Edited by Dr Primrose Moss MA VetMB MRCVS

Your dog’s gut is responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients from their food. Right?

This isn’t wrong, but it’s far from the full story. We now understand more about the gut’s powerful and complex role than ever before. While gut health is crucial for easy-to-pick-up poo, that’s far from its only role.

Linked to everything from skin disease and autoimmune conditions to cognitive function, your dog’s gut health is a lot more important than we once thought.

In this article we’ll discuss what it actually is, how to assess your dog’s gut health and the best ways to improve it.

What Is Gut Health?

A healthy gut is generally described as one with a healthy microbiome and minimal signs of any digestive upset.

But what is your dog’s gut microbiome?

A microbiome is a community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, that live together in a certain location. From the skin to the gut, these communities are essential to our pets’ health. For example, bacteria in the gut help to break down some food molecules the gut itself can’t. This nourishes the lining of the gut with extra nutrients.

A diverse, stable microbiome can help to protect the gut from ‘bad bacteria’. It can reduce digestive upsets and may even support brain health through the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin.

On the other hand, an unbalanced gut microbiome, also known as ‘dysbiosis’ can contribute to digestive issues and general poor health. There’s growing evidence linking poor gut health to problems in a wide range of other body systems.

Signs of Good – and Poor – Gut Health

There’s not yet any specific test that can be done for dysbiosis, but there are some things you can look out for. These can help you assess your dog’s gut health.

Signs of good gut health in dogs:

• Regular bowel movements – a healthy dog should typically poo one to three times a day.
• Firm, but not hard, faeces – easy-to-scoop poop isn’t only convenient, it’s also a sign of gut health.
• Upset stomachs are rare
• A healthy coat
• Good energy levels
• No anal gland issues

Signs of poor gut health may include:

• Excessive flatulence
• Increased stomach gurgling (borborygmi)
• Poorly formed stools, or just-formed stools that are difficult to pick up.
• Irregular toileting
• Frequent upset stomachs
• Poor coat condition
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss

Remember, there are many conditions that can affect your dog’s energy levels, coat, appetite or anal glands, for example. These lists are a general guide to some of the changes that may be linked to gut health.

A wide range of health conditions can affect your dog’s gut. These range from parasites to Inflammatory Bowel Disease and hormonal conditions. If you notice signs of poor gut health, it’s best to see your vet. Do this sooner rather than later to rule out any underlying health issues.

If your vet has given your dog the all-clear but their stomach still isn’t as settled as it should be, it’s worth considering their gut health.

And if your dog’s digestion seems perfect? It’s never a bad idea to support their gut health and aim to keep it that way.

What Can You Do to Improve Your Dog’s Gut Health?

Feed a good diet

It may be boring, but it’s true. One of the best ways to support your dog’s gut health is to make sure they’re fed a complete diet. This should provide all the basic nutrients they need and prevent deficiencies.

Home prepared diets can be tempting. They can be packed with healthy veggies and organs. However, it can be incredibly difficult to provide the right balance of every micronutrient your dog needs. If you’re keen to try cooking for your dog, we recommend consulting a qualified veterinary nutritionist.

An easier and effective way to support your dog is to feed a complete, balanced diet and add in extra nutrients to boost their health. These can range from pumpkin puree for some extra fiber to tailored prebiotics to support their good gut bacteria.

What about raw diets?

We asked Dr Primrose Moss, MRCVS, for her thoughts: “As a vet, I see more and more pets being fed a raw diet – and some of them are in great shape. However, I also see raw-fed pets with fractured teeth and severe gastroenteritis.”

“Studies have shown that even commercial raw diets carry a significantly higher risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria including E. coli and Salmonella. They also carry parasites that can cause real problems for pets.”

But that doesn’t mean you should give up on finding the right diet for your dog’s gut.

