Understanding Your Pet's Microbiome

How Does the Microbiome Affect My Pet's Overall Health?

Gut bacteria not only aid digestion, but they also synthesize vitamins and essential amino acids, help prevent infections, strengthen the immune system and support general health and well-being. Research demonstrates a correlation between the gut flora and diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders such as asthma, allergies, GI diseases such as IBD and colitis, as well as other conditions. We now know that people's microbiomes can influence their mood and that some depressed humans have altered gut flora. Further, a recent study in Trends in Cancer investigates the ways in which the microbiome can influence the development and spread of cancer. The microbiome can also be affected by obesity; a study from the American Society for Microbiology found abnormal microbiomes in obese dogs.

The microbiome can affect almost every tissue in your pet's body, making a balanced microbiome vital for overall health. Each microbiome from your dog or cat's gut to their skin or oral cavities is different. Each require slightly different needs to help promote the good bacteria or slow the impact of the bad bacteria.Researchers are now testing microbiome treatment in unhealthy individuals. Current therapeutic approaches include meal plan modification, antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiome transplant therapy.

How Does Nutrition Affect the Microbiome?

Food has a big influence on the health and population of the dog and cat microbiome. When a companion animal's microbiome becomes unbalanced, the digestive system is thrown out of balance as well, potentially causing diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, appetite changes, skin problems, behavioral problems, sluggishness and more. The dog and cat microbiome is sensitive, and can be affected by food, medications, stress and environment. Even something as seemingly innocuous as abruptly changing a dog's or cat's food can alter the microbiome. Differing levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber can all influence and alter a dog or cat microbiome.

According to Cell Host & Microbe, one of the most famous experiments showing the effect of food on the microbiome was first conducted in 2008, when researchers transplanted organisms from a human microbiome to mice. When these mice were switched from a low-fat, plant-rich meal plan to a junk food binge of high-sugar, high-fat food, their microbiomes changed significantly in less than a day.

When you feed your pet, you are also feeding their microbiome. While still in the early stages of research, new discoveries are being made every day that reveal the role that feeding a pet's microbiome has on their overall health. At Hill's Global Pet Nutrition Center, a team of pet scientists and nutritionists are linking the affects of certain nutrients on your pet's microbiome as well as their cells. Understanding the relationship between these nutrients and bacteria is helping formulate foods that better promote healthy microbiomes, and consequently healthier pets.

The conclusions are clear: The trillions of microorganisms living in our pets must be properly balanced to promote their health and wellness. Nutrition is one way to balance a cat or dog microbiome and thus support a companion animal's general well-being.