Your Pet’s Gut Health: The Invisible Threat

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Researchers at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory (GI Lab) at Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences recently developed and validated a Dysbiosis Index (DI) to assist veterinarians in assessing chronic GI dysfunction in dogs
• Dysbiosis (aka “leaky gut”) describes a disruption in the gut microbiome, typically a reduction in microbial diversity characterized by a loss in beneficial bacteria; leaky gut syndrome can lead to a long list of GI and other disorders
• A primary cause of dysbiosis in dogs (and cats) is overuse of antibiotics; other contributors include an ultraprocessed diet, parasitic infections, and over-vaccination
• Successfully resolving dysbiosis in dogs involves addressing the diet and providing appropriate supplements; probiotics play a crucial role in both preventing and treating leaky gut syndrome and antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal side effects