If you've been researching probiotic supplements for your dog, you've probably seen products claiming to support digestion, gut health, immunity, stool quality, anal glands, itchy skin and more.

But what actually makes them different?

To help dog owners make an informed decision, we've compared four popular probiotic supplements:

• Funky Paws Probiotic Chews
• NutriPaw Pre, Pro & Postbiotic Treats
• PetLab Co Probiotic Chews
• Zesty Paws Probiotic Chews

We'll compare:

• Ingredients
• Cost
• Subscription savings
• How long each tub lasts
• Who each product may suit
• Who each product may not suit

Because the best probiotic isn't necessarily the most advertised. It's the one that best matches what your dog needs.

What We Think Each Brand Does Best

 

Before looking at ingredients, it's important to understand that all four products are trying to solve slightly different problems.

Important: This Comparison Uses a 10kg Dog

To keep this comparison as fair and consistent as possible, all cost calculations, cost-per-day figures and tub duration estimates in this article are based on a 10kg dog following each manufacturer's recommended feeding guidelines.

If your dog weighs more than 10kg, you'll typically need to give more chews per day.

This means:

• Tubs will last fewer days
• Cost per day will increase
• Annual cost will be higher

Always check the feeding guide before purchasing any supplement, especially if you have a larger breed.

How Dog Size Impacts Cost

Example Using Funky Paws Probiotic Chews

Why We Chose A 10kg Dog

We wanted to compare every product on a like-for-like basis.

Using a 10kg dog allows us to compare:

• Cost per day
• Cost per year
• Subscription value
• Days supplied per tub

using the same benchmark across all brands.

Cost, Duration & Subscription Comparison (10kg Dog)

Annual Cost Comparison

Using the best currently advertised discount or subscription option:

What Surprised Us Most?

The purchase price doesn't always tell the full story.

For example, PetLab Co offers a generous introductory discount, but because the tub contains significantly fewer chews, owners of a 10kg dog may need to reorder considerably more often than with the other products compared here.

If long-term value matters, the number of days supplied per tub becomes just as important as the ingredients.

Understanding Prebiotics, Probiotics & Postbiotics

One of the biggest sources of confusion when comparing probiotic supplements is understanding the difference between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.

Think of your dog's gut like a garden.

• Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria.
• Prebiotics are the nutrients that feed those bacteria.
• Postbiotics are the beneficial compounds created when those bacteria do their job.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that help support:

• Digestive health
• Stool quality
• Gut flora balance
• Immune health

All four products in this comparison contain probiotic ingredients.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics help beneficial bacteria survive and thrive.

Examples include:

• FOS
• GOS
• Chicory Root Inulin
• PreforPro®

All four products compared here contain prebiotic ingredients.

Postbiotics

Postbiotics are beneficial compounds produced during bacterial fermentation.

NutriPaw and PetLab Co both include dedicated postbiotic ingredients.

Does A Product Need All Three?

Not necessarily.

Some owners specifically look for a prebiotic-probiotic-postbiotic formula.

Others may prefer probiotics combined with digestive enzymes.

The best option depends on your dog's needs rather than the longest ingredient list.

One thing that stood out during our comparison is that Funky Paws provides the highest advertised probiotic count, digestive enzymes, prebiotics, pumpkin and Greek yogurt, while also offering the lowest daily cost in this comparison.

Ingredient Comparison

Funky Paws Probiotic Chews

What Stands Out?

• 6 Billion CFU Probiotic Blend
• Digestive Enzymes
• Pumpkin
• Greek Yogurt
• FOS Prebiotics

May Be Best For

✅ Everyday digestive support

✅ Sensitive stomachs

✅ Gas and bloating

✅ Loose stools

✅ Owners wanting digestive enzymes included

✅ Owners looking for strong long-term value

May Not Be Best For

❌ Owners specifically wanting postbiotics

❌ Owners specifically wanting a triple-biotic formula

NutriPaw Pre, Pro & Postbiotic Treats

What Stands Out?

• Epicor® Pets Postbiotic
• Chicory Root Inulin
• Pumpkin
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Flaxseed

May Be Best For

✅ Anal gland support

✅ Bum scooting

✅ Digestive regularity

✅ Owners wanting prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics together

May Not Be Best For

❌ Owners specifically wanting digestive enzymes

PetLab Co Probiotic Chews

What Stands Out?

• Bacillus coagulans
• Bacillus clausii
• Bacillus subtilis
• FOS & GOS Prebiotics
• Yeast-derived Postbiotics

May Be Best For

✅ Gut flora support

✅ Immune support

✅ Seasonal sensitivity support

✅ Owners wanting probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics together

May Not Be Best For

❌ Owners prioritising value

❌ Owners wanting a longer-lasting tub

❌ Owners wanting digestive enzymes

Zesty Paws Probiotic Chews

What Stands Out?

• Multi-strain Probiotics
• DE111® Bacillus subtilis
• Digestive Enzymes
• Pumpkin
• Papain
• Bromelain

May Be Best For

✅ Digestive comfort

✅ Nutrient absorption

✅ Owners wanting digestive enzymes included

May Not Be Best For

❌ Owners specifically wanting postbiotics

❌ Owners focused primarily on anal gland support

Who Should Probably Buy None Of These?

A probiotic supplement may not be the right first step if your dog has:

• Ongoing vomiting
• Blood in the stool
• Sudden weight loss
• Severe diarrhoea
• Undiagnosed digestive issues

In these situations, it's best to speak with your vet before introducing supplements.

Our Honest Verdict

After comparing all four products, we don't think there's a single "best" probiotic chew.

Instead, each formula has a clear strength:

• NutriPaw stands out for triple-biotic and anal gland support.
• PetLab Co stands out for gut flora and immune support.
• Zesty Paws stands out for digestive enzymes and digestive comfort.
• Funky Paws stands out for combining a 6 Billion CFU probiotic blend, digestive enzymes, pumpkin, Greek yogurt and one of the lowest daily costs in the comparison.

If you're specifically looking for postbiotics, NutriPaw or PetLab Co may be worth considering.

If digestive enzymes are your priority, Funky Paws and Zesty Paws are both strong options.

If value, duration and everyday digestive support are most important to you, Funky Paws is likely to stand out.

Ultimately, the best probiotic is the one that best matches your dog's needs, not the one with the biggest marketing budget. 🐾