Pets Gutmicrobiota Test
Improving Your Dog’s Gut Health: Four Natural Methods for Restoration
Your dog’s gut is home to a vast and unique community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. This diverse ecosystem plays a key role in your dog’s overall well-being, from aiding in nutrient absorption to supporting brain function. However, when the balance of these microorganisms is disrupted, it can lead to issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), immune problems, and even depression.
Today, both dogs and humans are experiencing more microbiome-related health problems. Factors such as commercial pet foods, medications (especially antibiotics), and lifestyle habits (like staying indoors or using antibacterial cleaners) contribute to this rise.
The good news? You can help restore and maintain your dog’s gut health without resorting to medications that may cause unwanted side effects. It’s all about a simple process: Test, Add, Remove, and Rebalance.
(1) Test
Many common symptoms—like diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, itchy skin, and even bad breath—can actually signal problems in your dog’s gut microbiome. When key bacteria are missing or out of balance, the gut’s digestive and immune functions can start to fail. One effective way to understand what’s happening in your dog’s gut is through microbiome testing.
How Does Microbiome Testing Work?
Microbiome testing involves analyzing the bacteria and other microorganisms in a single stool sample. By studying the bacteria in your dog’s poop, we get a clear snapshot of their gut microbiome.
Our DoggyBiome Gut Health Test kit comes with everything you need to collect a small poop sample from your dog and send it to our lab. Using DNA sequencing, we identify all the bacteria types in the sample and give you a detailed breakdown of the bacterial composition in your dog’s gut.
What’s in the Report?
You’ll get a Gut Health Test report that breaks down your dog’s results in an easy-to-understand format. By comparing your dog’s microbiome to those of healthy dogs of similar age and breed, the report will highlight any changes needed to improve gut health.
Although many dogs begin life with a balanced gut microbiome, this balance can shift over time due to aging, illness, or medication use, especially antibiotics. The table below outlines the three possible gut microbiome conditions your dog might face and the recommended steps to address each one. Any guidance on improving your dog’s gut health will fall into at least one of these three categories:
(2) Add: Introducing Beneficial Bacteria
Adding good bacteria to your dog’s gut can be especially helpful if their microbiome lacks variety. This might happen after antibiotics or exposure to harmful pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella. There are several ways to boost your dog’s gut health, and the approach may vary depending on whether you’re focusing on the small or large intestine.
Diet: Are You Supporting the Right Gut Bacteria?
Diversity is key when it comes to your dog’s gut health, and that starts with what they eat. Feeding your dog the right foods helps beneficial bacteria thrive. You can also add supplements to enhance their digestive system and overall well-being.
- Prebiotics: These fibers, like inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), feed the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. Prebiotics support immune function and can even reduce inflammation caused by a high-fat diet. Start with small doses to see how your dog responds.
- Probiotics: While many dog probiotic supplements contain live bacteria, they’re often not the same strains naturally found in dogs, meaning they provide only temporary relief. However, Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast strain, has been shown to effectively restore balance to the gut without being a permanent resident.
- Fermented Foods: Fermentation creates postbiotics, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which benefit digestion, immune function, and overall health. Fermented foods like unsweetened yogurt, kefir, low-salt sauerkraut, and apple cider vinegar can be safely added to your dog’s diet in moderation.
- Whole Foods: Fresh vegetables like broccoli, green beans, carrots, and leafy greens provide prebiotic fiber that nourishes good bacteria. These foods are also full of antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation.
For convenience, you can use supplements like DoggyBiome’s S. boulardii + FOS powder or ImmuneShield chews to easily add prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to your dog’s meals.
Environmental Exposure: Getting Outdoors
Spending time outdoors has multiple benefits for your dog’s gut health. Nature is full of bacteria that can enrich your dog’s microbiome—whether it’s in the dirt, on plants, or in the air. Walks in natural environments, fresh air, and interaction with other animals can introduce new, healthy microorganisms into your dog’s system. Research even shows that humans and dogs share skin bacteria, so your dog’s interactions with you and other dogs can help diversify their gut microbiome.
(3) Remove: Eliminating Harmful Microorganisms
Not every microorganism in your dog’s gut is beneficial. When harmful bacteria take over or cause an infection, it’s important to intervene.
Competition: Using Good Bacteria to Remove Bad Ones
It might sound strange, but adding good bacteria can actually help get rid of harmful ones. For example, in humans, fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) are used to treat antibiotic-resistant infections like C. difficile by introducing beneficial bacteria that outcompete and eliminate the harmful bacteria. The same principle works for dogs—introducing new, healthy bacteria can crowd out the bad bacteria by taking up nutrients and space, causing the harmful population to shrink.
