Introduction
The gut microbiome is all the microorganisms that live in the intestinal tract. These microbes play an important role in maintaining proper digestion and immune function. Most dogs affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have alterations in their gut microbiome, a condition known as dysbiosis. Current treatments for IBD aim to decrease inflammation within the gut, but do not address changes in the microbiome. Therefore, AKC Canine Health Foundation funded investigators studied the gut microbiome in dogs with IBD during and after standard treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (prednisone) and an elimination diet to see what can be learned about this important microbial population. Recently published results1 may allow us to support or replenish the microbiome to speed healing and improve treatment response for dogs with IBD.
Key Points
- Dogs with IBD show significant changes in their gut microbiome at diagnosis.
- Clinical signs improve within 8 weeks of treatment, but microbiome recovery takes up to a year.
- Gut function, measured by microbial metabolic products, also takes longer to normalize.
- Current treatments don’t directly address microbiome restoration.
- Future therapies may include probiotics or microbiome-supporting interventions.
Challenge Background
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs causes chronic gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. While treatments like immunosuppressive drugs and special diets help reduce inflammation and improve symptoms, they don’t fix the underlying imbalance in the gut microbiome—a condition known as dysbiosis. This imbalance can affect digestion, immune function, and overall health, making long-term recovery difficult.
Until now, most studies focused on short-term symptom relief, leaving a gap in understanding how long it takes for the gut microbiome to heal. This research aimed to fill that gap.
The Breakthrough
Researchers funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation studied fecal samples from dogs with IBD at four time points: before treatment, 3 weeks, 8 weeks, and one year after starting therapy. They compared these samples to those from healthy dogs to track changes in the microbiome and its metabolic activity.
The study found that although all dogs showed clinical improvement by 8 weeks, their gut microbiome was still significantly altered. It wasn’t until one year after treatment began that the microbiome resembled that of healthy dogs. Additionally, the chemical byproducts of microbial activity—important for gut function—remained impaired even after symptoms improved.
Impact & Next Steps
This research highlights the need for long-term follow-up in dogs with IBD, not just to monitor symptoms, but to assess microbiome recovery. It suggests that future treatments should include strategies to support or restore the gut microbiome, such as probiotics or other microbiome-targeted therapies.
Veterinarians may begin to consider microbiome health as part of IBD management, potentially improving outcomes and speeding recovery. Further studies are needed to explore these therapies and determine how best to support gut health during and after IBD treatment. Learn more about CHF-funded research on these important topics at www.akcchf.org/GIRPA.
1. Pilla, R.; Guard, B.; Blake, A.B.; Ackermann, M.; Webb, C.; Hill, S.; Lidbury, J.A.; Steiner, J.M.; Jergens, A.; Suchodolski, J. Long-term recovery of the fecal microbiome and metabolome of dogs with steroid-responsive enteropathy. Preprints 2021, 2021060493 (doi: 10.20944/preprints202106.0493.v1).
