Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Probiotics that help dogs with sudden diarrhea and boost immunity
By Muñoz-Flores, Carolina et al.·Published in Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins·2026·Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Canine Microencapsulated Probiotic Formulations Modulate Immunity and Improve Acute Diarrhea in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs suffering from acute diarrhea was treated with two specific probiotic strains derived from canine colostrum and milk. These probiotics helped improve the consistency of their stools without increasing how often they needed to go outside, unlike traditional antibiotics like metronidazole. The probiotics also appeared to support the dogs' immune systems and strengthen their intestinal barriers. Overall, the dogs showed positive results and no adverse effects from the treatment, making these probiotics a safe option for managing diarrhea.
People also search for: dog diarrhea treatment · probiotics for dogs · metronidazole alternatives for dogs
Abstract
Host-derived probiotic strains offer an effective alternative to antibiotics for improving animal gastrointestinal health. In this study, two probiotic strains-Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TUCO-16 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus TUCO-17-isolated initially from canine colostrum and milk, were scaled up and formulated with oligosaccharides into freeze-dried preparations. These formulations were evaluated in vitro using canine or human cell models to assess cytotoxicity, adhesion capacity, immune-related gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and paracellular permeability. The strains demonstrated high adhesion of up to 92% (p < 0.001), no cytotoxic effects, and induced significant (p < 0.0001) expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. They also stimulated the expression of mucins and tight junction proteins in epithelial cells up to increases of 414-fold and 21-fold (p < 0.0001), respectively. In addition, the formulations enhanced ROS production in macrophages (p < 0.0001) and maintained or reduced epithelial permeability (p < 0.0001). An in vivo trial in dogs with acute diarrhea confirmed the safety of the formulations. It showed improvement in stool consistency at the end of treatment without affecting frequency, contrasting with the effects of metronidazole. Overall, the results support using these host-specific probiotics as immunomodulatory agents that enhance intestinal barrier integrity and offer a safe, antibiotic-free alternative for managing acute diarrhea in dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40782189/