Gastrointestinal health is important for our overall well being. Our guts are filled with both good and bad bacteria, which is also referred to as our “microbiome.” 

A healthy gut prevents disease, improves digestion, aids in better nutrient absorption, and boosts our immune system. Any imbalance in our gut good bacteria significantly influences our physical and psychological health and well being. 

Just like it’s important for us to have a healthy bacterial balance in our guts, it's important for our furry friends too. Probiotics provide healthy bacteria and yeasts to support digestive and immune system health, and prebiotics are food for the probiotics.

Here are a few benefits of probiotics for our fur babies:

1. Alleviating digestive issues caused by stress or illness

 When your dog is sick or feeling stressed, the balance between good (healthy) and bad (illness-causing) microbes in her gut becomes disrupted. This bacteria imbalance often leads to issues like diarrhea, gas, cramping and bad breath in your dog. It's been shown that probiotics can actually reduce the duration of diarrhea in dogs from seven to four days.

2. Decreasing the side effects of antibiotics use

Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria. And while antibiotics are effective at fighting infection, they may also cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, in your dog. If you know ahead of time that your dog will be taking antibiotics, start your dog on probiotics a few days in advance to ward off some of the unpleasant side effects, and continue them beyond the duration of the antibiotic treatment.

3. Relieving chronic gastrointestinal distress 

If your dog suffers from chronic intestinal distress, such as gas, bloating, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, a daily dose of high-quality dog probiotic with prebiotics helps replenish her gut with healthy bacteria. This also supports a healthy inflammatory response in the GI tract and ultimately help your dog feel better. Your dog will thank you!

4. Alleviating allergy symptoms by strengthening and stabilizing your dog's immune system

Allergies are on the rise in humans and dogs alike. Researchers have attributed this, in part, to an imbalance of gut bacteria. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies and it feels just as awful - the constant sneezing, and the itchy, watery eyes. Probiotics strengthen the dog's immune system, which in turn alleviate the miserable allergy symptoms. 

5. Regulating moods and behaviors

A behavioral change is often one of the first signs that your dog isn’t feeling well. Just like humans, dogs with unhealthy gut bacteria and digestion problems may also experience emotional and behavioral issues, such as excessive licking or other obsessive-compulsive behaviors. So, by supporting the digestive health, probiotics also improve your dog’s behavior.

6. Promoting Healthier Teeth

Preliminary research suggests that probiotics could also support your dog's dental health. That’s reason for both of you to smile!

7. Improving coat and skin health

A daily dose of probiotic will not only make her feel better on the inside, it will also benefit your dog on the outside of her body, such as shinier coat and healthier skin. Probiotics provide chemicals necessary for manufacturing biotin (for skin), folic acid and most B vitamins.

8. Improving health in senior dogs

Older dogs are much more susceptible to weakened immune systems. And since almost 70 percent of immune cells are in the gut, promoting the growth of good, healthy bacteria in the gut is a sure way to help boost your dog's immunity. Your dog’s gut flora is very important to her overall health and well being and may be the key to living a long, happy life.

Feeding your dog a probiotic-rich diet is the most proactive way to improve their health. Generally, most dog foods that include a proper amount of probiotics are also among the healthier choices of dog foods. These foods generally have more natural ingredients too and are overall better choices for your dog.

That's why we love and recommend Lucy Pet Salmon, Pumpkin, And Quinoa Grain­-Free Dog Food! It features advanced P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber to produce an optimal environment in your dog's digestive tract to lead to an optimal balance in the gut. The number one ingredient is Wild Alaskan Salmon. It also includes chicken meal from the USA, chickpeas (rich in protein and complex carbohydrates), delicious pumpkin (a nutritional powerhouse with fiber and protein that helps in digestion), and quinoa (a high quality, digestible seed rich in protein, containing essential amino acids). Your dog will love you and thank you for it!