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Why Dog Probiotics Matter: A Guide to Your Pup’s Digestive Health

Why Dog Probiotics Matter: A Guide to Your Pup’s Digestive Health

By -Published On: July 15th, 2025-Categories: Pet Health-

Understanding Dog Probiotics: What Every Pet Parent Should Know

Just like humans, dogs have a complex gut microbiome that plays a vital role in digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. When this delicate balance is disrupted- due to illness, antibiotics, stress, or diet- your dog may experience digestive issues and lowered immunity. That’s where dog probiotics come in.

What Are Dog Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tract. In dogs, they help:

  • Break down food and absorb nutrients
  • Maintain a balanced gut flora
  • Support immune system function
  • Protect against harmful bacteria

Dog-specific probiotics are formulated to target a canine’s unique digestive system and are available in various forms such as chews, powders, capsules, and food toppers.

Signs Your Dog Might Need Probiotics

While not all dogs require probiotics daily, there are signs that your pup could benefit from added gut support:

  • Frequent diarrhea or constipation
  • Excessive gas or bloating
  • Changes in appetite or weight
  • Chronic itching or skin issues
  • Stress-related symptoms (travel, boarding, vet visits)
  • Recovery from antibiotic or illness

If you notice any of these symptoms, a veterinarian may recommend a probiotic supplement as part of your dog’s care plan.

Benefits of Dog Probiotics

Adding a quality probiotic to your dog’s routine can promote:

  • Digestive regularity
  • Firmer stools and reduced odor
  • Fewer GI upsets during stress or travel
  • Healthier skin and coat
  • Stronger immune defenses

Some formulas also include prebiotics (fibers that feed good bacteria), which enhances probiotic effectiveness.

Choosing the Right Probiotic for Your Dog

When selecting a probiotic, consider:

  • Veterinary recommendations
  • Species-specific strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium
  • CFU (colony-forming units) count- higher isn’t always better
  • Expiration date and storage needs
  • Third-party testing or quality certification
  • Avoid giving your dog human probiotics, as these may not be effective or safe for pets

Supporting your dog’s gut health with probiotics is a proactive way to enhance their vitality and comfort. When paired with proper nutrition and veterinary care, probiotics can be a simple but powerful addition to your pup’s wellness routine.

Pin Paws Plus and Pin Paws Pet Care offer savings on pet related products and services geared towards helping your pets live their best lives. Contact our Member Services Team today for more information at support@pinpaws.com or 844-746-7297.

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Pet parents can select accident and illness coverage with the option to add-on preventative wellness care.

Pin Paws Pet Care is budget friendly. Click below to personalize your pet’s insurance plan today.

comprehensive plans you can customize

Pet parents can select accident and illness coverage with the option to add-on preventative wellness care.

Pin Paws Pet Care is budget-friendly. Click below to personalize your pet’s insurance plan today.

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© 2018 - 2025 Pin Paws, LLC • All Rights Reserved.

1For policies issued by IAIC, coverage for these conditions is subject to a 6-month wait period. Please review your policy for complete details.

2Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary

3Grief Counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Grief counseling services provided by TELUS Health are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife. Not available to NY residents.

4 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention

5Reimbursement options include: 70%, 80% and 90% and a 50% option for MetGen policies and a 65% option for IAIC policies only. Pet age restrictions may apply.

6Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Illness coverage begins 14 days from the effective day of your policy compared to 14 to 30 days for many competitors. Based on a March 2023 review of publicly available summary information. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor’s policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.

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© 2018 - 2025 Pin Paws, LLC • All Rights Reserved.

1For policies issued by IAIC, coverage for these conditions is subject to a 6-month wait period. Please review your policy for complete details.

2Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary

3Grief counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Read More

4 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention

5Reimbursement options include: 70%, 80% and 90% and a 50% option for MetGen policies and a 65% option for IAIC policies only. Pet age restrictions may apply.

6Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Read More

Our Pin Paws team will be out of office for the Christmas break from December 23rd to December 29th to enjoy some much-needed time with their loved ones, both two- and four-legged. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on December 30th. If you need immediate assistance or have found a lost pet, please call our 24/7 hotline at 844-746-7297. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Our Pin Paws team will be out of office for the Christmas break from December 23rd to December 29th to enjoy some much-needed time with their loved ones, both two- and four-legged. We’ll be back and ready to assist you on December 30th. If you need immediate assistance or have found a lost pet, please call our 24/7 hotline at 844-746-7297. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season!

How Does the Pin Paws Family Plan Work?

