How the gut microbiome affects companion animal welfare and health, and the role of diet, probiotics, and environment in microbiome support.
The gut microbiome is an important but often overlooked component of companion animal welfare. Microbiome disruption through antibiotics, dietary change, or stress can alter behaviour, increase disease susceptibility, and affect quality of life. Supporting microbiome health through diet, minimising unnecessary antibiotic use, and managing stress is an emerging dimension of evidence-based companion animal care.