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Ingredient file // Other

Dried Bacillus Licheniformis Fermentation Product

A spore culture with narrow dog evidence

This dried bacterial culture includes material from the medium used to grow it. Makers add it for live microbes, not nutrition. A small dog trial found better stool scores with a Bacillus blend, but did not test this species alone.

Role in the food Does a job
What it is
A dried Bacillus licheniformis culture containing material from the nutrient medium in which it grew.
Made from
Bacterial culture and nutrient medium
Main job
Live microbial addition
Typical amount
One dog trial used 62.5 mg per kg
Watch for
No stated live microbe count
Not the same as
Prebiotic fiber

Straight answer

Is Dried Bacillus Licheniformis Fermentation Product safe for dogs?

Check the live count, then the recipe

Read this near the end of an ingredient list as a small microbial addition. Look for a viable microbe guarantee, then judge the food by its main ingredients and nutritional adequacy. The dog evidence supports a possible stool benefit from a blend, not a promise from this culture alone.

Why it is in the food
Live microbial addition

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 23 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

4%

142 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 8 brands. 140 dry dog food, 1 frozen dog food, 1 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 48. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

0%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 100% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $3.08
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 114 priced foods, 5% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

40%

of the foods that list it are from Wellness. 8 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Feed-additive makers grow selected Bacillus strains in nutrient media and dry the resulting culture. One documented method uses oilseed cakes left after oil pressing. Commercial products need not use those same carriers.1,2

  1. 01 // Source Culture and carrier A production study paired a selected bacterial strain with oilseed cakes left after pressing seed oil.
  2. 02 // Process Moistened and cultured The cakes were moistened and inoculated, giving the bacteria a medium in which to multiply.
  3. 03 // Process Spores formed The culture was held under controlled conditions while researchers tracked viable cells and spores.
  4. 04 // Process Dried and milled Researchers freeze-dried the fermented cakes and blended them into a powder.
  5. 05 // Output Dried culture The powder contains culture and medium; the tested dog-food blend was applied after kibble was cooked.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

33-45

% protein

The range in experimental fermented oilseed cakes. It describes possible carriers, not a specification for this pet-food ingredient.

Crude protein 32.5-44.7%2
Crude fiber 11.8-32.3%2
Carbohydrates 3.5-31.2%2
Crude fat 8.5-19.2%2
Ash 4.5-7.1%2

These are research batches made with hemp, pumpkin and flaxseed cakes. The medium drives the nutrient figures, so a commercial culture grown on another material could differ substantially.2

Why it is in the bag

A tiny live culture added for stool quality

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Makers add it as a live microbial culture, not as food. It tends to sit near the end of the list, and lists run by weight, so the amount is small. The one dog trial used 62.5 g per ton of a blend with Bacillus subtilis and found better stool scores and less fetid stools, with no change in digestibility. At that dose its growth medium adds no meaningful nutrition.1,2,6

  1. 01

    Adds live microbes

    Bacillus forms durable spores. A maker can measure a small dose into food and state its viable count, provided the finished product meets that guarantee.2,4

  2. 02

    Targets stool quality

    A controlled dog trial found better stool scores and less odor with a blend containing this species. The trial cannot assign either effect to this culture alone.1

  3. 03

    Uses agricultural carriers

    Oilseed press cakes supported culture production in a research study. They offer makers an existing byproduct as a growth medium, though that study did not measure pet-food cost savings.2

How much A dog trial applied 62.5 mg per kg of finished food, using a blend of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis.1

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Bacillus cultures make stools firmer and less smelly

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A controlled trial in 16 healthy dogs found better stool scores and less odor with a Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis blend. It was short, industry funded and did not isolate this ingredient's effect.1

  2. Brands say

    It balances a dog's gut bacteria

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The 16-dog trial measured stool traits and fermentation products, but did not measure the dogs' gut bacteria. A changed stool score does not show that the microbial community became healthier.1,5

  3. Brands say

    Its spores survive kibble cooking

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The experimental oilseed cultures were freeze-dried. In the dog trial, the Bacillus blend was put on finished kibble in oil. Neither test measured survival of this ingredient through kibble cooking.1,2

  4. Brands say

    It improves nutrient digestion and absorption

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A brand makes the absorption claim, but the 16-dog Bacillus blend trial found no improvement in nutrient digestibility. Absorption was not measured, and the species was not tested alone.1,5

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It is added for its culture, not to bulk up food. The tested amount was small, so even a protein-rich growth medium would contribute little nutrition to the finished recipe.1,2

  2. Q02

    How do I know it is live?

    Check the count

    Look for a viable microbe guarantee in colony-forming units. The ingredient name identifies what was cultured; it does not tell you how many live cells or spores remain in the food.4

  3. Q03

    Is this a prebiotic?

