Probiotics normalize the conditions in the intestines by changing the local acidity of the digestive tract and releasing short-chain fatty acids. This gives dogs a leg up if they end up ingesting harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. Probiotics help inhibit the growth of these bacteria by competing for the same nutrients and resources. Boosting the populations of helpful bacteria limits the nutrients available for the bad bacteria and reduces their numbers to levels that your dog can tolerate better. Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract contains about 70% of their immune system, putting it on the front line for preventing pathogens from accessing the rest of the body. By normalizing the conditions in the digestive system, probiotics allow the immune system to function properly. Conditions that may benefit from probiotic treatment include allergies, anxiety, bad breath, coat quality, diarrhea, immune disorders, intestinal inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, obesity, skin disorders, and urinary tract infections.