Why gut balance matters and how to support it with pre/pro/postbiotics.
Prebiotics – Food for Friendly Bacteria
Prebiotics are types of dietary fibre that your pet can’t digest but beneficial gut microbes can. They act as fertiliser for the “good” bacteria, helping them grow and crowd out harmful strains.
Common sources: Chicory root (inulin), green banana fibre, flaxseed, psyllium husk.
Probiotics – The Live Helpers
Probiotics are the live “good” bacteria themselves. Supplementing with the right strains can restore balance after a course of antibiotics or during times of stress.
Examples: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species are well-researched for pets.
Postbiotics – The Beneficial By-Products
When probiotics digest prebiotics, they produce compounds called postbiotics, things like short-chain fatty acids and peptides. These by-products support the gut lining, reduce inflammation and help the immune system stay resilient.
How to Support Your Pet’s Microbiome
- Feed a species-appropriate, minimally processed diet. Whole foods with quality proteins and fresh vegetables provide natural prebiotic fibres.
- Add targeted supplements. A well formulated blend of pre-, pro- and postbiotics can fast track gut recovery and help maintain long term balance.
- Limit unnecessary antibiotics and chemicals. These can wipe out beneficial bacteria, only use when prescribed and necessary.
- Reduce stress and keep routines steady. Changes in environment, diet or schedule can disrupt the microbiome.
Signs Your Pet’s Gut May Need Support
- Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Frequent ear or skin infections
- Excessive itching or allergies
- Poor coat quality or persistent bad breath
- Low energy or behaviour changes
When Choosing a Probiotic for your Pet
When choosing a probiotic for your pet, the species and strain of bacteria is just as important as the CFU’s (Colony Forming Units) on the label. Each probiotic species produces unique compounds and interacts with the immune system in its own way.
A few examples include –
- Lactobacillus acidophilus is known for its ability to maintain healthy stool consistency and lower gut pH.
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus is known for immune modulation and reducing diarrhoea.
- Saccharomyces boulardii is one of the only probiotics that will survive in the presence of antibiotics and helps manage antibiotic associated diarrhoea as well as supporting gut immunity.
CFU stands for colony forming unit and is the standard way to measure the live microbes in a probiotic. When a probiotic label says, ‘5 billion CFU’, this means there are about 5 billion living organisms per serving that grow and reproduce. Research generally shows that a minimum effective dose for pet probiotics should have a CFU of between 1-10 billion. However, choosing the right strain is more important than a high CFU number.
Survivability of the chosen strain is just as important additionally. Strains such as lactobacillus acidophilus are easily killed by the presence of antibiotics.
Without the presence of antibiotics, bacillus subtilis and bacillus coagulans survive high temperatures and gastric acid well – meaning they will be effective in supporting your pet’s gut and entire microbiome.
Saccharomyces boulardii is essential within your pet’s probiotic blend if they are on antibiotics to ensure survival without the digestive tract and role fulfilment.
It is important that you rotate the probiotics you give your pet if you are giving them for an extended period. By swapping the product every few months, you expose the gut to a wider set of beneficial actions and avoid ‘strain fatigue’. No single strain can do everything; some are better for allergy support and others for long-term immune modulation.
Digestive enzymes are proteins that break down food into absorbable nutrients, and aide in digestion when natural enzyme output is low. They can complement the probiotics work by improving nutrient breakdown and improving the overall gut environment, however, they are not essential as an ingredient in a pet probiotic.
Final Thought
Your pet’s gut is a dynamic ecosystem that needs daily care. By nourishing it with prebiotics, topping it up with probiotics and harnessing the power of postbiotics, you’re not just supporting digestion, you’re helping their whole body stay healthy, resilient and happy.
Always chat with your vet or animal naturopath before making major changes to your pet’s diet or supplement routine.
