Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How gut bacteria and bile acids develop in healthy puppies
By Blake, Amanda B et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Gastrointestinal Laboratory - Texas A&M University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Developmental stages in microbiota, bile acids, and clostridial species in healthy puppies.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy puppies under 6 weeks old showed changes in their gut bacteria and bile acids compared to adult dogs. Specifically, these young puppies had higher levels of a harmful bacteria called C. difficile and lower levels of beneficial bile acids. As the puppies aged past 5 to 6 weeks, their bile acid levels increased, which may help reduce the harmful bacteria. This study suggests that as puppies grow, their gut health improves, which is important for their overall well-being.
People also search for: puppy gut health · C. difficile in puppies · healthy puppy diet · puppy digestive issues · how to improve puppy gut bacteria
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The fecal microbiota, fecal bile acid concentrations, and abundance of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile are altered in acute and chronic gastrointestinal disease in adult dogs. However, less is known in young puppies. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine composition of the fecal microbiota, assess development of fecal bile acid profiles, and determine the abundance of Clostridial species in puppies, young adult dogs, and adult dogs. ANIMALS: Healthy puppies from a whelping kennel (n = 53) and healthy client-owned dogs <1 year old (n = 20) were separated into 6 age groups, then compared to client-owned dogs over 1 year of age (n = 13). METHODS: Prospective observational study. Naturally voided fecal samples were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure bacterial abundances. Fecal bile acids were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Puppies up to 5 to 6 weeks of age had increased Dysbiosis Index (median [min-max]: 5.39 [1.32-8.6], P < .001), increased abundance of C. difficile (4.1 [0.01-4.85] log DNA, P < .001), decreased secondary bile acid concentrations (0.61 [0.28-5.06] μg/mg, P = .006), and decreased abundance of C. hiranonis (0.84 [0.01-6.71], P = .005) compared to adult dogs (-4.62 [-8.36 to -0.61], 0.01 [0.01-0.01], 4.12 [0.32-8.94], and 6.02 [5.06-7.00], respectively). Secondary bile acid concentration positively correlated with C. hiranonis abundance (ρ = 0.77; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The increase in secondary bile acids and simultaneous decrease of C. difficile and C. perfringens after 5 to 6 weeks of age warrants further investigation into regulatory impacts that secondary bile acids could have on clostridial species in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33047396/