What Is TruPet™ Postbiotic? How It Supports Your Dog’s Gut Health
Share
Part of our Complete Guide to Dog Digestive Health — everything you need to know about digestive problems in dogs and how to solve them through diet.
You have probably heard of probiotics and prebiotics. But postbiotics — the newest and arguably most exciting category in gut health nutrition — are less well known, despite having some of the most compelling research behind them. TruPet™, the postbiotic included in our Hydrolysed Digestive Care Dog Food, is one of the most clinically studied postbiotic ingredients available in pet nutrition.
What Are Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics?
- Prebiotics — dietary fibres that feed beneficial bacteria already in the gut (e.g. MOS, FOS)
- Probiotics — live beneficial bacteria added to the diet to colonise the gut
- Postbiotics — the beneficial metabolites and compounds produced by bacteria during fermentation. These include amino acids, vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), nucleotides and cell wall fragments that directly benefit the host
The International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics defines postbiotics as “a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit to the host.” In simple terms: the beneficial outputs of good bacteria, delivered directly without needing live microorganisms to survive in the gut.
Why Postbiotics May Be More Effective Than Probiotics for Dogs
Probiotics face a significant challenge — live bacteria must survive the acidic environment of the stomach, the bile salts of the small intestine and the heat of food processing to reach the large intestine in viable numbers. Many don't make it.
Postbiotics bypass this challenge entirely. Because they are the outputs of bacterial fermentation rather than the live bacteria themselves, they are stable through processing and digestion — delivering their benefits reliably with every bowl.
What Is TruPet™?
TruPet™ is a postbiotic produced from the precise fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) under controlled conditions. The fermentation process produces a complex of beneficial metabolites including residual yeast cells and yeast cell wall fragments, amino acids, vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), nucleotides and other bioactive compounds.
These compounds work across three interconnected areas of dog health: the gut microbiome, immune function, and stool quality.
What Does the Research Show?
A peer-reviewed study (Lin et al., 2019, Journal of Animal Science) tested TruPet™ in adult dogs. The key findings:
Gut Microbiome Benefit
Dogs supplemented with TruPet™ showed a significant increase in the abundance of Bifidobacterium — a genus of beneficial bacteria consistently associated with a healthy gut, reduced pathogenic bacteria and enhanced immune function.
Enhanced Immune Cell Function
Immune cells from TruPet™-supplemented dogs showed increased proportions of B cells and monocytes expressing MHC class II molecules — key markers of immune surveillance. The population of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreting T cells also increased, indicating a primed and ready immune response.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Despite enhancing immune responsiveness, TruPet™ supplementation also reduced production of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α — suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory effect particularly relevant for dogs with food sensitivities or IBD.
Stool Odour Reduction
TruPet™ supplementation significantly reduced faecal phenol and faecal phenol + indole concentrations — the compounds most responsible for faecal odour.
How TruPet™ Works Alongside Hydrolysed Protein
In our Hydrolysed Digestive Care Dog Food, TruPet™ postbiotic works in combination with Freshtrusion HDP hydrolysed turkey (95% protein digestibility), collagen peptides (1.9%) supporting the intestinal tight junction barrier, and lignocellulose (2.5%) optimising stool quality. The effect is cumulative — each addressing a different part of the digestive health picture simultaneously.
Is TruPet™ Safe for Dogs?
Yes. TruPet™ is produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one of the most studied and widely used microorganisms in food and supplement production. It is GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status. The peer-reviewed study showed no adverse effects in any of the dogs studied.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a postbiotic for dogs?
A postbiotic is the beneficial metabolites and compounds produced by bacteria or yeast during fermentation. Unlike probiotics (live bacteria), postbiotics are stable and do not need to survive the acidic digestive environment to deliver their benefits.
Is TruPet™ the same as a probiotic?
No. TruPet™ is a postbiotic — the output of yeast fermentation rather than live bacteria. It delivers many of the same gut microbiome and immune benefits as probiotics but is more stable through food processing and digestion.
Does TruPet™ help with smelly dog poo?
Yes, directly. The Lin et al. (2019) study showed TruPet™ supplementation significantly reduced faecal phenol and indole concentrations — the primary compounds responsible for faecal odour — in dogs.
Is a dog food with postbiotics better than one with probiotics?
For most dogs, yes — because postbiotics are stable through the manufacturing process and digestion, whereas live probiotic bacteria often do not survive in sufficient numbers to be effective.
Where can I find dog food with TruPet™ postbiotic?
TruPet™ is included in our Hydrolysed Digestive Care Dog Food, alongside hydrolysed turkey (95% protein digestibility), collagen peptides and lignocellulose. Available without a prescription.
Looking for the full picture? Our Complete Guide to Dog Digestive Health covers causes, signs, dietary solutions and when to see a vet — all in one place.