The gut microbiome is increasingly recognised as a key factor in canine health and welfare, with diet and early life experience shaping lifelong microbial communities.
The gut-brain axis connection means that gut microbiome disruption may affect both physical and behavioural welfare in dogs. Research linking gut dysbiosis to anxiety-like behaviour and cognitive function in dogs is emerging, suggesting that gut health is more central to overall welfare than previously recognised. Antibiotic stewardship in dogs matters for welfare - unnecessary antibiotic use causes gut dysbiosis that may persist for months and predisposes to other health problems. Feeding diverse, high-quality diets that support microbial diversity, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, and using probiotics appropriately may collectively support gut-mediated welfare over the course of a dog's life.