Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Synbiotics help reduce antibiotic diarrhea in dogs by improving gut
By Shen, Haoyi et al.·Published in Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins·2025·Animal Science and Technology College, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Synbiotic Supplementation Mitigates Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea by Enhancing Gut Microbiota Composition and Intestinal Barrier Function in a Canine Model.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Beagle dogs developed diarrhea after being treated with antibiotics, which is a common issue known as antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). To help, some of the dogs were given a synbiotic supplement containing beneficial bacteria and other ingredients. This treatment significantly reduced the severity of their diarrhea and improved their gut health by enhancing the balance of gut bacteria and strengthening the intestinal barrier. The dogs that received the synbiotics showed fewer signs of inflammation and better overall gut function.
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Abstract
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) remains a significant clinical challenge, with current treatments often inadequate for fully restoring gut health. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of synbiotics, including chitosan oligosaccharides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium butyricum, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, in mitigating AAD in a canine model. Sixteen Beagle dogs were randomly assigned to an AAD model group or a synbiotic treatment group. Synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced diarrhea severity, improved intestinal morphology, and enhanced gut microbiota diversity. Furthermore, synbiotics upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1), thereby reducing mucosal permeability. A significant decrease in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) further underscored the anti-inflammatory effects of the treatment. These findings suggest that synbiotics may offer a promising approach to restoring gut barrier integrity and modulating immune responses in cases of AAD. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term impacts and underlying mechanisms of synbiotics in gut health restoration.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40423877/