The Family plan from Pin Paws Pet Care, backed by MetLife Pet, provides coverage for all your furry family members. You’ll enjoy the advantages of a typical MetLife Pet Insurance plan, but with a single policy and a shared deductible for up to three dogs or cats.

The benefits of the Family Plan are as follows:

  • Enroll up to three pets under one policy
  • Customizable plan options
  • Policies can be a mix of cats and dogs
  • Optional Preventive Care coverage

  • One annual limit shared across all pets in the family plan

  • One annual deductible per policy
  • No per-pet coverage limits

Multiple Pet Discount

Get a discount when you group up to three dogs and cats together on the same plan for easy savings.

Shared Deductible

Add up to three dogs and cats onto the same policy, and hit your deductible faster.

Combine Cats & Dogs

No need to manage multiple plans. Group your cats and dogs into a single plan for simplicity and ease.

Flexible Coverage

A shared annual limit lets you allocate more coverage where needed, while protecting your other pets.

How Pin Paws Pet Care Can Help You Save

Our customizable pet insurance plans can reimburse up to 90% of your vet bills.
Here’s an example of how Pin Paws Pet Care can help a pet parent save.

Skin Allergies

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Growth or Tumor

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$160 Total Vet Bill
$1,600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $1,440

Heart Disease

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Diabetes

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$290 Total Vet Bill
$2,900
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,610

Broken Bone

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$240 Total Vet Bill
$2,400
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,160

Severe Trauma

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$1,000 Total Vet Bill
$10,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $9,000

Poisoning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$300 Total Vet Bill
$3,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,700

Cruciate Ligament Tear

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$500 Total Vet Bill
$5,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $4,500

Dental Cleaning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$50 Total Vet Bill
$500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $450

Spay or Neuter

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$60 Total Vet Bill
$600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $540

Vaccination

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$6 Total Vet Bill
$60
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $54

Parasite Prevention

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$21 Total Vet Bill
$210
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $189

Skin Allergies

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Growth or Tumor

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$160 Total Vet Bill
$1,600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $1,440

Heart Disease

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$250 Total Vet Bill
$2,500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,250

Diabetes

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$290 Total Vet Bill
$2,900
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,610

Broken Bone

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$240 Total Vet Bill
$2,400
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,160

Severe Trauma

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$1,000 Total Vet Bill
$10,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $9,000

Poisoning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$300 Total Vet Bill
$3,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $2,700

Cruciate Ligament Tear

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$500 Total Vet Bill
$5,000
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $4,500

Dental Cleaning

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$50 Total Vet Bill
$500
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $450

Spay or Neuter

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$60 Total Vet Bill
$600
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $540

Vaccination

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$6 Total Vet Bill
$60
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $54

Parasite Prevention

What You Can Save 6

. .
You Pay
$21 Total Vet Bill
$210
Piggy Bank
Pin Paws Pet Care Covers $189

Cost info sourced from How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? and Average emergency vet costs what to expect.

What’s Not Covered Under Pin Paws Pet Care?

To help make insurance premiums affordable for all pet parents, there are some exclusions- as with every pet insurance company. The following are not covered under any Pin Paws Pet Care policy:

  • Pre-existing conditions*
  • Microchipping
  • Breeding or conditions related to breeding
  • Obedience training
  • Grooming costs and routine nail trims
  • Non-prescription food
  • Organ transplant

  • Illness or injury that arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding, law enforcement, or organized fighting of your pet

  • Health/travel certificates
  • Elective surgeries

  • Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures

*Pet insurance companies typically don’t fully cover pre-existing conditions, which are generally illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred prior to the coverage date and/or any applicable waiting period. However, MetLife Pet may actually cover certain pre-existing conditions when switching providers. These include conditions that were covered by a previous insurance provider for group policyholders.

What’s Not Covered Under Pin Paws Pet Care?

To help make insurance premiums affordable for all pet parents, there are some exclusions- as with every pet insurance company. The following are not covered under any Pin Paws Pet Care policy:

  • Pre-existing conditions*
  • Microchipping
  • Breeding or conditions related to breeding
  • Obedience training
  • Grooming costs and routine nail trims
  • Non-prescription food
  • Organ transplant

  • Illness or injury that arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding, law enforcement, or organized fighting of your pet

  • Health/travel certificates
  • Elective surgeries

  • Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures

*Pet insurance companies typically don’t fully cover pre-existing conditions, which are generally illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred prior to the coverage date and/or any applicable waiting period. However, MetLife Pet may actually cover certain pre-existing conditions when switching providers. These include conditions that were covered by a previous insurance provider for group policyholders.

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