- Home
- Best Products
- Miscellaneous Dog Products
- Best Probiotics for Dogs 2025
Best Probiotics for Dogs 2025
Written by Joe Holyoake
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 05/31/2024, edited: 01/13/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
When it comes to bacteria, there are many which are actively harmful to your dogs — things like E.Coli and Salmonella. However, there are lots of good bacteria that live inside the gut and contribute towards healthy digestion, immunity and even mental wellbeing.
So how to make the right sort of bacteria flourish inside a dog’s body? Well, probiotics can help. These are full of the healthy microorganisms that keep everything ticking over as intended. Some foods are naturally rich in them, such as yogurt, tripe and sauerkraut, but a lot of dog food recipes are supplemented with probiotics as well.
Another failsafe way of boosting your pet’s gut flora is by giving them a probiotic supplement. These can be given daily or to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria after an incidence of gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. It’s also recommended to give your dog probiotic supplements before a potentially stressful event, such as moving homes, traveling or a stay in kennels.
If you’re considering giving your dog probiotic supplements, it’s best to consult with your vet beforehand. Some dogs, particularly those with weakened immune systems, might not be able to tolerate them, so it’s best to double-check before administering them.
Once you’ve got the green light, here are some of the best probiotics for dogs to consider.
Overview
Zesty Paws Allergy and Immune Bites
5
Best probiotic for dogs with allergies
As probiotics contribute to the healthy function of the immune system, they could be a useful weapon in the fight against allergies, be they food or environmental.
That’s why this Zesty Paws allergy supplement contains a blend of five probiotic bacteria (with 250 million CFU in each chew).
Alongside this, the ingredient list also contains yeast fermentate, colostrum and astragalus root to reduce the symptoms associated with allergies, including itching and swelling.
Alongside this, the ingredient list also contains yeast fermentate, colostrum and astragalus root to reduce the symptoms associated with allergies, including itching and swelling.
There are three flavors to choose from — salmon, lamb or peanut butter, plus tubs of varying sizes to suit demand or budgets. To top it all off, the chews are made in the USA and meet the quality standards laid down by NASC.
You can see why we’ve opted for Zesty Paws as the best probiotic for dogs with allergies.
Zesty Paws Allergy and Immune Bites
Why Wag! loves it
- The choice of three flavors is handy for parents of picky pooches
- The probiotic count is high at 250 million CFU per chew
- The probiotics are accompanied by other effective ingredients, such as yeast fermentate, colostrum and astragalus root
- The product hits the quality benchmarks laid out by the National Animal Supplements Council (NASC)
Considerations & concerns
- The supplement is among the most expensive, although the price comes down if bought in bulk
- The product might not be safe to give to pregnant or nursing dogs
What Pet Parents Say About Zesty Paws
“Since my dog was a puppy, he occasionally would chew on his wrists and ankles. He would also lick his paws quite a bit. I originally thought maybe he was allergic to chicken, but our vet advised me it was probably more likely environmental allergies.
I started giving him these actually because I got them free one time via a Chewy promotion. I noticed a significant decline, specifically in the ankle chewing behavior. At one point, I switched him from these chews to the probiotic only chews and once again noticed the ankle chewing. My dog will probably be on these forever. He loves them and he thinks they are treats.”
I started giving him these actually because I got them free one time via a Chewy promotion. I noticed a significant decline, specifically in the ankle chewing behavior. At one point, I switched him from these chews to the probiotic only chews and once again noticed the ankle chewing. My dog will probably be on these forever. He loves them and he thinks they are treats.”
“My 11 year old dog was scratching almost constantly. Prescription medicine was very expensive and may have produced lethargy. We tried Zesty Paws and the itching is almost gone without making him lay around. My dog loves the taste and gladly takes Zesty Paws. He prefers the lamb flavor.”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Zesty Paws.
Finn Digestive Probiotics
4.5
Best pre- and probiotic mix for dogs
As we mentioned in the introduction, probiotics are active bacteria that live in the digestive tract and support your dog’s health.
Now, anything that’s alive needs stuff to eat in order to survive and that’s what prebiotics are — think of them as fuel for probiotics to feed on.
Now, anything that’s alive needs stuff to eat in order to survive and that’s what prebiotics are — think of them as fuel for probiotics to feed on.
These probiotic chews from Finn contain not only six bacterial strains, but also a pair of prebiotic plant fibers that help the microorganisms get to work.
