Nutritional Facts

With Dr. Randall Johnson





Ask Dr. Johnson


By admin-1   |   December 18, 2019   |   Categories: Nutrition   |  

In recent years, we have become a society that spends tens of billions of dollars on probiotics.  It seems we are all aware and proactive about the importance of intestinal health. But few understand the difference between probiotics and prebiotics. Although both works to aid in a healthy gut, there are distinctions between the two, which are worth knowing.

Probiotics are living bacteria in the intestines. The role of these organisms is to generate vital nutrients.   The favored varieties of probiotic strains within each animal are like a fingerprint. They are exclusive and distinct; thus, a probiotic supplement that works for one dog may not be beneficial for another. While probiotics are present in certain fermented foods, supplements can prove helpful for your dog.

When it comes to your pet’s nutrition, there is one thing to keep in mind:  The making of pet food is highly regulated. The food is cooked to precise temperatures to kill off harmful bacteria. Probiotics that have been added to a pet food formulation are usually destroyed in the cooking process. Thus, finding the right probiotic supplement can improve the health of a dog, especially ones with chronic intestinal issues.  A great company that produces such supplements is called Vital Planet. With over 20 years of experience in the health industry, their line of probiotics for pets are excellent.  Visit them at

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are not alive nor digestible. They are a fiber-rich food source for probiotics, producing massive amounts of ‘good’ bacteria that protect the walls of the intestine. The ‘bad’ bacteria is then discarded as waste.  Prebiotics are in fruits and vegetables, but here too, supplements can be an excellent method of introducing them into your pet’s health regime.  Our D.O.G. pumpkin supplements are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber – a tremendous prebiotic to maintain your pet’s healthy gut. Visit us at to purchase or to find a retailer near you.

Individually, both probiotics and prebiotics do their part to support proper digestion. However, when they work in concert with one another, they improve intestinal health (including cells), which also aids biological systems, such as metabolism and immune functions.  A key point to remember is the addition of various microbiomes will lead to a healthier gut for your pet.

I hope this article has been beneficial in learning the differences between probiotics and prebiotics.  Both are unique yet similar. They bring your dog’s gastrointestinal tract back into balanced wellbeing and improve the health of cells and various biological systems.