PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews for Dogs: An Honest, Evidence-Based Review
PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews for Dogs: detailed breakdown of strains, prebiotics, benefits & limitations — what every dog owner should know before supplementing. An honest review from The Canine Dietitian
Transparency Notice – Please Read
This blog is part of a paid partnership with PetLab Co.
However:
All views and opinions expressed are entirely my own as The Canine Dietitian.
PetLab Co. had no input into my conclusions, tone, or recommendations.
I only promote products I feel comfortable discussing honestly.
100% of the financial proceeds from this blog go directly to The Good Paw Project my registered Community Interest Company supporting dog owners in financial hardship with pet food, essentials, and free nutrition guidance.
I do not benefit financially myself from this partnership
Introduction: Do Dogs Really Need Probiotics? Let’s Talk About It.
Gut health has become a major topic in the dog world — and for good reason. It’s thought that around 70% of a dog’s immune system lives in their gut, and the balance of good bacteria can influence:
digestion
stool quality
nutrient absorption
skin and coat health
immune function
overall wellbeing
Because of this, probiotic supplements have exploded in popularity. This blog will discuss Petlab’s Probiotic treats
But here’s the important question: Do they work? And more importantly… does your dog even need them?
This review breaks everything down in a friendly, honest, evidence-based way — without fear-mongering, sales pressure, or judgement.
What’s Inside PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews?
Each soft chew contains:
2 billion CFU (colony-forming units)
Enterococcus faecium
Bacillus subtilis (a hardy spore-forming bacterium)
Inulin (prebiotic fibre)
Kelp powder
Blueberry powder
Potato fibre
Dehydrated salmon meal (for taste)
Let’s break down what these ingredients do.
Understanding the Probiotic Strains
Enterococcus faecium
Common in veterinary probiotic supplements. It can help:
support firmer stools
rebalance gut bacteria
assist during stress, travel, or diet changes
Bacillus subtilis
A spore-forming strain with excellent survival through:
heat
processing
stomach acid
Anti biotic resistant
It has a good chance of reaching the gut alive — something many probiotic strains fail to do.
Prebiotic Inulin
Probiotics are like “helpful house guests” — and inulin is the food that keeps them thriving.
It supports:
growth of good bacteria
gut motility
healthy digestion
Extra supportive ingredients
Kelp, potato fibre and blueberry powder add:
natural fibre
antioxidants
additional gut support
How Probiotics Support Your Dog’s Health
Think of your dog’s gut as a mini ecosystem.
Good bacteria = balance
Bad bacteria = chaos
Probiotics can help by:
restoring balance to gut flora
supporting stool quality
helping with some cases of mild diarrhoea
supporting recovery after antibiotics
helping during stressful events
contributing to immune health
improving overall gut comfort
But here’s the truth many owners don’t hear:
Probiotics do NOT cure gut problems. They support recovery — they don’t fix underlying causes.
They won’t resolve:
Food intolerances or allergies
Environmental allergies
IBD
Reflux or GERD
pancreatitis
persistent diarrhoea
bad diets
chronic allergies
parasites
immune disorders
If something deeper is going on, a probiotic won’t be enough. If your dog suffers from any of the above it’s important to treat the cause first. Wasting money on a supplement if we do not know the problem will not fix anything and you will be left frustrated, out of pocket and may make the issues worse. It’s also important to remember that you cannot out supplement a poor diet or an unbalanced diet.
Why I Like This Product
Tare some genuinely dog-friendly and owner-friendly qualities about the PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews that stand out to me personally — and these are worth highlighting.
Here’s why I like the product itself, separate from the company ethos:
The Palatability Is Excellent (Which Is Half the Battle)
Getting dogs to willingly take supplements can be… a task.
Especially if you’ve ever:
tried hiding gritty powders in food
fought your dog over hard tablets
witnessed the famous “capsule spit-out” straight away or potentially 30 minutes later when they are back in their bed
attempted to mask supplements in cheese or peanut butter
These chews are soft, salmon-flavoured, and genuinely tasty for most dogs.
