Companion Animal Microbiome Research: Gut Health and Welfare

The gut microbiome plays critical roles in companion animal immunity, behavior, and health. Emerging microbiome research is informing dietary and management recommendations that improve animal welfare.

Key Facts

The canine gut microbiome contains over 500 bacterial species that influence immune function, mental health, and disease susceptibility.
Anxiety and aggression in dogs are linked to microbiome composition through the gut-brain axis.
Antibiotic use disrupts the gut microbiome and can have lasting behavioral and health consequences.
High-fiber, diverse diets support microbiome diversity that correlates with better health outcomes.
Fecal microbiota transplants have successfully treated recurrent C. difficile-equivalent infections in dogs.

Welfare Considerations

Companion animal microbiome research is opening new understanding of the connections between diet, gut health, behavior, and welfare. The gut-brain axis mediates microbiome influence on anxiety, stress responses, and aggression in ways that have direct welfare implications. Dietary interventions that support microbiome diversity may improve behavioral welfare alongside physical health. The widespread use of antibiotics without microbiome protection has potential for lasting welfare consequences through behavioral disruption. Probiotic and prebiotic research is advancing rapidly, with evidence-based products now available for companion animal microbiome support.

What You Can Do

Feed diverse, high-quality diets that support gut microbiome diversity.
Use antibiotics only when prescribed by a veterinarian — avoid unnecessary microbiome disruption.
Discuss probiotic supplementation with your vet for dogs with behavioral or digestive health concerns.
Follow companion animal microbiome research from institutions like University of California Davis.
Support the development of microbiome-informed dietary and behavioral welfare recommendations.