Last updated: 3 June, 2025
"Most dog probiotics don't work" Vet reveals the truth behind popular brands and what really works
By
Dr Karyn Kanowski, BVSc, MRCVS
Itchy skin, or pruritus, is one of the most common health problems in dogs. Hundreds of supplement brands promise to stop dogs from scratching, and while some products provide a little relief, the vast majority offer nothing but false hope.
Tried probiotics for your itchy dog but didn’t work? Here’s why.
Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial for a dog’s health. However, most are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and cannot withstand temperatures over 45-55oC.
The trouble is that most dog probiotics on the market are cooked at temperatures exceeding 100oC during production.
This means that most, if not all, the bacteria are destroyed, rendering the supplement ineffective at regulating your dog’s immune system, leaving you with an empty wallet and a dog that is still scratching.
My search for effective probiotics for my itchy dog - here’s what I found.
Kodah's ears were visibly red and irritated
At around two years old, my German Shepherd x Malinois, Kodah, started scratching his ears, nibbling his flanks and legs, and licking his paws. He had developed a food allergy, and even on a diet with restricted proteins, he still had breakthrough pruritus.
Hoping to avoid using immunosuppressive medications, I set out to find a supplement that might help alleviate the itch. I tried numerous products, from big brands to smaller companies, but none of them made a difference.
When a colleague recommended DogSuppy, I was sceptical, but then I realised that their probiotic actually contained live bacteria, so I decided to give it a try.
Here’s what makes DogSuppy different:
Instead of cooking in extreme heat, their Itch Relief Probiotic chews are cold-pressed at temperatures below 38°C, ensuring that at least 90% of the beneficial bacteria survive and effectively reach your dog’s gut to relieve persistent itching.
Do Itch Relief Probiotics work as promised? My experience with Kodah.
Kodah gets 3 chews a day with his breakfast
Within the first few days, I noticed Kodah scratching less. Every now and then, there was a brief scratch of the ears. But since it was only the first week, I needed to give the probiotics more time to work.
After several months, he stopped scratching entirely. I have even been able to reintroduce ingredients that he hasn’t been able to eat for years, making my life easier, and food bill cheaper!
Only one downside: Kodah isn’t completely sold on the meat-free treats if offered on their own, but they disappear easily when placed on top of his food. I suspect that even the fussiest dogs would have no problem if the chews are hidden in something strong-smelling.
Final verdict
I will never recommend a product that I haven’t seen working myself, and I 100% recommend the Itch Relief Probiotics from DogSuppy.
Kodah's ears before and after
Of course, there are some dogs whose skin disease will always require prescription-strength medication and strict diets, but if adding a high-quality, proven probiotic into their treatment plan can help reduce the doses of immunosuppressive medications, it could have a huge impact on their overall health and immune function.
As a vet and pet owner, if a product doesn’t work for my dogs, I won’t recommend it for yours.