In addition, pumpkin’s on the ingredient list for a source of fiber and natural beef, bacon and cheese flavoring to make it irresistible to your dog.
In addition, pumpkin’s on the ingredient list for a source of fiber and natural beef, bacon and cheese flavoring to make it irresistible to your dog.
That’s why we’ve included Finn Digestive Probiotics in our best probiotics for dogs.
Finn Digestive Probiotics
Why Wag! loves it
- The chews contain both six probiotic bacterial strains and a pair of prebiotic plant fibers
- The beef flavor should make it easy to administer to your dog
- The product complies with the quality standards set out by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)
- The chews come in a recyclable metal tin and cardboard packaging
Considerations & concerns
- The price at the time of writing — $32 for 90 chews — can be beaten by other products on our list
- The fact that dogs over 75 lbs have to be given four chews at a time means that the tins won’t last too long
What Pet Parents Say About Finn
“These treatos were just the thing that helped put the kibosh [on] my Labrador’s secret snack time. (eating her own poo). It took about three weeks but she’s finally given up her forbidden butt-nugget addiction, and I couldn’t be happier.
She loves these things and gets about 2-3 a day. They smell and look like raw cocoa, so I was confused at first since the smell is pretty strongly like chocolate, but I triple checked and read through the ingredients and it’s actually mostly pumpkin (which she loves). Yay! Thanks Finn! You’re expensive, but worth it.”
She loves these things and gets about 2-3 a day. They smell and look like raw cocoa, so I was confused at first since the smell is pretty strongly like chocolate, but I triple checked and read through the ingredients and it’s actually mostly pumpkin (which she loves). Yay! Thanks Finn! You’re expensive, but worth it.”
“I’ve been giving my pug puppy these for the last 3 months and not only does he love their flavor and think they’re treats, these keep him regular and his digestion on track!”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Finn Wellness.
Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora
4.5
Best probiotic for dogs with diarrhea
There are plenty of reasons why your dog has diarrhea, but one cause might be their gut microbiome being out of kilter, perhaps due to a bacterial infection or ingestion of spoiled food.
A probiotic supplement can help address this gastrointestinal imbalance and Fortiflora is one we would recommend in this situation.
Each serving contains 100 million CFU of SF68 (or enterococcus faecium) and this can be obtained in either a chew or powder form.
Each serving contains 100 million CFU of SF68 (or enterococcus faecium) and this can be obtained in either a chew or powder form.
As well as the probiotics, there are antioxidants in the mix for added immune support, plus liver flavor and dried yeast to make it tolerable to canine palates.
It’s for all these reasons we’ve named Fortiflora the best probiotic for dogs with diarrhea.
It’s for all these reasons we’ve named Fortiflora the best probiotic for dogs with diarrhea.
Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora
Why Wag! loves it
- The supplement is available either as a sachet or tablet, which offers some versatility
- The probiotic count is huge and can help restore the gut microbiome in instances of gastrointestinal upset
- The product is suitable for all dogs to consume, including puppies and pregnant mothers
- The US-made treatment meets the quality standards set by NASC
Considerations & concerns
- The ingredients only contain one bacterial strain, rather than multiple as seen in other probiotic supplements
- The probiotic might not cure diarrhea if it’s caused by something unrelated to the gut microbiome
What Pet Parents Say About Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora
“My pup had a stomach bug last spring and was vomiting and had diarrhea for several days. I took him to the emergency vet, and they gave him fluids and anti nausea meds and then sent me home with these individual probiotic packs. Within a day he was back to normal.
He had another bout of diarrhea a couple months later and I used my last two packs of the probiotics, and once again he quickly got over it. He already eats [Pro Plan] food, which has probiotics, and I’ve tried him on other probiotics in the past, but this one seems like the best. I saw it on sale and decided to stock up, just in case he has issues again, because the mark-up at the vet was pretty high.”
He had another bout of diarrhea a couple months later and I used my last two packs of the probiotics, and once again he quickly got over it. He already eats [Pro Plan] food, which has probiotics, and I’ve tried him on other probiotics in the past, but this one seems like the best. I saw it on sale and decided to stock up, just in case he has issues again, because the mark-up at the vet was pretty high.”
“These probiotic packets were recommended to me by my vet after my dog had GI issues. After one day, her poop firmed up. I started sprinkling one packet on their dinner every day and I can tell by their poops the difference if I stop giving it to them. The quality of their poop is always lower when they're off the probiotic.”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Nestlé Purina.
