Microbiota and probiotics in canine and feline welfare

Abstract

Dogs and cats have been cohabiting with us for thousands of years. They are the major human companions. Today, dogs and cats live in urban areas. Cats and most dogs are on high carbohydrate diets and face similar life-style challenges as the human beings. The health and well-being of companion animals, just as their owners, depends on the gut microbes. Providing a proper care and nutritionally balanced diet to companion animals is recognised as a part of our responsibility to maintain the health and well being of our pet. However, as microbiota differences may facilitate exposure to pathogens and harmful environmental influences, it is prudent to search for novel tools to protect dogs and cats and at the same time the human owners from pathogens. Specific probiotic strains and/or their defined combinations may be useful in the canine and feline nutrition, therapy, and care. Probiotic supplementations have been successful in the prevention and treatment of acute gastroenteritis, treatment of IBD, and prevention of allergy in companion animals. New challenges for probiotic applications include maintenance of obesity and overweight, urogenital tract infections, Helicobacter gastritis and parasitic infections. The probiotics of human origin appear to be among the new promising tools for the maintenance of pets' health. However, the host-derived microorganisms might be the most appropriate probiotic source. Therefore, more controlled trials are needed to characterise new and safe probiotic preparations with an impact on general health and well being as well as health maintenance in dogs and cats.

The Gastrointestinal Microbiome: A Review

“…Proposed mechanisms through which probiotics improve host health include reducing intestinal permeability by upregulation of tight junction proteins, increasing mucin secretion by goblet cells, increasing secretion of defensins which prevent pathogen colonization, production of SCFAs, stimulation of IgA secretion, decreasing luminal pH, and enhancing and directing immune cells to promote tolerance to commensals while maintaining protection against pathogens . Even nonviable organisms might confer health benefits by adhering to the mucus layer and stimulating immune function in dogs . Capsular polysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis , for instance, activates T regs and decreases severity of colitis in mice .…”

Effect of Enterococcus faecium SF68 on serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in healthy dogs

“…) and gut microbiota composition (Grzeskowiak et al . ). If owners had more than one dog living in the same house they were instructed to feed the dogs separately.…”

“…, Grzeskowiak et al . ) and their potential effect depends on the bacteria species and strain, as reported in humans (Pompei et al . , LeBlanc et al .…”

“…, Grzeskowiak et al . ). Enterococcus faecium is considered a canine probiotic capable of surviving gastrointestinal passage and persisting in faeces after termination of administration (Marcinakova et al .…”

“…, Grzeskowiak et al . ), Enterococcus faecium administration could be capable of inducing variations on vitamins such as cobalamin or folate.…”