Targeted changes in dietary patterns may aid in modulating the gut microbiota in various canine diseases.
The gut microbiota significantly influences the body’s health, as it is involved in numerous metabolic pathways and interacts both directly and indirectly with organs and systems. When microbial populations are balanced, the microbiota provides numerous benefits to the host. Research on humans has shown that even short-term dietary changes (1–3 days) can alter gut microbiota balance, such as switching from a “meat-only” diet to a “plant-based” diet.
Similar studies have been conducted on dogs, particularly to assess the impact of dietary fiber consumption. The results depended strongly on the type and amount of fiber used, the animal’s prior diet, the treatment duration, the dog’s health status, and study design.
Canine Intestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis
In both humans and dogs, gut dysbiosis can cause chronic inflammation. In dogs, this is often managed with hydrolyzed diets, which benefit the microbiota. These diets are characterized by low-molecular-weight proteins and peptides to avoid activating the gut’s immune system.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne conducted a crossover study to observe the effects of three different diets on healthy dogs' microbiota: a high-protein, “meat-only” diet; a high-insoluble-fiber diet; and a hydrolyzed protein diet.
The Study: High-Protein vs. Fiber-Rich Diets
Dogs were split into two groups, both following a high-protein diet at baseline and during the washout period. In phase 1, one group consumed the hydrolyzed diet first and then the fiber-rich diet, while the other followed the reverse order.
The results, published in Animal Microbiome in 2021, indicated that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria were the most abundant phyla. High-protein diets increased Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while the high-fiber diet increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Specific microorganism proportions were:
- Firmicutes: 44% (high-protein), 62% (high-fiber), 55% (hydrolyzed diet)
- Bacteroidetes: 14% (high-protein), 16% (high-fiber and hydrolyzed diet)
- Fusobacteria: 24% (high-protein), 8% (high-fiber), 17% (hydrolyzed diet)
Baseline microbiota composition had the greatest impact on diet-induced changes.
Conclusions
This research observed that all three diets substantially affected canine fecal community composition, with outcomes highly dependent on the initial microbiota. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationships between diet, microbiome, and host, enabling targeted dietary interventions to alleviate microbiota-related diseases and inflammation in the future.
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