How to Choose the Best Probiotic for Your Dog: 9 Essential Tips

Picking the right probiotic supplement for your dog can be tricky. Not all supplements deliver on their promises, and labels can be confusing. 

To help you navigate this, here are 10 essential considerations to find the perfect probiotic for your dog’s gut health, immune system, and overall wellbeing:

1. Check the Probiotic Dose (CFU)

CFU (Colony-Forming Units) shows how many live probiotics each serving contains. Higher CFU counts - usually in billions per serving - make sure enough beneficial bacteria reach your dog’s gut to create noticeable improvements. 

For gut health maintanance, the general recommendation is to dose around 1 billion CFU for an up to 10kg dog, and then add about 1 Billion CFU per 10 kg of dog weight.

2. Ensure Probiotics Are Actually Alive

Probiotics must be alive to provide their benefits. Unfortunately, many probiotic treats contain fewer than 30% of the probiotics listed on the packaging, as the bacteria are easily killed during high-temperature manufacturing processes. Choose brands that clearly state they guarantee live bacteria after production.

3. Make Sure It Includes Prebiotics

Prebiotics feed probiotic bacteria, helping them grow and thrive. It’s beneficial when a supplement includes multiple prebiotic sources. Common beneficial prebiotics include:

• Brewer’s yeast and other nutritional yeasts
  
  

• Dried chicory root (inulin)
  
  

• Psyllium husk
  
  

• Ground linseed (flaxseed fibre)
  
  

Multiple prebiotic sources ensure a diverse, stable gut environment.

4. Look for Postbiotics Too

Postbiotics introduce beneficial metabolites directly into your dog's gut—such as vitamins, amino acids, short-chain fatty acids, and organic acids. 

They support calming inflammation, repairing the gut lining, and regulating your dog’s immune system. This accelerates relief from gut issues, skin irritation, and allergies.

They also directly provide your dog’s body with beneficial compounds (metabolites), such as vitamins, amino-acids and short-chain fatty acids.

5. Look for Additional Function-Specific Support Ingredients

If your dog is also struggling with specific conditions, such as itching and scratching, also look for probiotic supplements that add the functional ingredients to further help your dog.

For example, ingredients like zinc, biotin, algae oil (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids), and skin-supportive vitamins and minerals help soothe itchy skin, strengthen the skin barrier, and promote a shiny coat—important for dogs struggling with itching or skin irritation.

6. Look for Clinically Proven Ingredients

Reliable probiotic supplements use scientifically validated ingredients. Choosing a probiotic backed by clinical research means you're giving your dog an effective, trustworthy product rather than relying solely on marketing claims.

7. Check for Clean, Natural Ingredients

Your dog’s digestive system can be sensitive. The best probiotic supplements contain natural ingredients without artificial additives, preservatives, fillers, or flavourings. Clear, transparent ingredient lists ensure safer digestive support.

8. Consider the Format (Tasty and Easy to Feed)

A probiotic supplement only works if your dog willingly takes it daily. Choose supplements available in a tasty chewable tablet, treat, or powder form that mixes easily with food. Regular use ensures ongoing gut and immune health benefits.

9. Ensure Immune Health Support

A healthy gut significantly improves your dog’s immune system, helping protect them against allergies, infections, and chronic inflammation. Supplements with probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics provide direct immune modulation, reducing allergic reactions, skin flare-ups, and infections. This holistic approach supports not just gut health, but overall vitality and longevity.

By following these 9 essential considerations, you’ll confidently choose a probiotic supplement that provides meaningful, lasting results for your dog’s gut, skin, immune system, and overall health.