Naturvet Advanced Probiotics and Enzymes
4
Best powder probiotic for dogs
Some dogs will let you give them a tablet with no trouble at all, but others won’t be so compliant. This is where probiotics in a powder form really come into their own.
Take this option from Naturvet. All parents have to do is add a quarter of a teaspoon to their dog’s food and they’ll receive a blend of probiotics, as well as essential enzymes to help break down food.
The company behind the product has been making health supplements for pets for more than 25 years and they all meet the quality standards set out by the National Animal Supplements Council (NASC).
What’s more, this probiotic is suitable for both cats and dogs, which is helpful if you’re lucky enough to live in a multi-animal household.
Naturvet Advanced Probiotics and Enzymes
Why Wag! loves it
- The supplement comes in powdered form, so can be give to tablet-averse dogs
- The blend contains both probiotics and enzymes to help with stomach health
- The product is suitable to be given to both cats and dogs
- The company behind the product complies with NASC’s quality standards
Considerations & concerns
- The supplement hasn’t been proven to be suitable for pregnant animals or those in consideration for breeding
- The powder only contains two strains of bacteria, which can be beaten by others on our list
What Pet Parents Say About Naturvet
“First time I tried this on my dog with an impaired liver, loose stool, and extensive food allergies, I didn’t like it. I believe it [caused] him gas and diarrhea. So, I put it in the cabinet and forgot about it. Several months later, still dealing with the same issues, it was recommended that I try probiotics. I remembered this has some (though not much and really not enough to be effective and I doubt they’re live), and I thought better try again before I buy another supplement.
Glad I did! The second time around I made sure to introduce it super slowly, like 1/4 of the dose and then increase a tiny [bit] more every day. He’s pooping solid and he’s able to eat some foods he wasn’t able to eat before without serious itching!”
Glad I did! The second time around I made sure to introduce it super slowly, like 1/4 of the dose and then increase a tiny [bit] more every day. He’s pooping solid and he’s able to eat some foods he wasn’t able to eat before without serious itching!”
“When she was rescued[,] poor Halo the hound had so many kinds of worms including pernicious hookworms[. S]he was dangerously losing weight [and] it took multiple dewormings to get rid of them. After that, she had a very sensitive stomach and many things gave her [diarrhea]. A few weeks of this on her food so far and she already seems much improved.”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Garmon Corp.
Nutri-Vet Pre- and Probiotics
4
Best budget probiotic for dogs
Looking after a dog can be an expensive business, let alone caring for multiple canines. That’s why if Wag! sees a product that’s available at a lower price but is safe for use on dogs, we’ll bring it to your attention.
The supplement contains both one billion CFU of bacteria in two chews, plus a prebiotic to give these microorganisms something to feed upon before getting to action.
Each of these chews has a cheese and liver flavor so they can even be used as a treat, plus the formulation hits the quality benchmarks set by NASC.
However, the reason we’ve included Nutri-Vet’s option on our list is the price. At the time of writing, it was possible to buy 120 chews for as little as $14.53, which is markedly lower than many other similar products.
The best probiotics for dogs needn’t be out of reach for a lot of parents.
Nutri-Vet Pre- and Probiotics
Why Wag! loves it
- The price is a lot lower than other probiotic supplements
- The low cost still gets parents a supplement with 1 billion CFU of healthy bacteria
- The chews are cheese and liver flavored, so appetizing to dogs
- The product meets the quality standards set out by NASC
Considerations & concerns
- The fact that dogs over 70 lbs need four chews a day means that tubs will only last for a month if administered daily
- The supplement is only intended for dogs over the age of 12 weeks
- The packaging is pretty flimsy and can be broken in transit according to multiple reviewers
What Pet Parents Say About Nutri-Vet
“My dogs love these. My Doberman has a sensitive stomach, but since I started giving him these, the problems have stopped. They must taste good because my picky [Parson] Russell likes them. I am also happy about the price.”
“I got these for my ]Shih Tzu] as he was having a lot of eye discharge. The vet said it was gut related and to get him probiotics. He had a ton less discharge after just one day of taking these supplements.
I even saw his symptoms return when I forgot to give him these 2-3 days in a row. He eats them just fine so they must taste good. I will definitely be keeping him on these!”
I even saw his symptoms return when I forgot to give him these 2-3 days in a row. He eats them just fine so they must taste good. I will definitely be keeping him on these!”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Compana Pet Brands.
FAQ
What are probiotics for dogs?
Should I give my dog probiotic supplements?
What type of probiotic is best for dogs?