In this insightful final video of the series, Joe Flanagan (Ingenious Probiotics) is joined by Dr. Richard Doyle (Wylie Vets). They dive deep into the connection between your pet’s skin microbiome and common skin issues like itching, redness, and flare-ups.
They explore how healthy bacteria (probiotics) support the skin microbiome and why avoiding chemical overuse is key to breaking the cycle of recurring skin problems.
Dr. Richard explains the powerful shift in veterinary understanding: your pet naturally carries 20–30 trillion bacteria on their skin - most of them beneficial. But repeated use of antibacterial shampoos and harsh chemicals can wipe out this healthy balance, often worsening skin problems rather than solving them.
Instead, they discuss a proactive, microbiome-friendly approach using topical probiotics. These living, beneficial bacteria help repopulate the skin microbiome, reduce inflammation, and outcompete harmful bacteria. Applying them to your pet’s skin, coat and living spaces - especially after exposure to irritants - can support faster recovery and long-term health.
They also touch on the broader implications, including the growing concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the overuse of antibiotics.
This video is essential viewing for pet parents dealing with recurring skin issues and looking for a safe, science-backed solution that supports the skin’s natural defences from the outside in.
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Dr Richard talks about a paradigm shift in understanding that the pets’ make up included 20-30 trillion natural bacterial when looking at diagnoses and possible treatments.
3:00 - Dr Richard describes how he questions if a skin issue is the cause of, or the result of and disruption to the skin microbiome.
3:25 - Dr Richard talks about the disruption in the skin microbiome caused by anti-bacterial shampoos.
5:29 - Dr Richard talks about rebalancing the skin microbiome with externally applied probiotics after an allergic reaction to a food type etc.
6:01 - Joe talks about helping the skin microbiome balance and the presence of bio allergens and asks the big question – when using antibacterial products, what happens to the pet afterwards?
7:57 - Dr Richard explains how red skin attracts more bacteria and how this can lead to a repeating cycle of skin issues.
8:59 - Dr Richard refers to some different reasons for skin issues and how the body reacts. While looking for the root cause, it is important to rebalance the skin microbiome rather than wipe it out.
11:55 - Joe asks Richard about his thoughts on why so many dogs are experiencing skin issues.
16:30 - Joe refers to the large amount of chemicals that our pets are exposed to and the effects of that on the natural skin microbiome.
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This is the last of three videos with Dr Richard Doyle, partner at Wylie Wellness Centre and The Wylie Veterinary Hospital. Watch the other two videos in the series here:
A Vet's View - How Dental Health Impacts Whole Body Wellness
A Vet's View - Probiotics for Repeat Ear Infections
Note: EVAA+, DENAA+ and DENAA+ Fitness have been combined into one expanded, versatile and pet-safe probiotic cleaning range, Provilan Clean.