ood nutrition is foundational for overall health. Eating a healthful diet helps prevent common illnesses, supports and boosts the immune system, and positively influences the composition and function of bacteria that live in the gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome is a community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that live in a pet’s digestive tract and are essential for good health. The prenatal environment is essentially sterile and the development of the microbiome begins during birth. Much like in humans, the initial gut microbiome of a cat or dog reflects the microbiome of their mother due to the ingestion and inhalation of her native bacteria during birth and nursing. These early life events are foundational. From there, the gut microbiome evolves over time with exposure to different environments, littermates and human caretakers. As a pet grows and matures, diet plays a key role in maintaining the environment necessary for the beneficial microbes of the gut to thrive.
There are many different kinds of microbes in a pet’s gut microbiome, and each kind requires certain nutrients to survive. Some specialize in digesting complex carbohydrates, others digest proteins and some thrive on sugar. As a result, the macro-nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fibers) in the food that pets eat influence which bacteria thrive in their gut. When a diet is overabundant in one macronutrient versus another, this can shift the natural balance of the bacteria in the gut, leading to an imbalance or dysbiosis.
A gut microbiome is considered imbalanced when it is missing beneficial bacteria, has too many harmful bacteria or does not have enough different types of bacteria. When a pet’s gut is out of balance, some of the gut’s important functions don’t work as well and can affect the overall health of a pet. Much like an improper diet, factors like disease, age and medications—especially antibiotics—can contribute to the development of an imbalance in a cat or dog’s gut.
Many clients are surprised to find that their pet’s symptoms are often associated with imbalances in the gut microbiome. The majority of clients correctly assume that common conditions like diarrhea and vomiting are related to the gut, but few realize that health issues like constipation, itchy skin and bad breath can also be associated with an imbalance in a pet’s gut microbiome as well.
If the nutrition in a pet’s diet is balanced, yet he or she still has symptoms of digestive health issues, a food intolerance or allergy may be a factor. Food sensitivities are quite common, and a change in diet may resolve the symptoms if the pet is sensitive to a particular ingredient in the diet.
The State of the Gut Report1 presents the results of a survey of more than 2,000 cat and dog parents who were asked what they think about gut health in general, how various factors impact their pet’s health, and what they can do to support and improve a pet’s gut health. The findings reveal that many pet parents are unaware that the use of antibiotics can contribute to significant, long-lasting imbalances in the microbiome. Regular microbiome testing can help bring those imbalances to light, allowing pet owners to address them before they begin causing troublesome symptoms.
In the survey, it was found that one in six dogs and one in seven cats has undergone antibiotic treatment within the last year. Using effective alternatives to antibiotics, such as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), can help to rebalance the gut without the risk of harmful side effects. A conservative approach to antibiotic use is an important way to maintain the pet’s gut microbiome.
In the survey, pet owners were asked to report any exposure to risk factors that could have detrimentally impacted their pet’s microbiome over a 12-month period. Not surprisingly, exposure to antibiotics was one of the two top risk factors reported for both cat and dog owners. A change in diet was the other top risk factor associated with a gut imbalance.
When diet changes occur, shifts occur in the microbiome as well. Depending on the type of diet, these shifts in the microbiome can be beneficial or detrimental, as certain bacteria will thrive under different conditions.
For example, Fusobacterium is a group of bacteria that help dogs and cats digest protein in their diet, but if a diet is too high in protein content and lacks a sufficient amount of fiber, Fusobacterium will overgrow and can cause diarrhea and other signs of GI distress.
On the other hand, the Prevotella genus is fundamental for the breakdown of carbohydrates in the diet. However, if a pet’s diet is too high in carbs and has insufficient protein, Prevotella can overgrow and trigger inflammation. Again, elevated levels of this beneficial genus can lead to GI distress and has been linked to patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome.
This survey has helped reveal that clients do truly care about the gut health of their pets, but navigating the world of diets and nutrition can be tricky. With extra guidance on the importance of a properly balanced diet and how it affects the microbiome, clients can make an informed decision that will help improve gut health and the overall health of their pet.
References
- 2022 State of the Gut™ Report presented by AnimalBiome.stateofthegut.com
