What can I give my dog for better digestion and overall gut health?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Just like you pointed out, there are many different diets in the market to the point that it is hard to decide which one is best for patients. For any concerns on digestion, I prefer a veterinary prescription diet called Purina EN which is easily digestible and at the same time very good in terms of nutrition. It is also palatable and most dogs seem to like it. Alternatively, you could consider another diet which is the Hill's id which is similar to the Purina EN though in my experience it is not as palatable and some dogs will not eat it. Your veterinarian would have to write up a prescription for this diet. Good luck and have a good night!

I like Purina Fortiflora treats - they have the most research behind their product and it is a pretty palatable powder that you sprinkle over food. If you’re looking for a chew VetriScience makes some good products although I’m not quite as familiar with their probiotic.

Hello. I think this is an excellent idea. We are learning more every day about the importance of probiotics & their effects on the gut microbiome. Some dog foods even supply extra probiotics in their formulas, so this is an option. Giardia can be frustrating to deal with. Using a probiotic daily may help in combating any potential flare-ups. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Man, that's a loaded question! In general, choose a good-quality commercial dog food, which will provide all necessary protein, fiber, minerals, and nutrients that a dog needs. There are different formulations that are appropriate for dogs with specific issues, but at 4 months of age, I would not expect Mia to have a sensitive stomach or food allergies - discuss this with your vet, though. Adding in a pet probiotic & prebiotic is an excellent idea for intestinal health in all dogs (just like in all humans!) but it has to be given every day to have any positive effect. Probiotics designed for dogs tend to work better than human probiotics. Keeping Mia on good food and flea and tick and heartworm preventatives and vaccinating her according to your vet's recommendation is the best way to keep her immune system at its peak performance.

Yes, you can give dogs too many supplements. It is quite possible to overdose a variety of vitamins and minerals. Dogs do not typically need any aids for their digestion. Dogs eating a commercial dog food rarely require any supplements, as these diets are properly balanced with the correct quantities of vitamins and minerals. If Baby Girl is eating a home-cooked diet, I recommend reviewing her current diet with a veterinary nutritionist or following a recipe from www.balanceit.com, which will be able to guide you as to the necessary supplementation. I'm confused as to how Baby Girl and your other dog have been diagnosed with pancreatitis or gastrointestinal issues in the absence of gastrointestinal signs. I would need further information regarding their physical exams, lab tests, and imaging in order to provide an opinion on the situation. Probiotics are not likely necessary in the absence of gastrointestinal signs or antibiotic treatment.

I think probiotics can be helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs, especially those that have diarrhea. Most probiotics have other ingredients in them to make them more palatable and if you feel Brutus gets stomach upset you should stop them. I don’t think digestive enzymes are particular helpful unless a dog has a diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. I would recommend switching to a different food altogether like Science Diet or switch to a different puppy formula of Royal Canin that has less fiber. You can also try adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora to see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please remember to rate this answer as helpful or not. Thank you!