Dog Health News

Recent scientific research has shed light on a fundamental canine behaviour that many dog owners might take for granted: chewing.

As responsible pet owners, ensuring the health and wellbeing of our dogs stands paramount amongst our duties. Whilst dogs have evolved alongside humans for millennia, their digestive systems and metabolic processes differ significantly from our own.

We often want to share our food with our dogs. While commercial dog food provides complete nutrition, there are many human foods that can be safely incorporated into your dog's diet as occasional treats or supplements.

The growing awareness of gut health's importance has led many pet owners to turn to supplements for their dogs. However, recent research suggests we need to be more thoughtful about our approach to canine gut health solutions. Rather than automatically reaching for probiotics, there may be better options available that work with your dog's natural digestive system.

Recent research has highlighted the crucial relationship between gut health and immune function in dogs. The gastrointestinal microbiome plays a fundamental role in supporting immune system development and regulation. Understanding how to maintain and optimise gut bacterial balance could provide valuable approaches for enhancing canine health and immunity.

For years, pet owners have turned to probiotic supplements as the go-to solution for their dogs' digestive health. However, recent research suggests that this approach might be overly simplistic. A recent study published in the Journal of Modern Agriculture and Biotechnology reveals that supporting your dog's existing gut bacteria through anabiomics, rather than introducing new strains, could be far more effective.

A study published in 2023 in Scientific Reports examined how metronidazole affects the gut microbiome of dogs. Researchers found that the antibiotic significantly reduced microbial diversity, which began recovering within a week after treatment.

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are among the most frequent health concerns encountered in canine medicine. These conditions affect the digestive system, encompassing everything from the oesophagus to the colon, and can manifest through various symptoms that significantly impact a dog's wellbeing.

In a recent study by Pereira et al. (2021), researchers investigated the impact of two different zinc sources—zinc sulphate and zinc proteinate—on the faecal microbiota of adult Beagle dogs. Additionally, the study examined whether the inclusion of a multi-enzymatic complex derived from Aspergillus niger fermentation affected the microbiota. This experiment was motivated by previous findings that organic zinc sources may be more bioavailable than inorganic ones, which could be further influenced by dietary constituents like phytates. However, little was known about how these zinc sources and enzyme additives interact with the gut microbiota of dogs.