The gut microbiome profoundly influences companion animal health and behaviour, and supporting microbiome diversity through appropriate diet, antibiotic stewardship, and enrichment improves overall welfare.
Microbiome health is increasingly recognised as central to companion animal wellbeing. Gut dysbiosis is associated with digestive disorders, skin disease, behavioural problems, and immune dysfunction. The over-reliance on antibiotics for minor conditions causes preventable microbiome disruption with welfare consequences. Diet quality, appropriate probiotic use in high-risk situations, stress reduction, and judicious antibiotic use all support microbiome health. This represents a welfare area where owner choices about diet and lifestyle significantly affect long-term health outcomes.