Live culture blend
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus rhamnosus — now formally Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus — is a lactic-acid bacterium found in dairy products and in the mouth and gut.
Also known as: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, L. rhamnosus
What it is
Where it’s found
The species is found in a wide variety of habitats, including artisanal and industrial dairy products, the oral cavity, the intestinal tract and the vagina. A genomic study of 100 strains from diverse sources found groupings that partly matched these ecological niches — some strains appear adapted to nutrient-rich niches such as milk products.[3]
Why it’s used in dog supplements
Lactobacillus (in the older, broad sense) and Bifidobacterium species are the most commonly used probiotics in human medicine. Probiotic benefits are generally considered strain-specific: research on one L. rhamnosus strain does not automatically apply to others.[4],[5]
An L. rhamnosus strain appears in one of the multi-strain products included in a 2019 systematic review of probiotic studies in dogs.[4]
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 under its long-established name, Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus brevis
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
Questions people ask
Is Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus the same as Lactobacillus rhamnosus?
Yes. It is the same species. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is the current name after the 2020 reclassification; Lactobacillus rhamnosus is the older name still used on many labels.
Where is Lactobacillus rhamnosus found naturally?
It has been found in dairy products and in the mouth and intestinal tract, among other habitats.
Does the DIGEST+ label say which rhamnosus strain is used?
The label names the species within the Live Culture Blend and gives a 2 billion CFU total per tablet for the blend. It does not give a separate count 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
- 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.
- Species Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus — LPSN – List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (DSMZ). Checked 2026-10-15.
- Comparative Genomic and Functional Analysis of 100 Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strains and Their Comparison with Strain GG — PLoS Genetics. 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.
- Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 Effects on Gut Health: A Review — Frontiers in Nutrition. Checked 2026-10-15.
Updated