Dog Probiotics in 2025: Commercial Supplements for Your Dog’s Gut Microbiome Health - Does your Dog need them?

It seems every second post on social media I see is a cry for help from a exhausted pet parent, HALP!! 'My dog is so itchy, my dog gets chronic diarrhea, my dog keeps gnawing his paws until they bleed' & then comes the (usually) very long list of all the things they have done to try to fix the problem. And, almost always at the top of the list is ‘I’ve tried this probiotic, that probiotic, & the wonder pills from the woman at my farmers market selling treats & empty promises. None of them have worked!

If you are wondering if that jar of probiotic promises you’ve just bought actually works, read on & I’ll give you the real research & debunk a lot of the mystery around these supplements & explain to you what the heck prebiotics, probiotics, & the little known postbiotics are.

A Healthy Microbiome means a Heathy Happy Dog

I did a bit of research, & was amazed to find out “dog probiotics” google searches are up 91% on previous years, & gut health is the current buzz word in the wellness industry in 2025, everyone’s jumping on the gut microbiome bandwagon. So, without going in to chemistry & biology terminology, let’s cut through the noise:

It’s a blunt fact. Unfortunately, the vast majority of commercial pet probiotics are a waste of your cash.

Don’t switch off now, I would like to explain to you why I make that sweeping statement, & offer you an easier, cheaper alternative, actually founded on quantified research, not hype.

Why don't most Commercial Probiotics work for Dogs?

Why? Simply, most don’t have the bacteria strains tough enough to survive your dog’s acidic gut. And a dog that is fed a predominantly meat based diet contains acid that would give the Alien dribble that can burn it’s way through the hull of a space ship a run for it’s money! It’s interesting to know, a dog fed predominately on a high starch carb-heavy diet like kibble has a much lower gut acidity, it’s far more alkaline, so there’s some argument that these dogs may get some benefit, but, as far as I could determine there has not been any studies on this topic. Jury is out.

Functional Feeding & Nutraceuticals

What the heck does this mean? Nutraceuticals are defined as substances that have physiological benefits or provide protection against chronic diseases. Nutraceuticals may be used to improve health, delay the aging process, prevent chronic diseases, increase life expectancy, or support the structure or function of the body. It's just a cool word for natural real foods, not the manufactured pharmaceuticals we all know.!

I’m all about a diet-based approach to pre, pro, & postbiotics—real food that delivers gut goodness without the hype, empty promises & crazy expensive price tags. My approach is called Functional Feeding. Let’s dive into the science & how you can nail your dog’s nutrition with simple, natural choices.

What Are Pre, Pro, & Postbiotics?

Probiotics are live bacteria (like the gold-haired child Lactobacillus we have all heard of) they boost gut flora. Prebiotics, like inulin from chicory or Kefir or Bone Broth, feed those good bugs. Postbiotics? They’re the awesome byproducts—like short-chain fatty acids—that strengthen the gut barrier. If the gut barrier is weak, something called Leaky Gut occurs. That is not good, basically think of the gut walls being a material like cheesecloth. When there is not enough of the good bacteria–gut flora–the cheesecloth stretches thin & tiny holes appear, allowing protein molecules to escape into the bloodstream. Not bits of meat, just the protein molecules. And this flows around in the bloodstream, and end result is basically & super sensitive, allergic dog. 

What is Leaky Gut in Dogs?

If you have ever heard someone say my dog is allergic to chicken (or beef or any other type of protein) is is most likely the case that dog is suffering from Leaky Gut Syndrome. The protein molecules escape through the stomach lining, into the bloodstream. The body identifies these microscopic protein molecules as a threat, a danger, so the immune system kicks into overdrive, produces Histamine, & Bam! You have a crazy itchy dog.

