Biotic's Gain

Three words, one letter apart, doing three different jobs. Dog supplement labels use them almost interchangeably, which does not help anybody.

Here is the plain version.

Probiotics

Live micro-organisms — bacteria and sometimes yeasts. The species you will see most often on dog labels are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus, alongside a yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii.

The important practical point about probiotics is that they are alive, which means they can die. Heat, moisture and time all reduce the count. That is why storage instructions and use-by dates matter more on a probiotic than on most supplements.

Prebiotics

Not alive. Prebiotics are specific types of fibre that the bacteria already living in the gut can use as food. Common ones on labels are inulin, chicory root, FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) and MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides).

The simple way to hold the distinction: probiotics are the bacteria, prebiotics are what feeds them.

Postbiotics

The newest of the three on labels, and the least familiar.

Postbiotics are the compounds produced when bacteria ferment fibre, plus inactivated bacterial cells and their fragments. Short-chain fatty acids are the best-known example.

Because they are not alive, they do not have the same shelf-life vulnerability as probiotics — which is the main practical argument for including them.

And digestive enzymes?

A fourth thing entirely, often bundled in with the other three.

Enzymes are proteins that break food down into smaller components: protease for proteins, amylase for carbohydrates, lipase for fats, cellulase for plant fibre. They are not bacteria and they are not food for bacteria. They act on the food itself.

Reading the label

CFU count. Colony forming units, the measure of how many live organisms are present. Look for a number per chew or per serving rather than per tub.

At manufacture, or at expiry? This is the one worth checking. A product quoting CFU at the point of manufacture may contain considerably less by the time it reaches the end of its shelf life. A guarantee at expiry is a stronger commitment.

Named strains. Better labels name the strain rather than just the species. It signals a manufacturer who knows exactly what they have put in.

Storage. Follow it. A probiotic left in a hot car or a sunny windowsill is not the product you paid for.

When a digestive upset needs a vet, not a supplement

• Blood in stool or vomit
• Vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than 24–48 hours
• Repeated unproductive retching, a swollen abdomen, or obvious distress — treat this as an emergency
• Any digestive upset alongside lethargy, or refusing water
• Puppies, elderly dogs or dogs with existing conditions — these dehydrate faster, so do not wait
• Ongoing loose stools over weeks, even if your dog seems otherwise well

Supplements are for everyday maintenance in a well dog. They are not a response to an acute problem.

Our probiotic chews

Biotic’s Gain Probiotics for Dogs contains prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics together with digestive enzymes — all four of the things described above in one chew, which is less common than the labels suggest. 120 chews per tub, fed by bodyweight: 1 chew up to 10lb, 2 for 11–39lb, 3 for 40–79lb, 4 for 80lb and over.

The dosage calculator works out the daily amount for your dog’s weight. There is more in our upset tummy guide, and the full range is on the pet supplements page.

These are general care tips, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, speak to your vet.