Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Western diet effects on gut health and inflammation in healthy dogs
By Mason, Brandon et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of a Western Diet on Colonic Dysbiosis, Bile Acid Dysmetabolism and Intestinal Inflammation in Clinically Healthy Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Ten healthy adult dogs were fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate Western-style diet for a month to see how it affected their gut health. The dogs showed signs of increased inflammation and changes in their gut bacteria compared to when they were fed a high-fiber, low-fat diet. Specifically, the Western diet led to higher levels of inflammatory markers and altered bile acids in their feces. This suggests that even without obesity, a Western diet can negatively impact gut health in dogs.
People also search for: dog diet inflammation · healthy dog gut bacteria · effects of Western diet on dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Consumption of a high-fat, high-carbohydrate Western-style diet (WD) associated with obesity and inflammation in humans has not been investigated in dogs. AIMS: To determine the effects of WD on inflammatory indices, microbiome, and fecal bile acids (BAs) in dogs. ANIMALS: Ten adult clinically healthy dogs. METHODS: A dietary trial compared the effects of two home-prepared diets: a high-fiber, low-fat control diet (CD) to a diet containing the macronutrient composition of WD (low-fiber, high fat). Dietary treatments were given sequentially for three feeding periods, each lasting 1 month. Outcome measures included molecular/microbiologic testing of colonic biopsies, histopathology, inflammatory biomarkers, and quantification of fecal BA following each feeding period. RESULTS: Cell markers of apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells: CD1, 0.36% ± 0.2%; WD, 0.79% ± 0.5%; CD2, 0.42% ± 0.3%; 95% CI) and inflammation (NF-ĸB area: CD1, 8.09% ± 3.3%; WD, 11.58% ± 3.4%; CD2 7.25% ± 3.8%; 95% CI), as well as serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CD1, 2.0 ± 0.4 ng/mL; WD, 2.76 ± 0.23 ng/mL; CD2, 2.29 ± 0.25 ng/mL; 95% CI), were increased (p < 0.05) in dogs fed WD versus CD. Other perturbations seen with WD ingestion included altered (p < 0.05) colonic mucosal bacteria (bacterial counts: CD1, 301.5 ± 188.5; WD, 769.8 ± 431.9; CD2, 542.1 ± 273.9; 95% CI) and increased (p < 0.05) fecal cholic acid (median and interquartile range/IQR: CD1, 9505 [2384-33 788] peak heights; WD, 34 131 [10 113-175 909] peak heights) and serum myeloperoxidase (CD1, 46.98 ± 16.6 ng/mL; WD, 82.93 ± 33.6 ng/mL; CD2, 63.52 ± 29.5 ng/mL; 95% CI). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: WD fed to clinically healthy dogs promotes colonic dysbiosis, altered fecal BA, and low-grade inflammation independent of obesity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40110597/