If you’ve given your dog probiotics, you may be wondering if there are any side effects. While probiotics are very beneficial for dogs overall, some dogs can experience minor side effects.
The good thing is the benefits of probiotics far outweigh any minor side effects they may have and most dogs won’t show signs of side effects at all. With that being said, in this article, you’ll find probiotics for dogs side effects and what you may see in your dog if you give them probiotics.
Potential Side Effects from Probiotics in Dogs
Side effects of probiotics in dogs are usually related to digestive discomfort. The most commonly reported side effect of probiotics in dogs is gas. You may have to deal with some flatulence for a few days when you first give your dog probiotics until your dog adjusts to the new diet.
Gas usually subsides after a few days to a couple of weeks in dogs taking probiotics.
Some of the other side effects you may see in your dog after giving him or her probiotics include other digestive discomforts such as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Your dog’s digestive symptoms may actually seem to get worse for a brief period of time before improving.
The side effects of probiotics in dogs are a result of your dog’s microbiome (the collection of microorganisms in the digestive system) adjusting to very new gut conditions. Once the gut adjusts and normalizes to the new conditions of a healthier microbiome any side effects usually go away.
How Long do Side Effects from Probiotics for Dogs Last?
Luckily, if your dog experiences side effects from probiotics, they generally don’t last long. You’ll usually see side effects from probiotics in dogs subside within a few days to a couple of weeks.
Conclusion
If you think your dog is experiencing side effects from probiotics, there’s no reason to panic. Usually, you can let the probiotics run their course and the side effects will likely subside in a relatively short amount of time. Again, side effects are usually minor and only last for a few days.
If you find that your dog is experiencing side effects for an extended period of time, you can try halting your dog’s probiotics diet for a time to see if the side effects go away.
If the side effects don’t go away after having your dog not take them anymore, you may want to try another probiotic product with different strains to see if one or more of them don’t interact well with your dog’s particular digestive system and microbiome.
If your dog is showing signs of something being wrong for an extended period of time, it may not be related to probiotics and you may need to get your dog to the vet.
If you’re looking for a high-quality probiotic product for your dog, you can find our ratings of the best probiotics for dogs here. Our top pick was BlueBiology’s Probiotics for Dogs.
