Breaking Down The Gut Microbiome

So what is the gut microbiome?

Your pet’s gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of microorganisms, which are essential to their overall health. This diverse and highly complex collection of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, protozoa, archaea, and viruses is known as the gut microbiome (or microbiota).

The gut microbiota has many important functions, including:

• Nutrient breakdown
• Roles in immunity
• Vitamin synthesis
• Production of short- chain fatty acids and other postbiotics
• Maintaining gut health

The most vital function of the gastrointestinal microbiome is to protect your pet against infection by pathogenic or ‘bad’ bacteria.

Dybiosis: an imbalance in the gut

The balance between beneficial ‘good’ and pathogenic ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut microbiome of adult dogs and cats is usually remarkably stable. However, a disruption in this normal balance can occur at times, and is known as dysbiosis. 

The most common causes of dysbiosis include:

• Medications, particularly antibiotics
  Antibiotic use has been shown to reduce the species diversity in the microbiome, thereby decreasing the good gut microorganisms, which in turn leads to an increase in the bad. Another concerning factor is that the effects can persist for several weeks to months, even after the antibiotic course is complete.

• Illness
  Gut related illnesses e.g. allergies, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), have the potential to cause changes in the microbiome, and to favour the growth of families of bacteria that are associated with disease.
• Stressful events
  A stay at the kennels or the cattery, moving house, or a new pet at home can all be stressful events, which lead to dysbiosis and diarrhoea.
• Dietary indiscretion

  When your dog or cat ingests something they shouldn’t, such as table scraps or garbage, this can very easily lead to gut imbalances and an upset tummy as a result.

   

How can we restore the gut balance?

Bring out the probiotics of course! Probiotics are formulations of live microorganisms (generally bacteria) that have beneficial effects on the recipient when delivered in adequate amounts. Probiotics can:

• Benefit the pet by stimulating the growth of the ‘good’ resident bacteria, whilst maintaining protection against disease-causing microorganisms
• Help improve the intestinal barrier
• Increase the secretion of substances which help to prevent disease-causing bacteria from colonising the gut
• Produce substances that regulate the immune response and reduce inflammation

Supporting your pet’s digestive health with PAW

• PAW DigestiCare™ for Dogs and Cats

  Containing a highly palatable blend of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis), prebiotics, enzymes and fermented wholefood powder, PAW DigestiCare™ is designed to help promote everyday digestive health and general wellbeing in all dogs and cats by enhancing the gastrointestinal microbiome and improving stool quality.

• PAW DigestiCare™ SB
  PAW Digesticare™ SB contains 10 billion CFU of Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast that can be given in conjunction with antibiotics to reduce the duration & occurrence of antibiotic associated diarrhoea, and to help support digestive system health in dogs. It comes in an easy-to-use capsule format.