When supplements are palatable, three things happen:
dogs eat them happily
owners stay consistent
the supplement actually works because the dog ingests the full dose
Compliance is one of the biggest reasons supplements succeed or fail — and these chews make compliance easy.
They’re a Treat Format — Not a Powder or Capsule
This might sound simple, but it’s a big benefit.
A treat format means:
no mixing
no measuring
no mess
no anxiety over “how much actually made it into my dog?”
no worrying about residue left in the bowl
no capsules spat out on the floor
no chasing your dog around the kitchen pretending a tablet is “fun”
You give the chew, your dog eats it. Done.
It’s also easy for children or partners to give correctly — which helps consistency across households.
Probiotics Work Best on a Relatively Empty Stomach (Not With a Full Meal)
This is an important detail that many owners don’t know.
Probiotics survive better when stomach acid is lower (i.e., not during peak digestion).
Feeding probiotics:
with a full meal
= higher acid → more bacteria killed before reaching the gut
before a meal (or between meals)
= milder stomach acidity → more survive → higher efficacy
A chew format makes this simple.
Many owners forget to give powders before meals — or don’t want to put “strange white dust” into a dog’s bowl unless it can be mixed in with something.
With a chew, you can simply give it:
mid-morning
early afternoon
20–30 minutes before breakfast/dinner
…which improves the chances of bacteria reaching the intestines alive.
It’s a practical format that aligns perfectly with how probiotics actually work.
They’re More Cost-Effective Because the Dose Is Always Consumed
One huge issue with powders, capsules, and mixed supplements is waste.
Dogs often:
leave powder in the bottom of the bowl
refuse food with a supplement mixed in
eat around tablets
spit out capsules
lose fragments of tablets while chewing
lick only part of a powdered mixture
reject a meal entirely because something smells different
Every time this happens, you’ve lost money — and your dog didn’t get the full dose.
With a chew:
the supplement is fully contained in one bite
the dog eats it in one go
there’s no waste
no guessing
no half-doses
no mixing or hiding
no stressing about whether it “actually went in”
For many owners (especially with picky or anxious dogs), this makes the supplement far more cost-effective long term.
Convenience = Better Outcomes
As dog owners we are busy.
Real life is chaotic.
Consistency matters more than anything else.
A daily chew is:
easy to remember
easy to transport
easy for pet sitters, grandparents, daycares
easy to dose while travelling
easy to work into routines
easy to give without disrupting mealtimes
A powder or capsule is much harder to keep consistent with — and consistency is what allows probiotics to actually work.
These chews support real-life routines for real-life dog owners.
They’re Easy for Multi-Dog Households
When you have more than one dog, powders get messy:
bowls get swapped
dogs share leftover residue
incorrect dosing becomes a real risk
With a chew, each dog gets the correct individual amount:
1 chew
2 chews
3 chews
That’s it.
Owners of multi-dog homes LOVE this simplicity.
Soft Chews Are Great for Seniors, Puppies & Small Dogs
Some supplements are:
too hard for seniors
too big for small dogs
too chalky for fussy eaters
The soft-chew texture is universally friendly — especially important for:
older dogs with fewer teeth
tiny dogs with small mouths
puppies still learning to chew properly
Everyone can take these with ease.
When PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews Can Be Genuinely Helpful
1. After antibiotics
Repairs disrupted gut flora.
2. During mild tummy upset
Loose stools, mild diarrhoea, gas or soft stools.
3. During food transitions
Especially common in rescues or puppies.
4. During stressful events
Kennels, travel, visitors, routine changes.
5. Dogs prone to mild sensitivity
Nothing chronic — just “occasional wobbly tum”.
6. For immune support (not to fix poor immune health)
Remember: gut health = immune health.
When Probiotics Might NOT Be Needed
· Healthy dogs with rock-solid digestion
Daily probiotics likely won’t make much difference. Can you give them? Absolutely, but remember we supplement with purpose.
· Dogs with chronic or serious GI symptoms
These need diagnosis, not supplements.
· Dogs on poor-quality or unbalanced diets
No supplement can fix an unbalanced diet.
· Immune-compromised dogs ( vet approval needed)
Dogs Who Should AVOID PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews
Dogs with fish allergies/intolerances
The chews contain dehydrated salmon meal.
