How the gut microbiome affects companion animal health and welfare and the emerging science of microbiome-informed nutrition and treatment.
The gut microbiome represents an emerging frontier in companion animal welfare — one where the health of invisible microbial communities has demonstrable effects on digestive health, immune function, stress responses, and behavior. The gut-brain axis means that microbiome disruption from antibiotics, poor diet, or chronic stress can affect mood and behavior as well as physical health. Welfare-conscious companion animal nutrition increasingly considers microbiome support as integral to overall wellbeing. This is a rapidly evolving field where clinical applications are developing faster than the evidence base — consumer claims about microbiome products should be evaluated critically.