Do Probiotics Need to be Refrigerated?

Probiotics are becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine and everyday pet wellness routines. But if you’ve ever shopped for a probiotic for your dog or cat, you may have noticed something curious: many high-quality probiotics are kept refrigerated. So, do probiotics really need to be cold?

Yes. Refrigeration is important—not just during storage, but throughout the entire shipping process—to help ensure probiotics remain effective

Probiotics contain live bacteria. These living microorganisms are what provide probiotic benefits. However, they’re sensitive to heat and moisture, and many strains may not survive prolonged exposure to warm temperatures. That’s why many high-quality probiotics are refrigerated—and why some veterinary clinics and retailers store them in dedicated refrigerators.

What About “Shelf-Stable” Probiotics?

You may have seen some probiotics stored on regular shelves. While certain strains may be more resilient, even many “shelf-stable” probiotics include storage recommendations—often advising consumers not to store the product above 77°F (25°C).

Those temperatures can easily be exceeded in delivery trucks during warmer months. As a result, unrefrigerated shipping may reduce the number of live bacteria before the product even arrives at your door.

The challenge is that you won’t necessarily know if the product has been exposed to excessive heat. Unlike spoiled food, probiotics typically won’t look, smell, or taste different if heat exposure has reduced bacterial viability.

When live bacteria decline, probiotic potency may also decrease—even if the packaging appears perfectly normal.

The Risk of Heat During Shipping

Shipping is one of the most overlooked factors affecting probiotic viability. One study (Shallenberger et al., 2015) examined packages shipped during the summer from Montana to warmer-weather cities such as Phoenix, Dallas, and Tampa. Shipments carried by FedEx, UPS, and USPS reached internal package temperatures as high as 118°F (47.9°C)—well above temperatures considered ideal for many probiotic strains.

Even with expedited shipping, packages may experience temperature spikes on delivery trucks, airport tarmacs, or warehouse docks that can affect sensitive bacteria.

How Probiotics Should Be Shipped

To help protect live bacteria during transit, probiotics should ideally be shipped in insulated packaging with cold packs.

For example, Visbiome Vet probiotics are shipped in insulated packaging with ice packs to help maintain product quality during transit. Each shipment includes a temperature sensor, which alerts the consumer if the package gets too warm—triggering a free replacement if needed.

Visbiome Vet strains can tolerate brief exposure to room temperature and remain stable for limited periods under 77°F (25°C). However, once temperatures rise above 86°F (30°C), the bacteria begin to degrade rapidly.

Final Thoughts: Why Cold Shipping Matters

In a perfect world, all probiotics would be shipped and stored using a Cold Chain system—just like Visbiome Vet. Until that becomes the industry standard, it’s essential to be a proactive consumer:

• Look for probiotics that require refrigeration.
• Check how they’re shipped—insulated packaging with cold packs is a must.
• Be cautious with “shelf-stable” claims, and always read the label—especially the Storage and Handling section.

Be cautious with “shelf-stable” claims, and always read the label—especially the Storage and Handling section.

Because probiotics contain live bacteria, proper storage and shipping can play an important role in maintaining product quality from manufacturing through delivery.