Research into companion animal gut microbiomes is advancing rapidly, linking intestinal health to immune function, behavior, and chronic disease. This emerging field opens new avenues for welfare improvement.
Companion animal microbiome science is at an exciting intersection of established nutrition science, emerging behavioral science, and growing understanding of chronic disease pathogenesis. The implications for welfare are significant: if microbiome health influences anxiety, pain sensitivity, and immune function, then dietary choices that support microbiome health are welfare interventions rather than merely nutritional ones. The practical applications are still developing, but enough is established to guide welfare-positive approaches: diet quality matters for microbiome health, antibiotic stewardship protects microbiome function, and probiotic support after antibiotic treatment reduces welfare-relevant dysbiosis. The field will likely deliver increasingly specific welfare-relevant guidance as the evidence base matures.