    No

    It is included as a microbial culture. Prebiotic fibers feed gut microbes instead. The culture's carrier contains nutrients, but the amount used in the dog trial was too small to serve as a meaningful fiber source.1,2,4

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Wellness 57 / 118
  2. NutriSource 41 / 91
  3. Holistic Select 15 / 16
  4. Health Extension 14 / 47
  5. Eagle Pack 6 / 6
  6. Abound 5 / 20
  7. Wysong 3 / 20
  8. Blue Ridge Beef 1 / 2

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #57 Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
  2. #72 Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Turkey & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 70%
  2. Chicken Fat 59%
  3. Flaxseed 56%
  4. Chicken Meal 56%
  5. Peas 50%
  6. Oatmeal 47%
  7. Brown Rice 37%
  8. Chicken 37%
  9. Barley 34%
  10. Turkey 24%
  11. Turkey Meal 24%
  12. Lentils 23%

On the shelf

Foods that list Dried Bacillus Licheniformis Fermentation Product

142 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Wellness Core Bowl Boosters Functional Toppers Digestive Health Dog Food TopperWellnessWellness Core Bowl Boosters Functional Toppers Digestive Health Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 16 on the labelEagle Pack Power Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Power Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelNutriSource Small Bites Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Small Bites Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 24 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelWysong Optimize Wild Caught Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWysongWysong Optimize Wild Caught Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelWysong Optimize Chicken Dry Dog FoodWysongWysong Optimize Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelBlue Ridge Beef Raw BRB Complete Frozen Dog FoodBlue Ridge BeefBlue Ridge Beef Raw BRB Complete Frozen Dog FoodFrozen // No. 36 on the labelNutriSource Element Series Grain Free Wild Range Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Element Series Grain Free Wild Range Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelNutriSource Element Series Grain Free Upland Stream Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Element Series Grain Free Upland Stream Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelWellness Complete Health Grain Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Complete Health Grain Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 41 on the label
Show 48 more
Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelEagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Reduced Fat Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelEagle Pack Original Chicken Meal & Pork Meal Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Original Chicken Meal & Pork Meal Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelNutriSource Large Breed Trout & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Large Breed Trout & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelNutriSource Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Seafood Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Seafood Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Lamb Meal & Peas Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Lamb Meal & Peas Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Super Performance Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Super Performance Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Seafood Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Seafood Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Large Breed Beef & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Large Breed Beef & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small and Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small and Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 28 on the labelNutriSource Large Breed Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Large Breed Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelNutriSource Small & Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Small & Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelNutriSource Beef & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Beef & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Lamb Meal & Peas Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Lamb Meal & Peas Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelNutriSource Weight Management Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Weight Management Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelNutriSource Senior Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Senior Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelNutriSource Large Breed Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Large Breed Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelWysong Optimize Beef Heart & Liver Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodWysongWysong Optimize Beef Heart & Liver Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 33 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 33 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 34 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 34 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Venison & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Venison & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 35 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Puppy Lamb & Pumpkin Entree Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Puppy Lamb & Pumpkin Entree Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Puppy Turkey & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Puppy Turkey & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Pork & Blueberry Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Pork & Blueberry Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Duck & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Duck & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Lamb & Pumpkin Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Lamb & Pumpkin Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Beef & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Beef & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Turkey & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Turkey & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Chicken & Brown Rice Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Chicken & Brown Rice Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNutriSource Element Series Coastal Plains Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Element Series Coastal Plains Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 38 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Salmon & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Salmon & Kale Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 39 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Duck & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Duck & Cranberry Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 39 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Duck & Oatmeal Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Duck & Oatmeal Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 39 on the labelWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Duck & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Simple Limited Ingredient Duck & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 40 on the labelWellness CORE+ Wholesome Grains Sensitive Skin Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE+ Wholesome Grains Sensitive Skin Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 42 on the labelNutriSource Element Series Open Waters Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Element Series Open Waters Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 42 on the labelWellness CORE Ocean Whitefish & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE Ocean Whitefish & Herring Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the labelWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core RawRev Wholesome Grains Ocean + 100% Raw Fish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 46 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked September 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis reduce faecal protein catabolites concentration and odour in dogs BMC Veterinary Research, 2020 // Journal
  2. 2 Solid-State Fermentation Using Bacillus licheniformis-Driven Changes in Composition, Viability and In Vitro Protein Digestibility of Oilseed Cakes Agriculture, 2024 // Journal
  3. 3 Safety and efficacy of Bacillus licheniformis DSM 32457 as a silage additive for all animal species EFSA Journal, 2019 // Regulator
  4. 4 AAFCO Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Model Regulations Label Review Checklist AAFCO, 2014 // Regulator
  5. 5 Quality Ingredients Wellness Pet Food, n.d. // Industry
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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