specifications
- Breeds: All
- Size: 30 sachets
- Feeding Method: Powder
Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Contains antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, and E) to target improvements in immunity
- Palatability is great; dogs shouldn’t notice it in their food
- Contains protein, fiber, and fat to supplement nutrition
- Active cultures help improve gas, diarrhea, and overall gut health
Cons
- Expensive considering the number of servings provided
- Should not be given without consulting a veterinarian
Our Final Opinion About the Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.2 Design 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.3 Price 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall, the Purina Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Canine probiotic is a well-rounded powdered supplement that can target many different areas of canine health. It is fairly pricey and does require a vet’s consultation, but it is the best probiotic on the market for targeting improvements in overall immunity, not just gut health.
Why Should You Trust Us?
All the recommendations we make on The Good Choice are the result of many hours of research, comparisons, analysis of consumer reviews and, if necessary, expert feedbacks. The products we recommend here are the ones that will best perform their daily tasks, passing all security, reliability and efficiency tests while having an appealing price-quality ratio for everyone.
What are our criteria for judging the products reviewed and selected by The Good Choice?
- Quality: Does the product have a solid construction? Will it be reliable over time? Does it have a good warranty?
- Efficiency: Is the product efficient in its task or do you need to give it some help? Is it for example powerful, fast, quiet?
- Usability: Is the product easy to handle, easy to use and maintain?
- Price: Is the price of the product and/or accessories and/or spare parts reasonable compared to the rest of the market?
In addition to these main criteria, we then establish a list of specific criteria for each product category, detailed a little further down in this article.
In the end, the products we recommend are the ones we would want to buy, and the ones we would also choose for our friends and family.
Things to Know Before Buying Dog Probiotics
What are the benefits of probiotics?
Probiotics come with many benefits. Depending on the strain of bacteria, different benefits will be targeted specifically. Most notably, probiotics help your dog to digest food, produce enzymes, improve the GI tract, and more.
It also leads to other benefits, such as producing key vitamins, producing serotonin, improving mood, and supporting the immune system.
Probiotics do this by putting healthy probiotics into your dog’s gut. Whenever good bacteria is in your dog’s gut, it essentially crowds out the harmful bacteria. This leads to all of the benefits we discussed above.
What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?
Just like your dog needs food for survival, so do probiotics. Probiotics are living organisms that need some sort of food source. That is where prebiotics come into play. Prebiotics are typically made from a fiber, which provides the probiotics of food source so that they can continue to flourish within your dog’s gut.
When should I give my dog probiotics?
In most cases, dogs can benefit from probiotics. You should, of course, talk to your veterinarian before putting your dog on any medication, but probiotics are considered a generally great option to feed any dog to ensure a healthy gut.
There are specific instances when you should give your dog probiotics intentionally. For example, dog probiotics are often prescribed whenever a dog experiences leaky gut, yeast overgrowth, UTIs, diarrhea, bowel diseases, obesity, allergy, and mood disorders.
Once again, talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog any probiotics. This will ensure that you are making the right decision for your dog. Your vet may even be able to prescribe or recommend probiotics, assuring your dog gets the most effective option.
What are natural sources of probiotics for dogs?
Certain foods are considered natural sources for probiotics. For example, probiotic yogurt, fermented food, and prebiotic foods are all natural sources that can help your dog’s GI tract by adding healthy prebiotics and probiotics.
The issue with most natural sources of probiotics is that dogs do not like them. Both probiotic yogurt and fermented foods are made through a fermentation process. This creates a unique flavor that most dogs simply do not like. Even humans do not often like fermented food taste.
Are there side effects to feeding my dog probiotics?
Probiotics are considered a relatively safe and stress-free supplement to feed your dog. Many studies support this statement. There are a few common side effects, such as gas, bloating, and digestive upset if the probiotics are forced on the dog too quickly.
To prevent this from occurring, it is best to incorporate the probiotics into your dog’s diet gradually. This allows their stomach to get used to the additional bacteria without any issues.
The most common side effect of dog probiotics is them not working at all. Small intestinal bacteria overgrowth, antibiotics, and ineffective ingredients can all be causes for probiotics that do not lead to any changes.
How to Properly Choose Your Dog Probiotics
Even when you know which products are the best, it can be difficult to know which product you should opt for. After all, knowing which probiotic to get often requires some sort of scientific knowledge.
To make the process a bit easier for you, we have broken down choosing dog probiotics into four important factors. If you look at these four factors, you are most likely to select a dog probiotic that is effective and tasty.
Multiple Bacterial Strains
The very first thing you should look for when selecting a probiotic for your dog is that it contains multiple bacteria strains. In order for probiotics to be fully effective, it needs to contain a wide variety of bacterial strains that target different issues.
Lactic acid probiotics tend to be the most effective for both dogs and humans. They are formulated from fermented milk and include multiple varieties. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Enterococcus faecium are just a few examples.
In addition to lactic acid probiotics, there are also spore forming probiotics. These are typically within the Bifidobacterium family. Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus indicus, and Bacillus subtilis are just three examples.
For the best result, it is best to look for options with four to six bacterial strains. This will allow the supplement to target multiple health needs, not just one.
CFU Rating
In addition to the number of bacterial strains, you need to look at the CFU rating, or colony forming units rating. Probiotic bacteria can be destroyed within the gut. For this reason, you need a lot in a given supplement so as to ensure the bacteria actually survives. The higher the number, the better. Shoot for about 1 billion CFUs.
Other Ingredients
You also want to look at the other ingredients inside the supplement. You do not want to select a supplement with a lot of wheat, sugar, salt, and other ingredients that are unhealthy for your dog. As a dog probiotic, all of the ingredients should be dog-friendly, not just the probiotic strains.
Flavor
The last factor you need to consider is flavor. Probiotics can have a really nasty taste that dogs do not often like. Sometimes, the flavoring does not even mask the actual taste. Opt for a flavor you think your dog will like and test with other options if your picky pooch does not like what you select.
We do our best to provide you with a comparative guide of dog probiotics allowing you to choose the best product possible. If we are missing information or new models, do not hesitate to leave a comment below or to send us a message.
