Many pet parents use probiotics as part of a healthy regimen. But what happens if you drop a probiotics pill on the floor and your dog eats it?
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Has your dog eaten human probiotics? Are you worried the human probiotics will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it’s scary when your dog eats something he shouldn’t.
In this article, we’ll take a look at human probiotics and whether or not they can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!
What are Human Probiotics?
Human probiotics are simply probiotics that are made for humans. They may come in tablet, pill, or capsule form and contain live bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your gut. Probiotic supplements are often used to help restore good bacteria in your body after a round of antibiotics. However, they can even be taken every day to boost your immune system.
The most common types of human probiotic bacteria include:
- Bifidobacterium
- Lactobacillus
These bacteria can be helpful for different health issues, including:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- And more
But what happens if a dog eats human probiotics?
Human Probiotics & Dogs
The good news is that human probiotics are not toxic for dogs. However, because the bacteria are different than what dogs have in their guts, it’s possible a dog could develop digestive issues. It may depend on how many probiotic capsules/pills the dog has eaten.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Human Probiotics Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten human probiotics:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Gas
These symptoms should not last longer than 24 hours. If they do, then it’s time to call the vet. The reason is that constant diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration in your fur baby.
In addition, the vet has medications that can help stop these digestive issues and help your dog feel better fast.
Probiotics for Dogs
If you’re interested in providing probiotics for your dog, then you’ll need to find some made explicitly for your canine companion. However, it’s always best to check with the vet first to make sure probiotics are a good idea for your dog and his specific health issues!
Probiotics for dogs are available in different forms, including powder, capsules, and even tasty chews. They should contain the following:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Enterococcus faecium
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus casei
- Bifidobacterium breve
Be sure to look for canine probiotics that offer live bacteria, have a guaranteed analysis of how many live bacteria the product contains, and check the use-before date. And be sure to read the label to check the dose for your dog.
You can be sure that your fur baby will have a healthy immune system and gut when he eats dog probiotics!
Can a Dog Overdose on Probiotics?
The answer is yes, though this is rare. Dogs can develop the symptoms (see below). And in very rare cases, immunocompromised dogs have been known to develop a bacterial infection in their blood. This happened after they ingested a normal dose of probiotics.
What’s the Right Dose of Probiotics for Dogs?
The answer is not clear. Researchers are trying to figure out the right probiotics dose for dogs. It’s necessary to provide the dog with enough good bacteria that will survive his digestive chemicals. However, if a dog has too many probiotics, he may develop the symptoms (see above).
Common Dose in Dog Probiotics Products
The most common dose of probiotics in products for dogs is between 100 million and 100 billion CFUs (colony-forming units). This is the range of beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms per dose.
What May Cause a Probiotic Overdose in Dogs?
Studies have shown that people can become pretty sick after taking the recommended dose of probiotics. Researchers have found that the risk may be increased in humans who have compromised immune systems and/or inflammation of the digestive system.
While studies have not been done with dogs, they do face the same risks. Dogs who have an immune system disease or chronic GI tract inflammation may not be able to take probiotics.
One more thing—avoid giving your dog probiotics that contain xylitol. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. This substance can cause death in dogs.
If you’re wondering if your dog can take probiotics, it’s best to consult with your vet. They will know whether probiotics will be helpful or harmful for your fur baby.
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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