Digestive Enzymes: Are They Really Worth It?

Should you give your dog digestive enzymes? If so, which type?

Digestive enzymes is a hot topic right now, and fortunately I’ve done a ton of research on these supplements for my dogs. Not all dogs need digestive enzymes, but some dogs most certainly do. In this article, I’ll go over how digestive enzymes work and the benefits of feeding them to your dog. Plus, I’ll share my favorite brand that has worked wonders. 🙂

How Digestive Enzymes Work

By providing digestive enzyme supplements, you’re helping your dog’s body not only digest food more effectively, but also absorb nutrients easier.

Not all digestive enzymes are made the same. Most are either plant- or animal-based, and each type works a bit differently, depending on your dog’s needs. For the most part, plant-based digestive enzymes are the most popular and usually contain a combination of papaya, pineapple and different types of fungus. Animal-based enzyme supplements contain animal organs usually derived from beef pancreases that specifically focus on breaking down proteins.

If you’d like more information on how different digestive enzymes work, check out this article. There’s some really good information there, but it’s a bit technical.

What are the Benefits of Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzyme supplementation works well for dogs with chronic digestive issues, such as leaky gut, bleaching, constant bloating and gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Dogs that have taken stomach acid inhibitors (e.g. Pepcid) for long periods of time may also benefit from digestive enzymes.

Chronic allergies from food or environmental factors can also greatly improve from digestive enzyme supplementation. Digestive enzymes can help support dogs with chronic inflammation, especially if they’re under constant stress due to anxiety and fear. Lastly, if your dog swallows his food whole (we all know dogs that inhale their meals), he’ll need help digesting each meal, with which supplementation can help.

RELATED: How to Stop a Dog From Eating Too Fast

If you’re still not sure, take a good look at your dog. Non-thriving dogs with dull dry coats, runny eyes, constant hot spots (skin infections), dry flaky skin and brittle nails improve after several weeks of taking digestive enzyme supplements. Understand that supplements should never replace healthy dog food that contains whole foods. Digestive enzymes are a supplement that require nutrient-rich foods to do its job.

When to Feed Digestive Enzymes

Feed digestive enzyme supplements with a meal unless otherwise indicated by your veterinarian or a specific brand’s directions. I feed enzymes with every meal–both morning and evening–for best results. Some brands recommend feeding before your dog eats a meal while others recommend immediately after a meal, so it depends on your selected brand. If you have a difficult time giving your dog a pill, choose a chewable or powdered option. It’ll make both your lives much easier. 🙂

Don’t forget to add a really good probiotic to your dog’s daily meals too. Probiotics are different than enzymes. They feed good bacteria into your dog’s gut, which is especially beneficial for dogs with chronic issues.

Best Digestive Enzymes

For the last two years, I’ve been obsessed with finding the best dog digestive enzyme out there. We’ve tried a ton of different brands. So far, both of my dogs have thrived on animal-based enzymes by Standard Process. Before consulting with a holistic veterinarian, we used plant-based ones that never really did the trick. Our vet suggested Standard Process Canine Enteric Support and Pancreatrophin PMG, and the difference has been amazing!

Is It Really Worth It?

If your dog isn’t thriving, then yes, I do believe digestive enzymes are totally worth it. During my research, I found a few claims on how digestive enzymes are killed by stomach bile, which renders them useless in the small and large intestine. Also, some experts (and non-experts) feel that giving digestive enzymes makes the pancreas and liver kind of lazy since the supplements would essentially be doing their job.

While I hear what they’re saying, I believe non-thriving dogs (i.e. dogs with digestive allergies and chronic inflammation) are missing something that thriving dogs have. So if supplementation works, then by gosh go for it! Just to be sure I’m not talking out of turn, it seems many holistic vets feel digestive enzymes are needed when dogs have an imbalance or they’re just not thriving.

All I can say is digestive enzymes have helped my dogs, so let your dog be the judge. If you’re still uncertain on whether or not digestive enzymes can benefit your dog, find a holistic vet in your area. She’ll point you in the right direction.

You may also like: Holistic Veterinary Care