A healthy microbiome means better digestion, stronger immunity, & even a happier, calmer pup. There been quite a lot of clinical studies undertaken in human medicine on the topic of the gut brain axis, & they have found there are direct connections to your gut microbiome health & your mental health, so much so they are working on a microbiome treatment to assist those who suffer from depression or anxiety. Think about it, if you are feeling slightly 'off' or unwell, how is your mental state at the same time?

We watched a podcast by Niel Degrssy-Tyson & Emeran Mayer about this topic, & I literally had my tiny mind blown,  Imagine how much your dogs gut dictates their moods & their entire overall wellness? No wonder people are buying all these commercial supplements, the connection is obvious, & studied, & proven. But here’s the catch: commercial probiotics often fail to deliver for our pets & ourselves. I am sure everyone watching this has purchased some sort of pre-probiotic supplement & not really noticed any great improvement. But, a lot of people do, the key difference here is, canines & felines are not human. Our gut flora requirements are not the same. And the overwhelming number of pet parents see no marked improvements or relief from the problems they are trying to fix, usually super itchy, allergic pets who can’t tolerate any sort of diet changes without a poonami attack. So, they get online & come across yet another company with flashy sales pitches & sexy marketing tactics, so they buy this one next. And so it goes on. 

The Case for Probiotics (& Why It’s Shaky at best)

Some studies show promise. A 2023 Microorganisms review (1) found Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium easing diarrhea & inflammation in dogs. A 2024 Microbiology Spectrum study (2) linked probiotics to weight loss in obese pups by tweaking gut microbes. Even skin issues can improve—per a 2025 BMC Microbiology paper (3), probiotics may help atopic dermatitis. Sounds great, right? But a 2019 Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine review (4) found “limited & possibly clinically unimportant” effects for GI issues, with inconsistent trial results. All the research papers are listed below for your reading pleasure! Plus, many products lose potency or list wrong strains—FDA doesn’t regulate them in pet land. I liken the industry of Pet Gut Health to the wild west, a whole lot of cowboys out there & no regulations on how many gun fights they can have. 

Why Diet-Based Wins in 2025 over Commercial Probiotic Supplements for Dogs & Cats

My advice is Functional Feeding. Skip the pills & go for food. Prebiotics like pumpkin, oats (in moderation!), or berries fuel good bacteria naturally. If you really want to speed things up I always recommend Psyllium Husks added to their food. They are cheap, and are 100% insoluble fibre. This slows the digestive system down, allowing for the good bacteria to feed & grow. Probiotics are fermented foods (plain yogurt, kefir, or bone broth). They feed the newly formed bacteria. So, Pre means before, Pro means during & Post means the wrap up. Postbiotics are things like Artichokes & Brewers yeast and can be found in a heathy dogs colon or in their poop. 

Why is my dog eating poop?

Simply put, they are trying to boost their gut microbiomes by ingesting the postbiotics found in other animals poop! They instinctively know they are in need of that bacteria boost, as disgusting as it may seem!

Want the best dog food in 2025?

Look for natural foods high in natural fibres or go raw or lightly cooked real food. Avoid commercial probiotics unless your vet prescribes a proven strain for specific issues like antibiotic recovery. Ask to see the research before you fork out lots of money on a product that doesn’t have canine specific bacteria, or, worse still, they’ve been sitting on a shelf for a year and all the strains have actually died in that bottle.

My Final Bark?

The science is clear: diet-based pre & probiotics work whereas most commercial probiotics formulations are untested & not proven viable for sustainable gut health. Save your money & feed your dog real, nutrient-packed foods. Got a picky eater or health issue? Drop a comment below, I do my best to answer them all.

(1) 2023 Microorganisms review (DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102477)

(2) 2024 Microbiology Spectrum study (DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02552-23)

(3) 2025 BMC Microbiology paper (DOI: 10.1186/s12866-025-03924-6)

(4) 2019 Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine review (DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15554)

(5) 2025 Scientific Reports study (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10280-y)

(6) 2024 Frontiers in Veterinary Science study (DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1392985)