Live culture blend
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium lactis — formally Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis — is a bifidobacterium with a long history of use in fermented milks, yoghurts and supplements.
Also known as: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, B. lactis, B. animalis ssp. lactis
What it is
Bifidobacterium lactis was first described as a species in 1997. In 2004 a taxonomic study showed it was closely related to Bifidobacterium animalis at the subspecies level, and it was reclassified as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis — which remains its correct name.[1]
This change is separate from the 2020 split of the genus Lactobacillus. Bifidobacterium belongs to a different family (Bifidobacteriaceae, in the phylum Actinomycetota), whereas the 2020 work concerned the lactobacilli of the family Lactobacillaceae.[1],[2]
Where it’s found
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis has been documented in human food since 1980, and the subspecies is listed in the Inventory of Microbial Food Cultures with safety demonstration in fermented food products. One well-studied strain, HN019, was originally isolated from commercial yoghurt.[3]
Why it’s used in dog supplements
Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species are the most commonly used probiotics in human medicine. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) includes B. animalis subsp. lactis in its Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) list.[4],[3]
A Bifidobacterium animalis preparation is among the bacterial products that EFSA has examined as a feed additive for dogs, according to a 2019 systematic review in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Probiotic benefits are generally considered strain-specific, so an assessment of one strain does not carry over to others.[4],[3]
On the DIGEST+ label
The label lists the strain in the Live Culture Blend — five strains that together provide 2 billion CFU per tablet. The label states that total for the whole blend only; it does not give a separate CFU count for each strain, so we don’t either. On the DIGEST+ label it appears as Bifidobacterium lactis — the only bifidobacterium among the five.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus brevis
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
Questions people ask
Is Bifidobacterium lactis the same as Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis?
Yes. Bifidobacterium lactis was reclassified in 2004 as a subspecies of Bifidobacterium animalis. Both names refer to the same organism, and the older name is still widely used on labels.
Is Bifidobacterium a Lactobacillus?
No. Bifidobacterium is a separate genus, in a different bacterial family. Both genera are among the most commonly used probiotics.
How many CFU of Bifidobacterium lactis are in DIGEST+?
The label gives 2 billion CFU per tablet for the whole five-strain Live Culture Blend, not a figure for each strain.
Work out your exact supply
The calculator on the product page takes your dog’s weight band and how many dogs you have, then shows the daily dose, how long a bottle lasts and a sensible refill rhythm.
Sources
- Subspecies Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis — LPSN – List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (DSMZ). Checked 2026-10-15.
- A taxonomic note on the genus Lactobacillus: Description of 23 novel genera, emended description of the genus Lactobacillus Beijerinck 1901, and union of Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae — International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Checked 2026-10-15.
- Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 Effects on Gut Health: A Review — Frontiers in Nutrition. Checked 2026-10-15.
- Clinical effect of probiotics in prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal disease in dogs: A systematic review — Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Checked 2026-10-15.
Updated