Research into the gut-brain axis in companion animals is revealing connections between microbiome health, stress responses, and behavioral wellbeing that have welfare implications.
Companion animal microbiome welfare is an emerging area connecting nutritional choices to behavioral and psychological outcomes. The evidence that gut microbiome composition influences stress responses, anxiety behaviors, and emotional regulation creates welfare implications for dietary decisions, antibiotic use, and stress management. Probiotic supplementation shows promising results in reducing anxiety-related behaviors in some studies, though the evidence base is still developing. Judicious antibiotic use with microbiome recovery support following treatment represents a welfare consideration beyond the direct therapeutic goal. Understanding microbiome connections to behavior will likely reshape recommendations for managing anxiety and stress in companion animals.