Emerging research on the gut microbiome of companion animals reveals connections between gut health, behavior, stress resilience, and overall welfare that are beginning to inform nutritional and clinical approaches.
Companion animal microbiome research is at an early stage but is already informing welfare-relevant nutritional and clinical guidance. The finding that gut health connects to behavioral welfare through the gut-brain axis means that feeding decisions are more than nutritional choices — they are behavioral welfare choices. Dietary patterns that support microbiome diversity are emerging as welfare-positive alongside their direct health benefits. The cautious clinical recommendation to minimize unnecessary antibiotic use that disrupts the microbiome aligns with both infection management principles and welfare considerations. As this field matures, microbiome health will likely become an integrated component of comprehensive companion animal welfare assessment.