The Effects of Nutrition on the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Cats and Dogs:
Impact on Health and Disease A new paper published by a team of researchers from the USA reviewed the links between nutrition, functional changes in the microbiome and overall pet health and disease. The microbioome are the micro-organisms such as bacteria that live in singer with the most animal in the GI tract The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome of cats and dogs is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ inextricably linked to pet health as it is in humans. Food serves as a substrate for the GI microbiome of cats and dogs and plays a significant role in defining the composition and metabolism of the GI microbiome. The microbiome, in turn, facilitates the host’s nutrient digestion and the production of postbiotics, which are bacterially derived compounds that can influence pet health. Consequently, pet owners have a role in shaping the microbiome of cats and dogs through the food they choose to provide. Yet, a clear understanding of the impact these food choices
