For veterinary doctors, antibiotics are a crucial tool for treating bacterial infections in pets. However, these antibiotics aren’t picky when deciding which bacteria to eliminate in your pet’s gut microbiome. As the drugs wipe out “bad” bacterial pathogens, your pet’s gut could also lose lots of key “good” bacteria that help the digestive system function properly. Some of those beneficial bacteria absorb crucial nutrients, or aid in fighting inflammation, while others help maintain a strong immune system. Loss of key beneficial bacteria may cause an ongoing bacterial imbalance in your pet’s gut that can contribute to or worsen health conditions like chronic digestive disorders.