Health Benefits of Postbiotics for Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
As awareness of gut health continues to grow, many pet parents are exploring innovative ways to support their dogs’ overall wellness. While prebiotics and probiotics have been popular additions to canine diets, postbiotics are emerging as the next frontier in pet nutrition.
Unlike probiotics (live bacteria) and prebiotics (their food), postbiotics are non-living, bioactive compounds created by probiotics during fermentation. These stable, effective compounds provide numerous health benefits without requiring the careful handling needed for live probiotics. In this guide, we’ll explore what postbiotics are, how they work, and why they’re a game-changer for canine health.
What Are Postbiotics?
The term “postbiotics” has gained significant attention in recent years, both in commercial pet products and scientific research. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) officially defined the concept.
In their groundbreaking consensus statement, ISAPP described postbiotics as inanimate microorganisms or their components that provide proven health benefits to the host. Unlike probiotics, which are live microorganisms, postbiotics are non-living.They include chemical compounds, dead microbial cells, or cell fragments. Most importantly, their safety and effectiveness have been confirmed through rigorous clinical trials.
This innovative discovery opens new doors for enhancing canine health, offering stable, easy-to-incorporate solutions for improving gut health, boosting immunity, and more.
Postbiotics are the metabolites and cellular components produced by beneficial bacteria during fermentation processes. Because they are non-living, they are more stable and easier to incorporate into diets compared to live probiotics. These bioactive compounds can include:
• Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Such as butyrate, which supports gut health and reduces inflammation.
• Peptides: Small proteins with antimicrobial and immune-modulating properties.
• Exopolysaccharides: Complex carbohydrates that enhance gut and immune function.
• Lactate: A metabolite that helps maintain an optimal gut pH.
• Bacterial lysates: Fragments of bacterial cell walls that boost immunity.
How Do Postbiotics Work in Dogs?
Postbiotics interact with the gut microbiome, immune system, and metabolic processes to support canine health. Here are the primary mechanisms:
1. Gut Health
• Promote beneficial bacteria: Postbiotics fuel a thriving gut microbiome by encouraging the growth of good bacteria.
• Strengthen the gut barrier: They improve the gut lining’s integrity, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal issues.
• Combat harmful microbes: Certain postbiotics inhibit pathogenic bacteria, maintaining a balanced gut environment.
2. Immune Modulation
• Postbiotics stimulate the production of cytokines and immune cells, bolstering the body’s ability to fight infections.
• They also help regulate immune responses, reducing the risk of autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.
3. Inflammation Reduction
Many postbiotics possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can benefit dogs with conditions like arthritis or allergies.
Health Benefits of Postbiotics for Dogs
Enhanced Digestive Health:
Research shows postbiotics can improve gut health by strengthening the intestinal barrier, inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, and reducing inflammation. This leads to better digestion and nutrient absorption.
Immune System Support: Approximately 70%–80% of a dog’s immune cells reside in the gut. Studies have shown that certain postbiotics fuel these immune cells, promoting a healthier immune response and aiding in the production of immune cells like T-cells and B-cells.
Skin and Coat Health:
Postbiotics have also been shown to reduce inflammation linked to skin allergies and improve coat quality through enhanced nutrient metabolism.
Weight Management:
Certain postbiotics have been shown to act as effective anti-obesity agents. For instance, heat-treated Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from dog’s saliva has demonstrated potential in supporting weight management.
Joint Health
Anti-inflammatory postbiotics research has shown that they can alleviate joint pain and stiffness, improving mobility in dogs with arthritis.
How Did We Get from Probiotics to Prebiotics to Postbiotics?
A Journey Through Canine Gut Health
Understanding probiotics, prebiotics, and now postbiotics stems from decades of research into the gut microbiome—a vital ecosystem that influences overall health in both humans and animals. Let’s explore how these concepts evolved and their significance for your dog’s health.
Probiotics: The First Discovery in Gut Health
Early research into the gut microbiome revealed that certain bacteria are essential for overall health, giving rise to the term probiotic, meaning “promoting life.”
• What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
• Historical Use
Humans have been consuming probiotics for over 7,000 years, beginning with fermented foods like cheese. Lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillaceae, were among the first probiotics recognized for their beneficial properties.
• Modern Probiotic Science
By the 20th century, scientists proposed that probiotics could alter the gut microbiome, improving digestive health. Clinical studies now confirm that probiotics, whether from fermented foods or supplements, can benefit humans and animals, including dogs, by supporting digestion, immunity, and gut health.
Prebiotics: Feeding the Gut’s Beneficial Bacteria
As knowledge of probiotics grew, researchers discovered that beneficial bacteria thrive when fed specific nutrients, leading to the concept of prebiotics.
• What Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are plant-based fibers and resistant starches that fuel beneficial gut bacteria. Examples include inulin, mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS).
• How Prebiotics Help Dogs
Prebiotics nourish probiotics, enabling them to flourish and maintain a balanced gut microbiome for better digestion and immunity.
Postbiotics: The Next Frontier in Gut Health
The newest development in gut health is postbiotics, which are byproducts of probiotics’ digestion of prebiotics.
• What Are Postbiotics?
As mentioned above, postbiotics are compounds produced by microorganisms after digesting prebiotics. These include peptides, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, neurotransmitters, and short-chain fatty acids.