Dogs with grain sensitivities or allergies
Some versions contain wheat or maize derivatives.
Immunocompromised dogs
Dogs with severe immune suppression, chemotherapy patients, or autoimmune disease should use probiotics under veterinary guidance only.
Dogs with ongoing, unexplained GI symptoms
If diarrhoea, vomiting, reflux, or weight loss is chronic — a probiotic should NOT be the first step.
Important Disclaimer: Probiotics Are NOT a Replacement for Proper Diet or Vet Care
I cannot stress this enough and I know that PetlabCo actively promote the same message:
Probiotics are NOT a substitute for a complete & balanced diet
They cannot fix:
nutrient deficiencies
low-fibre diets
poor-quality dog food
excessive treats
high-fat human foods
unbalanced homemade diets
Healthy digestion begins with nutrition, not supplements.
Probiotics are NOT a replacement for veterinary intervention
You must seek veterinary help if your dog has:
chronic diarrhoea
persistent vomiting
weight loss
blood or mucus in stool
chronic reflux
recurrent pancreatitis
ongoing itching or skin infections
frequent anal gland impactions
Probiotics support the gut — they don’t treat disease.
Why I Genuinely Like PetLab Co. as a Company
Even in a paid partnership, my integrity matters, if you’ve been on my journey with me you will know this.
I only collaborate with brands whose practices align with my values and ethics
Here’s exactly why PetLab Co. stands out:
They Offer Loads of FREE Education That Isn’t About Selling their product or Call to Actions.
This is rare.
PetLab Co. provides:
free blogs
free guides
in-depth articles
videos
vet-approved explanations
ingredient breakdowns
health advice
puppy care content
behaviour tips
recipes
…without pushing products.
Their free content helps owners learn, not spend. They are helping dog owners who wont even buy their product educate themselves with information based in fact not myths.
They Don’t Use Fear Marketing
No:
“kibble is killing your dog”
“only expensive diets are safe”
“you’re a bad owner unless you buy this”
“this could help your dog live longer”
“Our competitors product is bad because of X”
Their tone is:
“Here’s how this product may help your dog.” And “here’s what this product wont do”
They respect owners — including those feeding budget-friendly foods.
Clear, transparent communication
They openly explain:
what probiotics can do
what they cannot do
dosage
safety
limitations
No unrealistic promises.
No miracle claims.
No guilt.
Consistent, stable formulations
Many supplement brands quietly change their formulas.
PetLab Co. do not.
What you see on the label is what you get if there was a change it’s communicated to owners
High palatability and owner-friendly design
Supplements only work if dogs eat them.
PetLab’s soft salmon chews are:
tasty
easy to break
easy to dose
great for fussy dogs
This genuinely improves success rates.
They listen to feedback from professionals
This includes:
vets
nutrition consultants
behaviourists
trainers
dog owners
They’re open to improvement — not defensive.
Their approach aligns with my ethics and The Good Paw Project
Because they don’t shame owners or promote elitist views, their values align with my mission to help all dog owners — not just those with money.
This matters deeply to me, and to the people we support.
FAQs
“Can my dog take these daily?”
Yes — but not every dog needs daily use.
“Will probiotics fix skin issues or allergies?”
No — but they can support the immune system.
“Can probiotics help anal glands?”
Sometimes — because they can improve stool quality.
“Can puppies have these?”
Yes over 12 weeks unless your vet advises otherwise.
My Final Verdict
PetLab Co. Probiotic Chews are:
✔ well-formulated
✔ contain appropriate strains
✔ include a prebiotic
✔ taste good to dogs
✔ easy to feed
✔ responsibly marketed
✔ supported by free education
✔ made by a transparent brand
✘ not for dogs with fish/grain allergies
✘ not a cure
✘ not necessary for every dog
✘ not a replacement for proper diet or veterinary care
Would I recommend them?
Yes — situationally, and especially during digestive upset, stress, or post-antibiotics. If you are looking for a probiotic for your dog/dogs this is a great option.
Want to learn more about PetlabCo? Check out their website here
