Microbiome and Gastrointestinal Biome: Digestive disorders in dogs and cats

Microbiome what is that?

Dogs and cats have a large collection of bacteria, fungi, yeasts and other single-celled organisms in their digestive tract. This motley collection of cells including the good and less desirable bacteria is also known as microbiome. Every gut contains both good and harmful bacteria that together thus belong to the microbiome. The microbiome contributes to the animal's overall health and, of course, to digestion in the gut. In fact, most of the microbiome is located in the large intestine. All dogs and cats have their own unique microbiome.

Are there always desirable and harmful bacteria in the intestines?

In all intestines, then, there are both desirable good bacteria and less desirable harmful bacteria. Normally, there will naturally be more good than harmful bacteria present and a healthy microbiome. With a healthy microbiome, the gut will therefore perform optimally. Unfortunately, due to many different causes, the balance between desired and undesired bacteria can become disturbed. The microbiome, together with the immune system, will then work hard to try to restore this imbalance between the various bacteria. If this does not succeed or fails completely, the dog or cat will show mild symptoms or become really ill. This may then result in diarrhoea, for example, which you as owner will notice.

Shift in the microbiome, disturbs the functioning of the intestines.

A disturbed microbiome can therefore cause various complaints or diseases depending on the shift in bacteria present. This is because the harmful bacteria do not contribute as well to the tasks for which the gut needs bacteria. And the digestive tract definitely needs the right bacteria for proper digestion and intestinal function. For example, bacteria are needed in breaking down fibre, which is in the feed. The fibres need to be broken down before the nutrients present can be absorbed by the intestinal cells. In addition, the intestinal bacteria present have other important tasks. For instance, they protect the cells that form the intestinal wall and ensure that there is a nice protective mucus layer over the wall for optimal function. They also contribute to the movements of the intestine, called intestinal peristalsis, necessary to transport the contents through the intestine. In short, gut bacteria have many different tasks which means that a disruption can lead to minor or major problems.

Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome for a healthy microbiome

If your pet's microbiome is easily disturbed, or disrupted then it may help to adjust the diet. There is now a special food from Hill's Prescription Diet for both dogs and cats, which supports the microbiome to maintain the right healthy balance of all bacteria. Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome contains a combination of active fibre ingredients shown in a clinical trial to activate and support the gut microbiome. By supporting the microbiome, it actively helps to support healthy digestion and Hill's Gastrointestinal Biome food thus contributes to your pet's improved well-being. Often the first choice is a gastrointestinal food that is easily digestible and full of energy so that the daily amount of nutrients is already provided with a minimum amount of food eaten. However, if this food proves to contribute insufficiently to improving the intestinal function, Hill's Biome can be used to actively support the bacteria present to regain a healthy balance of the microbiome.

When in doubt, your vet can support in the right choice of a suitable food.

-This is an automated translation-