Have you ever heard the phrase, âYou are what you eat?â The same principle applies to your dogâs overall health. A dogâs gastrointestinal system is 70% of a dogâs immune system. Itâs linked directly to billions of helpful bacteria that regulate digestion, prevent infections, and support brain function. Itâs important to have many of these bacteria, called probiotics, and keep them nourished. Probiotics are a helpful way to enrich your dogâs gut health through every stage of life.
There are many foods you can add to your dogâs diet to boost their gut health, from leafy greens to lean meats. You can also add probiotic powders, capsules, and kibble. These often contain different probiotic strains that reinforce different aspects of your dogâs mental and physical well-being. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting any supplements to your dogâs diet.
Vegetables Are Packed With Vitamins and Nutrients
Of the foods that dogs and foods can both eat, superfoods are a great choice. This refers to nutrient-packed foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which support the healthy bacteria in your dogâs gut.
These veggies include:
- Dandelion greens. Called the âperfect plant medicine,â these so-called weeds are a natural source of vitamins A, C, K, D, and B. They also contain inulin, a prebiotic on which probiotics feed and gain nourishment.
- Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. In small amounts, these foods are a strong source of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins, all of which work together to support your dogâs bodily functions. A tip: run these veggies through a food processor to break down the cell walls to ease digestion.
- Spinach (with your veterinarianâs approval). Feeding dogs spinach is a controversial topic for several reasons, mainly because it contains high amounts of oxalic acid, which can block calcium absorption and cause kidney damage. However, spinach also contains roughage ââŹâ fibrous, non-digestible material that helps move food through the GI tract.
Fermented Food Can Nourish Probiotics
Think of your dogâs gut like a city, with bacteria as its residents. The more diverse the population of probiotic bacteria, the more equipped your dog is to ward off infections and maintain a healthy immune system.
Fermented foods can add diversity to the helpful probiotics in your dogâs gut. While sauerkraut may be too salty for your dogâs taste, low-sodium sauerkraut could be a better alternative. If your dog isnât lactose intolerant, these other fermented foods could offer a rich source of probiotics:
- Raw goat milk
- Unsweetened yogurt
- Low-sodium cottage cheese
- Unsweetened buttermilk
- Kefir (a fermented milk drink)
The live cultures in these products support healthy gut flora, which can work to aid digestion and the immune systemâs response to infection. If your dog is sensitive to dairy, there are other foods (such as fermented beets) that can nourish the healthy bacteria in their gut.
Pumpkin: A Superpowered Superfood
If you want to pump up your dogâs gut health, consider incorporating pumpkin into their diet. The gourd is rich in fiber and a great source of prebiotics, which remember, feed probiotics.
Rich in vitamins and minerals, pumpkin aids digestion by adding bulk to your dogâs stool, helping with mild constipation or diarrhea. Additionally, as your dogâs intestines break down pumpkin, fermentation releases fatty acids that offer energy to cells, lower the large intestineâs pH level, and promote water and sodium absorption.
Depending on your dogâs size, the ideal serving is one to four tablespoons of pumpkin per meal. You can mix cooked, peeled, and unsalted pumpkin into your dogâs food or offer it separately as a treat. Unseasoned canned pumpkin is also convenient, but donât give your dog pumpkin pie filling, as it may contain spices and seasonings that they shouldnât consume as well as xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.
Lean Meats and Fish Support Healthy Gut Bacteria
Adding fish to your dogâs diet is also a great way to boost gut health. Many commercial dog foods have fish-infused formulations rich in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. If your veterinarian approves of feeding your dog a homemade diet with fish, theyâll likely suggest using fish free of heavy metals. These include herring, salmon, and ocean and lake whitefish, to name a few. Tuna and swordfish may carry high levels of mercury and disrupt your dogâs gut microbiome.
Adding lean meats like turkey and chicken to your dogâs diet can benefit their gut health in many ways. They donât contain live bacterial cultures like yogurt or kefir, but for dogs with sensitive stomachs, these bland, easily digestible foods provide adequate nutrition without irritating the stomach.
When preparing lean meats for your dog, avoid seasonings like salt, herbs, and cooking oil. Never use onion or garlic powder, as these concentrated spices can prove toxic to dogs. Be sure to cook the meat thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria. Steaming, grilling, or boiling the meat is preferable. Processed deli meats contain a lot of sodium and preservatives, and therefore, arenât ideal.
Introducing New Foods to Your Dogâs Diet
Many dogs leap at the chance to try something new in their food bowl. However, before adding anything to your dogâs dinner, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Start slow. Gradually adding new foods to your dogâs diet allows you to gauge their response and prioritize their comfort. For example, you may add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin to their kibble on Monday and work up to 4 tablespoons by Sunday.
- Monitor their stool quality. To see how your dog reacts to new foods, check their poop. The perfect poop should be log-shaped, brown, and reflect how much they ate. Runny stool, diarrhea, or constipation could suggest switching to another supplement.
- Talk to your vet for case-specific recommendations. Your veterinarian may suggest gut-boosting foods and probiotic bacterial strains tailored to your dogâs age, breed, and any pre-existing health conditions they may have.
Probiotic Supplements Aim to Boost Multiple Bodily Systems
Probiotic supplements take a proactive approach to enhancing your dogâs quality of life. They work to improve nutrient absorption, bolster your dogâs immune system, and balance their gut microbiome. The ideal probiotic strain and supplement depend on your petâs health goals, such as whether youâre attempting to improve your dogâs digestion or offer additional support as they age.
Regardless, probiotics are safe, backed by research, and allow you to prioritize your dogâs health from the inside out.
At Zesty PawsÂŽ, we are wellness nerds with a non-stop obsession for pet wellness â meaning we do the research, sweat the small stuff, and skip the junk. The result? Bite-Sized. Pet Science.⢠As an award-winning pet supplement brand beloved by besties and trusted by pet lovers, helping pets live a Zestful life is more than just a promise, itâs our science-driven method for everything we do. Zesty PawsÂŽ is also a member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and proudly displays the NASC Quality Seal on its products. For more information about Zesty PawsÂŽ, you can visit ZestyPaws.com or follow along on social media on our Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
