DogProbioticsGuide

Dog probiotics for after antibiotics: products that meet the rule

Antibiotics don't just clear an infection -- they can wipe out bacterial probiotics right along with it, since most antibiotics can't tell your dog's good bacteria from the bad. Two kinds of organism are built to ride that out: yeast (not a bacterium, so antibiotics that target bacteria don't touch it) and spore-forming Bacillus species, which go dormant and survive the trip through an antibiotic course. A few labels also just say outright how to time dosing around antibiotics. None of this means a product is clinically proven to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea in dogs -- that question is still mostly untested; see the strain pages for what's actually been studied.

The rule

Contains a yeast strain (survives antibiotics that target bacteria), or a spore-forming Bacillus species (survives dormant), or the label explicitly addresses giving it alongside antibiotics.

16 products that meet the rule

ProductFormCFU/unitWhy it meets the rule
AnimalBiome S. boulardii + FOS PowderPowder6.6 billionBuilt entirely around Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-3799, a yeast strain that isn't affected by antibiotics that kill bacteria.
Ark Naturals Gentle Digest CapsulesCapsuleunstatedBuilt around a dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, a spore-forming strain that survives antibiotics dormant.
Ark Naturals Gentle Digest Soft ChewsSoft chew100 millionBuilt around a dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, a spore-forming strain that survives antibiotics dormant.
Bernie's Perfect Poop Digestive SupplementPowder1 billionContains Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans, both spore-forming strains that survive an antibiotic course dormant.
Four Leaf Rover ProtectPowder7 billionContains Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces boulardii -- a mix of spore-formers and a yeast, none of which are knocked out by antibiotics the way standard bacteria are.
Four Leaf Rover Saccharomyces BoulardiiPowder40 billionSaccharomyces boulardii is a yeast, not a bacterium, so antibiotics that target bacteria don't affect it.
Honest Paws Well Pre+ ProbioticsPowder packet5 billionContains Bacillus subtilis DE111 and Bacillus coagulans, both spore-formers that survive an antibiotic course dormant.
NOW Foods Saccharomyces BoulardiiCapsule5 billionA single-strain Saccharomyces boulardii product -- a yeast, not a bacterium, so it isn't affected by antibiotics that kill bacteria.
Native Pet Probiotic PowderPowder6 billionContains Bacillus coagulans, a spore-forming strain that survives antibiotics rather than being broken down by them.
Open Farm Probiotic Supplement Chews for DogsSoft chew2 billionContains Bacillus coagulans, a spore-forming strain that survives antibiotics rather than being killed by them.
Pet Honesty Probiotics Gut + Immune Health Soft ChewsSoft chew3 billionContains Bacillus subtilis, a spore-forming strain that survives an antibiotic course dormant.
PetLab Co. Probiotic ChewsSoft chew3 billionContains three spore-forming Bacillus strains (subtilis, coagulans, clausii), which survive antibiotics dormant rather than being killed by them.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora Canine Probiotic PowderPowder packet100 millionThe label explicitly instructs giving it during the antibiotic course and for a week after, dosed about two hours apart from the antibiotic.
Vet's Best Probiotic Soft Chews for DogsSoft chew1.5 billionContains Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, both spore-forming strains that survive antibiotics dormant.
VetriScience Gut Health for DogsSoft chew1 billionContains Bacillus coagulans, a spore-forming strain that survives antibiotics in a dormant state rather than being broken down by them.
Zesty Paws Probiotic BitesSoft chew6 billionContains two spore-forming Bacillus strains and Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast -- none of the three are affected by antibiotics the way ordinary bacteria are.

Related strains

Bacillus coagulansBacillus subtilisBacillus clausiiBacillus subtilis DE111Bacillus licheniformisBifidobacterium longumBifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactisBifidobacterium bifidum