The microbiome is one of those topics that can be studied in so many ways and in so many organisms – the questions we ask about the human microbiome can be asked about the microbiome of other organisms. What microbes are there and what do they do? How does diet affect the microbiome? How does the microbiome change? Etc. Today, we say hello to the dog microbiome.
Changing Your Dog’s Food Means Changing Your Dog’s Microbiome in A Week’s Time
If you change your dog’s diet, you’re warned to do so over the course of a week. Otherwise, your pup could encounter symptoms like diarrhea and gas. So what’s happening inside the dog’s gastrointestinal tract after a change in food? A shift in the microbes present, the things they do, and the metabolites they produce.
A study from the University of Illinois gave 12 adult beagles a plain kibble diet for two weeks. Then some dogs were fed a protein-rich canned food while others were fed the same kibble with a fiber supplement for two weeks. Throughout the month, the researchers collected and analyzed fecal samples.
They found that changes to the microbiome took place rapidly and a new microbiome stabilizes in less than a week. The speed that the microbiome shifts and stabilizes after a diet shift is something that hasn’t been clear until now.
Dogs and Humans Have Similar Microbiomes
It’s commonly estimated that we have 84% genetic similarity with dogs, but our microbiome also has a lot in common with the dog microbiome.
A research study investigated the genes expressed from the microbiome of humans, dogs, pigs, and mice and found that the dog microbiome more closely resembles the human microbiome than the other organisms used to model the human microbiome (ex: pigs and mice). Changes in protein or carbohydrate levels in the dog’s diet had similar effects on their microbiome as these changes do on the human microbiome.
While mice are often used in nutrition studies, it seems like there’s a lot we can learn about the human microbiome based on how dogs adapt to dietary changes.
Different Dog Breeds Have Distinguishable Microbiomes
Since the data from the above study was publicly available, another group of researchers were able to use the data to determine the microbiome difference between dog breeds. The study analyzed stool samples from 32 Labrador retrievers and 32 beagles who were fed the same diet.
The team identified nine bacterial species that were different in abundance in beagles and labradors. Beagles have an increase in species associated with gastroenteritis in dogs, while labradors have an increase in species associated with plant-rich diets, active lifestyles, alleviating obesity and metabolic dysfunction, and serotonin metabolism. However, this study did not take into account any difference in the dogs’ age, sex, or weight.
An earlier study in 2019 also found that a dog’s breed impacts the composition of their microbiome.
Other Studies on the Dog Microbiome
Looking for more dog microbiome tails tales? Check out some of the studies linked below.
- Microbiome and behavior
- Dog Microbiomes and Human Microbiomes
- Diet and the Microbiome