Antibiotics: A Necessary but Cautious Approach
Although antibiotics may not be viewed as “natural,” your vet may recommend them if your dog has a bacterial infection. These medications are often broad-spectrum, meaning they wipe out both harmful and beneficial bacteria, potentially disrupting your dog’s gut balance for the long term.
If antibiotics are necessary, it’s crucial to support your dog’s gut during and after treatment by replenishing good bacteria, as mentioned in the “Add” section. Testing your dog’s gut health after antibiotic treatment can help identify any changes in the microbiome and guide you in restoring balance.
Bacteriophages: Nature’s Bacteria Killers
Bacteriophages, or “phages,” are natural microorganisms that specifically target and destroy certain bacteria. Phage therapy, which has been used for over a century, is gaining popularity as an alternative to antibiotics, particularly as antibiotic resistance becomes a growing concern.
Fortunately, phage therapy is available for pets, too. Our Gut Maintenance Plus capsules contain four types of phages that target E. coli, one of the most common bacterial imbalances in dogs. These capsules also include prebiotics and probiotics that promote overall gut health, making it a safe and effective way to address harmful bacteria in your dog’s digestive system.
(4) Rebalance: Restoring Gut Harmony
Sometimes your dog’s gut microbiome may have a good variety of beneficial microorganisms, but their populations may be uneven. When this happens, dietary adjustments or gut health supplements can often help restore balance.
Diet: The Key to Managing Gut Health
Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining your dog’s overall health, from preventing illnesses to supporting a strong immune system. It also directly affects the balance of bacteria in the gut, as different bacteria thrive on specific nutrients. The food your dog eats influences which bacteria flourish.
Dogs Thrive on High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diets
Many commercial dog foods, particularly kibble, contain too many carbohydrates, which can fuel the growth of harmful bacteria that cause inflammation, “leaky gut” syndrome, and weight gain. Since dogs are still considered carnivores, their gut bacteria respond best to a diet rich in protein and low in carbs.
Research has shown that dogs on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet experience positive shifts in their gut microbiome, particularly overweight dogs who see improvements in gut balance linked to healthy weight loss. You can use a pet food calculator to determine the hidden carbohydrate content in your dog’s food, ensuring their diet contains over 50% protein on a dry matter basis. Be cautious of “grain-free” and “gluten-free” labels, as these foods may still be high in carbs and might not be ideal for digestive health.
Don’t Overlook Fiber
Fiber is essential for keeping digestion smooth and feeding the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. It’s easy to boost fiber by incorporating whole foods or prebiotic supplements, which can enhance gut health and promote balanced bacteria.
Food Intolerances and Allergies
If your dog is eating a nutritious, balanced diet but still experiencing digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating, or constipation, food intolerances or allergies could be the cause. Many dogs develop sensitivities to certain ingredients, which can usually be addressed by switching their food. Before making any changes, consult your veterinarian to ensure the new diet is safe, as some commercial dog foods have been linked to health problems.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), also known as a fecal transplant, involves transferring healthy fecal material—containing beneficial bacteria and microorganisms—from a donor into the digestive system of a patient with gut imbalances. For dogs, FMT is often more effective than probiotics because it introduces a complete ecosystem of dog-specific beneficial bacteria, unlike many commercial dog probiotics that don’t contain bacteria native to dogs.
Typically, FMT is administered via enema in a veterinary clinic under sedation, which can be expensive and stressful for both dogs and their owners. However, DoggyBiome Gut Restore Supplement offers an alternative with an easy-to-administer oral capsule that provides the same benefits at a much lower cost.
Where to Start?
You may already have ideas on how to improve your dog’s gut health—like adding more protein, incorporating fermented foods, using a daily prebiotic supplement, or simply getting your dog outdoors for regular exercise. These small adjustments can make a big difference in supporting your dog’s digestive and immune system.
If your dog is experiencing digestive issues or skin problems, or if you’re unsure whether to focus on adding, removing, or rebalancing bacteria, a Gut Health Test can offer guidance. The test reveals what’s happening in your dog’s microbiome and provides personalized recommendations for dietary and lifestyle changes to enhance your dog’s overall health.
Test, Add, Remove, and Rebalance
Your dog’s gut microbiome influences nearly every aspect of their health. Testing their microbiome composition can help you understand how various symptoms are connected to gut imbalances. By identifying and addressing low bacterial diversity or imbalances early, microbiome testing can aid in improving or preventing conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, and obesity.
