Proviable Users, I Have Some Questions

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My turn to ask for advice. :)
Jasper's digestive system has gotten a little bit "off" the past few weeks. I'm chalking it up to new and different treats, and too many of them; the treats were being dispensed very liberally during the weeks leading up to his CGC test, lol. Nothing major, but I decided that probiotics would probably help.

I ordered Proviable and started it the other day. But I can't figure out the best way to give it to him. They're called "sprinkle capsules", so I assumed that you just open them and sprinkle over the dog's food. Which would work well I imagine if the food is wet. But sprinkling the contents of the capsule over kibble seems to result in most of the probiotic powder lying on the bottom of the food bowl after he's done eating. 
What am I doing wrong? Any tips? 
I really do not want to give him any canned food or peanut butter, and while I'm very good at "pilling" dogs, i.e. putting it down their throats, I hate to have to start doing that when this isn't medication and he's not sick. 

[Stacy]

I bet he would eat his yogurt if it had more sugar in it ;) I can't stomach the plain yogurt either. 

I get it. I also regularly inspect dog poop. I am a big fan of good GI health. Hopefully whatever is going on with him is just treat related and will fix itself. I'm still trying to brainstorm over here though. What would be simple and healthy and not involve cooking and pilling and whatnot. The only thing I can come up with off the top of my head would be meat baby food. I mean, it's for babies. It has to be healthy, right? And the jar could stay in the fridge and be reasonably easy. Of course, if he doesn't really need it he doesn't really need it. 

Maybe you could formulate the first chewable dog probiotic. There's your million dollar idea. Of course, then you get dogs like Maggie who won't chew her chewable Sentinel. Sometimes you just can't win. Maybe he needs a fiber gummy! Gummy vitamins. I'm such a child!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The thing is, I don't want to create something that I will have to do at every meal for the rest of his life. He's only 18 months old. I did all that stuff for my sick pets and old pets...even the baby food for my cat at the end of her life. You know that a big part of the reason I alienated all of my friends in the rescue world by buying a purebred puppy who is way over qualified for his job, lol, was so I wouldn't have to be doing any of that for a good 14 years or so. :) 
Chewy is refunding my money for the Proviable. 

I did find out that Nutramax sells a Proviable Forte chewable tablet. Only available through vets as far as I can see. I already emailed mine to see if he can get it for me.

[Stacy]

A really healthy dog is a wonderful thing. May little Jasper continue to be healthy and perfect for way more than 14 years. 

Chewy is really good about returns from what I've heard. I'm glad they're refunding you. And I hope the chewable works out. I wonder why the chewable is only available through the vet. That seems strange. But whatever works.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The chewable is double the CFUs. Which at 10 billion is not one tenth of what's in a VSL#3 capsule, and those are OTC. Who knows. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And re: peanut butter. I don't think it tastes good at all. I hate the smell of it too. 
Repeat after me: 96 calories per tbsp, 72% of which is fat. 
It would have to taste a whole lot better than it does to be worth that. 

[Stacy]

The good half of my brain tells me about the calories and fat, and reminds me that I still want to fit in my jeans tomorrow. The bad half of my brain wants what it wants and doesn't care about anything else. 

My perfect idea of the four food groups are: sugar, salt, chocolate, and powdered cheese. We need to surgically remove the bad half of my brain. I'm a little envious that you seem to be able to take the knowledge of nutrition and turn it into desire to eat the healthy things. I don't think there is any amount of knowledge in the world that could take away the desire I have to eat all the worst possible foods.

[Stella]

Ha ha Stacey, I think you and I share the same brain!!!!!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Have you tried freshly ground peanut butter with no additives? It just tastes like peanuts.  Some health/bulk food stores here have it.  I'm sure you could make it with a good blender too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Boy have you got the wrong person!!! Make it yourself? Blender? What language are you speaking? LOL
I really don't like peanuts in any form. :) I can tolerate the dry roasted, salted ones if there is absolutely no other choice of snack. As long as there is no honey involved, lol.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I have always just sprinkled it on top of the food and they eat it without thought. However, recently I have started to add warm water to their kibble after reading about it. It brings out the aroma of the food and aids in their digestion. They love it and lick their bowls clean and then each others bowls. If they had proviable powder on the food, it would definitely get ingested.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds like water is the key, and I really didn't want to get into that. He gets a few Stella & Chewy nuggets crushed on top of his kibble, maybe I should sprinkle the Proviable on top of that; maybe it would stick better than it does to kibble.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

If he tends to inhale the Stella and Chewy nuggets even if it doesn't stick to them he will end up eating the Proviable :p