Just as in humans, cats and dogs possess a gut microbiome in their intestines made up of tiny microbes including bacteria, which aid in their digestion and maintain a healthy environment in the gastrointestinal tract. This gut microbiome is influenced by many factors such as age, diet, health status, and use of antimicrobials.¹⁻⁴

 

Chronic enteropathy (CE) in cats and dogs is a complex, non-specific gastrointestinal disorder characterized by clinical signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss.⁵ While the underlying causes to this condition are still not well understood, studies have shown that an imbalance in the gut microbiome that often drives chronic inflammation, also known as gut dysbiosis, is a common factor present in CE for both cats and dogs.⁶⁻⁹ Current treatments such as immunosuppressive drugs, probiotics and antimicrobials are based on few well-designed studies, with inconclusive evidence on their efficacy.⁵'¹²