• Health Benefits of Postbiotics
Postbiotics fuel critical processes in the body, especially in the gut. They support digestion, strengthen immune cells (up to 80% of which reside in the gut), and contribute to nervous system function.
• The Connection Between Probiotics and Postbiotics
Interestingly, the health benefits once attributed to probiotics are often due to the postbiotics they produce. Foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut are rich in postbiotics, which promote digestion, immunity, and overall health—for both humans and dogs.
Postbiotics vs. Probiotics and Prebiotics
A Quick TLDR Summary
Probiotics
• Definition: Live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
• Key Limitation: Require refrigeration and may lose potency during processing or storage.
Prebiotics
• Definition: Non-digestible fibers that act as food for probiotics.
• Key Benefit: Fuel beneficial bacteria to produce postbiotics.
Postbiotics
• Definition: Bioactive compounds produced by probiotics.
• Key Advantage: Stable, safe, and do not require live organisms to deliver health benefits.
Synergistic Benefits of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics
Incorporating all three components into a dog’s diet creates a holistic approach to health. This synergy:
• Enhances digestion by promoting beneficial bacteria and supporting gut barrier function.
• Boosts immunity with a balanced microbiome and bioactive compounds.
• Reduces inflammation through complementary mechanisms.
Are Postbiotics Safe for Dogs?
Yes, postbiotics are safe and well-tolerated. Since they do not contain live bacteria, there is no risk of bacterial overgrowth or infection. Always consult your veterinarian before introducing any new supplement.
Does Your Dog Need Probiotics, Prebiotics, or Postbiotics?
A Guide to Optimising Canine Gut Health
Supporting your dog’s digestion and overall wellness starts with understanding the roles of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. But how can you determine if your dog is getting enough of these essential gut health allies? And if your dog experiences symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, itchy skin, or chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which one should you prioritise? Let’s break it down.
How to Assess Your Dog’s Gut Health
The best way to evaluate your dog’s gut microbiome is through a Gut Health Test via Biome4Pets (see our group for a 30% off discount) if you’re in the UK or Europe or Doggy Biome for North America. By analyzing a small stool sample, this test identifies the types and proportions of bacteria in your dog’s gut. It can reveal imbalances or missing bacterial groups that may be causing health issues.
• Comprehensive Results
The test will provide a detailed report with personalised recommendations, including diet adjustments and supplementation. This helps you determine whether your dog would benefit most from probiotics, prebiotics, or postbiotics.
• Example Insight: Gut Imbalance
If your dog has an overpopulation of Prevotella bacteria—linked to inflammation and high-carbohydrate diets—a transition to a higher-protein diet and a prebiotic supplement like inulin, MOS, or FOS can help. This promotes a healthier balance by encouraging beneficial bacteria like Fusobacterium.
Probiotic Dog Food: Why It Often Falls Short
Many commercial dog foods claim to include “healthy microflora” or “probiotics for dogs,” but these products often fail to deliver the intended benefits. Here’s why:
1. Probiotics Struggle to Survive Processing
Most probiotic strains cannot withstand the high temperatures and rigorous processing of kibble and canned food production. Even when probiotics are added as a coating, uneven application and prolonged storage further reduce their viability.
2. Living Probiotics Are Essential
For probiotics to work, they must be alive when consumed. If the probiotics in your dog’s food are dead, they cannot provide the intended health benefits.
The amazing relationship between your pet, his food and the gut bacteria.
The Advantage of Postbiotics
As already stated, unlike probiotics, postbiotics are not live organisms. They are stable compounds (like nutrients, enzymes, and short-chain fatty acids) that retain their beneficial properties during storage and processing.
Why Postbiotics Are Ideal:
Postbiotics don’t need to compete with the natural microbes in your dog’s gut and can be stored for extended periods without losing effectiveness. This makes them an excellent option for long-term gut health support.
Which Does Your Dog Need?
If your dog’s symptoms or conditions indicate a potential gut health issue, consider these steps:
1. Start with a Gut Health Test to determine imbalances and needs.
2. Adjust their diet to reduce inflammatory triggers, like excessive carbohydrates.
3. Supplement wisely based on test results, using probiotics, prebiotics, or postbiotics as needed.
Understanding your dog’s unique gut microbiome is the first step toward improving digestion, immunity, and overall health.
Conclusion
Postbiotics are a revolutionary addition to canine health care, offering stability, effectiveness, and a wide range of benefits. By supporting gut health, modulating immunity, and reducing inflammation, they contribute to a longer, healthier life for dogs.
Whether used alone or as part of a triad with prebiotics and probiotics, postbiotics are a valuable tool for holistic pet wellness.
Sources
1. Pre-, Pro-, and Postbiotics: Their Roles in Gut Health
2. Pre-, Pro-, and Postbiotics: What’s the Difference?
Read on Fera Pet Organics Blog
3. Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics for Pets: What’s the Difference?
4. Postbiotics: Unlocking the Microbiome
Download PDF from International Animal Health
5. Postbiotics: Helping Dogs Live Healthier Lives
6.Fermented Veggies: Why Dead is Best
Read on Dogs Naturally Magazine
7. YouTube Video: Fermented Foods for Dogs
8. Boost Dog Health with Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics
