Understanding the Microbiome and Digestion

 

The Pet Microbiome: What It Is and Why It Matters for Your Furry Friend's Health

When we think about keeping our pets healthy, we often focus on their diet, exercise, and regular vet visits. However, there’s an invisible yet crucial aspect of their health that deserves our attention: the microbiome. This collection of microorganisms living in your pet’s body plays a significant role in their overall well-being. In this blog, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of the pet microbiome, why it matters, and how you can support it for your furry friend’s optimal health.

What is the Microbiome?

The microbiome refers to the community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes that live in and on your pet's body. These microorganisms reside primarily in the gut but also exist on the skin, in the mouth, and other body parts. In the gut, they play essential roles in digestion, immune function, and even mood regulation.

The Importance of a Healthy Microbiome

A balanced microbiome is crucial for several reasons:

- Digestion: Microbes help break down food and absorb nutrients. They also assist in synthesizing certain vitamins and fatty acids.

- Immune Function: A healthy microbiome supports the immune system by training it to distinguish between harmful pathogens and harmless substances.

- Mental Health: Recent studies suggest a link between gut health and mood. A balanced microbiome may influence your pet's behavior and stress levels.

- Disease Prevention: An imbalance in the microbiome, known as dysbiosis, has been linked to various health issues, including allergies, gastrointestinal problems, and even autoimmune diseases.

The Basics of Pet Digestion

We can't talk about the microbiome without talking about digestion. Just like humans, pets rely on a well-functioning digestive system to break down food and absorb nutrients. The process begins in the mouth with chewing and saliva, continues through the esophagus to the stomach, and is further broken down in the intestines. Nutrients are absorbed primarily in the small intestine, while waste products are processed in the large intestine.

The Signs of Digestive Problems

Understanding what constitutes normal digestion can help you identify when something might be wrong. Look out for these signs that your pet might be experiencing digestive issues:

Vomiting: Occasional vomiting can be normal, but frequent or severe vomiting is a concern. Vomiting is an active process that involves forcefully ejecting contents from the stomach and upper intestine. Vomiting can happen at any time after eating, or even when a dog hasn't eaten.

Signs of vomiting include: 

- Abdominal heaving 
- Grunting 
- Nausea 
- Drooling 
- Apprehensive appearance 
- Stomach sounds 
- Bile, a yellow-tinged fluid 

Regurgitation: A passive process that involves ejecting contents from the mouth, pharynx, or esophagus. Regurgitation often happens right after eating or drinking, and the dog may try to eat the regurgitated food. Regurgitation is often associated with problems affecting the esophagus, such as ulcers, inflammation, foreign bodies, tumors, or megaesophagus. In these cases, ingested food may sit in a dilated area of the esophagus and not reach the stomach, and will be regurgitated later.

Signs of regurgitation include:

- Burping 
- Gagging 
- Coughing 
- Undigested food covered with mucus 
- The dog lowers its head and material comes out 
- The dog may appear to simply open its mouth and material will come out 
- The dog may clear its throat afterwards
Diarrhea: Loose stools can indicate an upset stomach, infections, or dietary issues. A dog's stool should be soft and have some shape, but still be firm enough to keep its form when picked up. It should also be easy to press into with a gloved finger and feel like Play-Doh. Ideally, a dog's stool should be log-shaped and segmented.

Constipation: Difficulty passing stool or infrequent bowel movements.

Loss of Appetite: A sudden drop in appetite can be a sign of digestive trouble.

Abdominal Pain: Symptoms like bloating, discomfort, or a distended belly.

If you notice any of these symptoms persisting, it’s important to consult with a veterinarian.

The Signs of Microbiome Imbalance

Recognizing signs of microbiome imbalance can help you address issues before they become serious. Look for these symptoms in your pet:

Digestive Issues: Diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting could indicate a disruption in the gut microbiome.

Skin Problems: Itchy skin, rashes, or infections might be related to an imbalance in the microbiome. The microbiome is an extension of the immune system that helps identify threats and benign substances like pollen, which is why dysregulation of the microbiome is associated with allergic response.

Behavioral Changes: Increased anxiety, aggression, or lethargy can sometimes be traced back to gut health issues.

Frequent Infections: A compromised immune system may lead to recurrent infections.

Factors Affecting the Microbiome and Digestion

Several factors can influence the health of your pet's microbiome and digestive system:

Dietary Considerations for Optimal Digestion

The right diet plays a pivotal role in maintaining digestive health. Here are some tips to ensure your pet’s diet supports their digestive system:

High-Quality Food: Choose pet food with high-quality ingredients and balanced nutrition. Look for options with easily digestible proteins and low fillers. Check out our blog on help picking the best food for your pet.

Fiber Content: Fiber aids in digestion and helps prevent constipation. Foods with appropriate fiber levels can promote healthy bowel movements.

Hydration: Ensure your pet has constant access to fresh water. Proper hydration is essential for digestive health.

Avoid Unnecessary Antibiotics: While necessary for treating infections, antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria. Only use antibiotics when prescribed by your vet. Overuse can disrupt the microbiome balance.

Beneficial Supplements and Probiotics

Supplements can support your pet’s digestive health:

Probiotics: These beneficial bacteria help maintain a healthy balance in the gut. Probiotic supplements can be especially useful during periods of digestive distress. Consider adding probiotic supplements to your pet’s diet. Probiotics can help replenish beneficial bacteria, especially after antibiotic use or digestive disturbances. Our favorite for a more diverse probiotic strain is Green Juju's Wild Fermented Mushroom Brine. You can learn more about it here.

Prebiotics: Prebiotic supplements can be especially useful after antibiotics to help feed the good bacteria in the guy while the antibiotics destroy both the good and bad bacteria. These non-digestible fibers feed the good bacteria in the gut. Foods rich in prebiotics, like pumpkin and sweet potatoes, can support gut health.

Digestive Enzymes: Certain enzymes are designed to work with your pet’s system to help break down the fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates in food, making the nutrients more bioavailable. Our favorite, inClover's Optagest, is a scientifically formulated, clinically tested to provide optimal GI support, settle upset tummies, increase the bioavailability of nutrients in food, and to support good digestion in your cat or dog!

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Obesity can strain your pet’s digestive system and lead to problems like diabetes and joint issues. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are key to maintaining a healthy weight. Monitor your pet’s body condition by using our scale located in the store and consult with your vet to determine the ideal weight for your pet.

Physical activity contributes to overall health, including a healthy microbiome. Ensure your pet gets regular exercise and mental stimulation.

Raw Feeding

We want to decrease carbohydrate-fermenting microbes and increase protein - and fiber-fermenting microbes. Those are the ones most closely associated with healthy dogs and cats. That means a diet high in meat, organ, and bone and rich in prebiotic fiber diversity.

Gut microbes thrive on minimally or non-processed foods, so look for raw or gently cooked diets. Again, avoid food additives, preservatives, and too many synthetic supplements. Real, foods provide the best variety of naturally occurring compounds and prebiotic fiber.

As scavengers, dogs are not meant to eat the same food every day; they thrive best on a diet full of variety. Adding more variety to your dog's diet not only improves their gut microbiome, but it provides your dog’s body with the widest range of nutrients. Raw food can promote a more balanced growth of healthy bacterial communities in a dog's gut, which can improve gut function and help the pet fight off disease. Raw food can also increase the diversity of healthy gut microflora.

Just as important as the ingredients is how the food is processed. Every processing step reduces the value of the ingredients to the point where heavily processed foods like extruded kibble lose much of their value. So many nutrients must then be replaced using synthetic vitamins. The more processed, the harder it is for the gut to use, and the less beneficial it will be for the microbes. Imagine putting your dog’s food under a microscope; ideally, you should clearly see cells.

Diet doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, though. If feeding a fully minimally processed fresh diet is impossible, just include what you can. Many studies have shown improvements from replacing just 25% of a processed diet with fresh foods.

Testing

Several helpful tests now exist for dogs and cats that allow us to see what and how many microbes are present in the gut and potential causes of your pet’s symptoms. Testing works by mailing a fresh stool sample to a laboratory where technicians carefully examine the microbial DNA in the sample, allowing them to get a snapshot of the inner workings of your dog or cat’s gut.

AnimalBiome has been at the forefront of the microbiome testing industry since Dr. Holly Ganz founded it in 2015. It offers accurate testing, a one-on-one consultation after every test, and solutions for balancing the gut, such as fecal transplants from healthy dogs and cats.

Conclusion

Keeping your pet’s microbiome in top shape is essential for their overall health and happiness. By providing a balanced diet, managing stress, and using probiotics wisely, you can help ensure that your furry friend’s microbiome remains healthy and balanced. A happy, well-balanced microbiome can lead to a happier, healthier pet.

Feel free to share this blog with fellow pet owners and let’s work together to keep our beloved animals feeling their best!

We hope this blog provides valuable insights into the importance of the pet microbiome and practical tips for maintaining it.

Local Paws

435 SW Evergreen Ave Redmond, OR

(541) 604-8990

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