The gut microbiome of companion animals profoundly affects health, behavior, and welfare; understanding microbiome influences helps owners support animal wellbeing through nutrition and management.
The gut-brain axis in companion animals creates a bidirectional welfare connection: chronic stress suppresses beneficial gut bacteria and increases gut permeability, while disrupted microbiomes increase anxiety and stress reactivity. This means welfare interventions that reduce psychological stress also improve gut health, and dietary interventions that support microbiome diversity also reduce anxiety. The emerging science of companion animal microbiome welfare is expanding the toolkit for addressing behavioral and health problems through integrated approaches that recognize the interconnection of gut and brain health.