Probiotics

Why this ingredient is used

Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria (typically Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, or Bacillus subtilis) added to pet food to support digestive health. They compete with pathogenic bacteria in the gut, produce short-chain fatty acids that nourish the intestinal lining, and modulate immune function through the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Premium brands (Orijen, Taste of the Wild, Wellness CORE) add probiotics as a differentiation point. The challenge is that probiotic bacteria are fragile: they do not survive the high temperatures of kibble extrusion unless applied as a coating after cooking. Brands that claim probiotics but bake them into the kibble are likely delivering dead bacteria.