Last Updated: 07/09/2026
Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics Explained
Discover how digestive supplements support your pet's gut health and immunity.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Support your pet's wellbeing from the inside out by leveraging the latest advancements in microbiome science.
As pet parents, most Australians understand that a happy pet starts with a settled stomach. Digestive issues, such as flatulence, intermittent loose stools, or "sensitive" digestion, remain among the most frequent reasons owners seek veterinary advice.
In recent years, veterinary medicine has seen a significant shift toward microbiome nutrition. With approximately 70% of a pet's immune system residing in the gut, digestive supplements are no longer viewed merely as a reactive fix for "the runs." Instead, they serve as a proactive tool to support immunity, skin health, and overall vitality.
In this article we'll explore digestive health supplements for both dogs and cats, plus when your pet might actually need one. If you've already decided a probiotic is right for your dog, jump straight to our full vet-reviewed rundown of the best dog probiotics, or our probiotics guide for cats.
In this article
What are digestive supplements and how do they work?
Digestive supplements are "nutraceuticals": concentrated, functional ingredients designed to maintain the natural equilibrium of bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract.
To understand the gut, it is helpful to envision it as a complex ecosystem, requiring a robust population of "beneficial" bacteria to keep "pathogenic" bacteria in check. Digestive supplements for dogs and cats facilitate this balance through three primary mechanisms: populating the gut with beneficial live bacteria, nourishing the bacteria already there, and fortifying the gut lining to keep irritants out of the bloodstream.
These good bacteria work by crowding out harmful microbes for space, producing natural antimicrobial compounds, and generating postbiotics like short-chain fatty acids that strengthen the gut lining and support the immune cells that line it.
What's the difference between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics?
The terminology surrounding gut health can be confusing, though each term plays a distinct role.
Prebiotics are the fuel: non-digestible fibres, such as chicory root or beet pulp, that feed the pet's beneficial gut bacteria.
Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria themselves, live microorganisms such as Enterococcus faecium or Lactobacillus that help restore microbial balance, particularly after illness or antibiotics.
Postbiotics are the beneficial byproducts, bioactive compounds like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced when probiotics consume prebiotics, which fuel gut cells and reduce inflammation.
Synbiotics combine a prebiotic and a probiotic working in tandem. Tribiotics go further still, combining all three in one high-potency formula.
What are the benefits of digestive supplements for dogs and cats?
Beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can:
- Ease diarrhoea and gas
- Calm food sensitivities and food responsive diarrhoea
- Help restore balance after a course of antibiotics
Bacillus species can give the immune response an extra hand. A meaningful share of the immune system lives in the gut wall, so a balanced microbiome supports the body's broader defences. There's also a genuine gut-mood link: certain Bifidobacterium strains have been shown to reduce anxiety-like behaviour in dogs. Around 90% of the body's Serotonin - the 'happy hormone' - originates from the intestines, and the production of this hormone is directly influenced by the gastrointestinal microbiome.1 Read more in our guide to the pet microbiome.
While there is no definitive evidence as yet as to whether probiotics are beneficial for dogs experiencing environmental skin allergies, the microbiome does have an important role in skin health and immune support, so probiotics may be of benefit in these cases also. The microbiome can simultaneously function as pro- and anti-inflammatory, maintaining a balance to stop excess inflammation while still responding to infections.2
When does a pet require digestive support?
While many pets benefit from a daily supplement for long-term wellness, certain scenarios indicate a dog or cat may require additional support:
- Occasional loose stools or flatulence
- Recovery after a course of antibiotics
- Periods of stress such as boarding or moving house
- Dietary transitions
- Persistently fussy appetite
This kind of imbalance, dysbiosis, can also follow a parasite infection, food poisoning, or weaning, and often shows up as diarrhoea, vomiting, gas or a dip in immunity. If you're seeing these signs regularly, read when your pet needs short-term versus everyday gut support, or our guides to the common causes of diarrhoea in dogs and in cats and flatulence in dogs and in cats.
Probiotic foods safe for dogs and cats
A few everyday foods offer natural pre and probiotic benefits, introduce any of them gradually. The most common mistake we see is a big serve on day one - start small and build up over a few days.
- Yoghurt and kefir: plain, unflavoured and low-fat only. Roughly 1 to 3 teaspoons for dogs depending on size. Cats need much less, around half a teaspoon, and are more prone to dairy sensitivity.
- Green tripe: a natural source of Lactobacillus. Green tripe is available in different forms including raw, freeze-dried, wet food, and treats. Shop from our range of products containing tripe for dogs and cats here.
- Fermented vegetables: sauerkraut can help, but check labels as onion and garlic (common in kimchi) are toxic to both dogs and cats.
- Prebiotic veg: cooked pumpkin is well tolerated by both species.
- Psyllium husk: roughly one teaspoon per 10kg bodyweight for both dogs and cats.
When to consult a veterinarian
While supplements are an excellent tool for home care, they are not a substitute for professional medical intervention if a pet is clinically unwell. Book a veterinary consultation if you notice persistent vomiting or acute, severe diarrhoea, blood in the stool, sudden lethargy or loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, or signs of abdominal pain. Read more on chronic digestive issues in pets.
FAQs
References
De Vadder F, Grasset E, Manneras Holm L, Karsenty G, Macpherson AJ, Olofsson LE, et al. Gut microbiota regulates maturation of the adult enteric nervous system via enteric serotonin networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2018) Vol 115: 6458-63.
Tizard IR, Jones SW. The microbiota regulates immunity and immunologic diseases in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. (2018) Vol 48: 307-22.
Garcia-Mazcorroa J.F, Minamotob Y. Gastrointestinal microorganisms in cats and dogs: a brief review. Arch Med Vet. (2013) Vol 45, 111-124
Pila A, Suchodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. (2020). Vol 6: 10.3389
Collado M.C., Grzeskowiak Å. & Salminen S. Probiotic strains and their combination inhibit in vitro adhesion of pathogens to pig intestinal mucosa. Current Microbiology (2007a). Vol 55, 260-265.
Saarela M., Mogensen G., Fonden R., Meatto J. & Mattila-Sandholm T. Probiotic bacteria: safety, functional and technological properties. Journal of Biotechnology. (2000) Vol 84, 197-215.
Adolfsson O., Meydani S.N., Russell R.M. Yogurt and gut function. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2004). Volume 80, Issue 2, 245-256
Savaiano DA. Lactose digestion from yogurt: mechanism and relevance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2014) May; 99:1251S-5S
Jalanka, J., Major, G., Murray, K., Singh, G., Nowak, A., Kurtz, C., Silos-Santiago, I., Johnston, J. M., de Vos, W. M., & Spiller, R. The Effect of Psyllium Husk on Intestinal Microbiota in Constipated Patients and Healthy Controls. International journal of molecular sciences. (2019). 20(2), 433.
Chandler, M.L. Probiotics: Not All Created Equal World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress Proceedings 2018
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon 24 Aug 2026
Edited by Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