Dr Moss adds, “your dog’s unique, and it might take a while to find the right food for their gut. Sometimes a diet formulated for sensitive stomachs might help. A dog will do best on a fresh, wet diet although occasionally a specific brand of kibble seems to suit them best.”

Add some variety to their diet

Table scraps and tidbits aren’t what you first think of when someone mentions gut health – but perhaps they should be. A recent study showed that feeding young dogs some table scraps and leftovers was associated with a reduced risk of chronic gut problems when older.¹

However, it’s important to take this one study with a pinch of salt. Feeding your dog leftover lasagne is more likely to cause pancreatitis and weight gain than protect them from future disease.

Focus on adding in small amounts of nutritious, dog-safe foods, including vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Remember to keep track of their weight to ensure they’re not getting too much. These extras should make up less than 10 percent of their daily food intake. This ensures they still get the right levels of the core nutrients they need.

Balancing their fibre intake

We all know fibre is crucial for gut health – but do you know what fibre your dog needs?

There are two main types of fibre: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fibres dissolve in water and are often referred to as ‘prebiotics’ because they feed the good bacteria in your dog’s gut. They’re essential for gut health but are often fermentable. This means too much soluble fibre can contribute to excessive flatulence – which definitely isn’t the goal.

Insoluble fibre isn’t digested and helps to bulk out your dog’s stools, promoting good gut motility.

Getting the balance of fibre right in your dog’s diet can minimise digestive issues. This includes unpleasant anal gland problems and supports their good bacteria.

Fibre-rich foods like broccoli, pumpkin and green beans can help – but not every dog will find them tasty. It can be hard to get the right balance of soluble and insoluble fibres. A carefully formulated supplement can be a tasty option. This helps your dog get the right dose of daily fibre and support their gut microbiome.

Regular exercise

This one’s simple. As with most aspects of health, regular exercise is key to support your dog’s gut.

From encouraging regular bowel movements and increasing blood flow to the gut, to promoting the growth of good gut microbes, your dog’s daily walk is doing more than just stretching their legs.

Supporting their microbiome

Last, but certainly not least, there’s growing evidence for the importance of directly supporting dogs’ microbiomes with prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.

Probiotics are the good bacteria themselves. However, prebiotics and postbiotics, which support the microbiome, can also play a significant role in supporting healthy gut function. Prebiotics are compounds that feed the good bacteria while postbiotics are the nutrients produced when pre and probiotics are digested.

Small amounts of foods like Greek yogurt can help to support your dog’s microbiome but can also be difficult to digest. They can potentially cause diarrhoea.

Digestive supplements for dogs containing prebiotics such as yucca, inulin and mannan oligosaccharides may be better tolerated. These have been shown to support digestive health. Adding these into your dog’s diet can be challenging, which is why we include them for all dogs who need some gut support from our tailored treats. 

The Bottom Line

Dogs’ microbiomes play a bigger role in their overall health than we once realised. The evidence linking them to everything from their anal glands to their energy levels continues to grow.

Supporting your dog’s gut health doesn’t have to be hard. From getting in their daily walk to feeding their good bacteria with effective prebiotics, simple steps can help you support your dog’s gut – and their overall health.

References

1. Vuori KA, Hemida M, Moore R, et al. The effect of puppyhood and adolescent diet on the incidence of chronic enteropathy in dogs later in life. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):1830. Published 2023 Feb 9. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-27866-z

General sources:

Davies RH, Lawes JR, Wales AD. Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. J Small Anim Pract. 2019;60(6):329-339. doi:10.1111/jsap.13000

Pilla R, Suchodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Front Vet Sci. 2020;6:498. Published 2020 Jan 14. doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00498

Gernone F, Uva A, Silvestrino M, Cavalera MA, Zatelli A. Role of Gut Microbiota through Gut-Brain Axis in Epileptogenesis: A Systematic Review of Human and Veterinary Medicine. Biology (Basel). 2022;11(9):1290. Published 2022 Aug 30. doi:10.3390/biology11091290