Gut Health
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5 min
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Here at Pooch & Mutt, we’ve made it one of our goals to equip all dog owners with everything they need to help get their dog fighting fit and healthy. And this includes venturing into their dog’s gut health and their gut microbiome.
But in the world of Gut Health Tests, Gut Health Reports and Gut Health Supplements, we know it can get a little science-y and can sometimes be a lot to wrap your head around! But when the penny does drop, you unlock the potential to really get to know your dog from the inside out, and find out what they need to achieve optimal health.
We’ve collated a Gut Health Glossary to help shed some light and assist you and your dog as they venture towards great gut health.
These tiny living organisms (microorganisms) are everywhere, including inside your dog's gut. Some bacteria are helpful and beneficial, while others are harmful and can cause disease.
This is a general term for any microscopic life form, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. Bacteria are the most commonly studied in the gut microbiome.
This is the actual collection of microorganisms living in a specific environment, such as the gut. This includes all bacteria, fungi, and other microbes present.
This refers to the entire genetic material of the microbiota. In other words, not just the bacteria and microorganisms, but also what they can do and their function. We often use this term because we care about what the microbiome does for your dog, not just the fact that it’s there. Many parts of your dog’s body can have a microbiome, including the eyes, ears, mouth and skin.
This refers to the overall function and condition of the digestive tract. It includes digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, stool quality, and the absence of inflammation or disease. In dogs, good gut health can mean regular bowel movements, a healthy appetite, steady energy levels, and a well-functioning immune system. Many factors influence it, including diet, stress, age, medication, and the microbiome. To get a true look at your dog's gut health, a Gut Health Test is the way to go!
The gut microbiome is the community of microorganisms (mostly bacteria, but also yeasts, viruses, and other microbes) living in the gastrointestinal tract. In dogs, their gut microbiome plays a critical role in digestion, producing vital nutrients like short-chain fatty acids, supporting immunity, protecting against pathogens, and communicating with the brain and other body systems. It’s a major contributor to gut health, but it’s not the same as gut health itself; it’s more like the engine room that helps power many of the functions that support it.
Dysbiosis is the term given to a microbiome that’s suffering from a lack of bacterial diversity and an overall imbalance. This can cause a lot of knock-on effects that, in dogs, manifest as detrimental symptoms ranging across the body.
This is the study of microorganisms, including those in the gut. It helps us understand what microbes are doing and how they influence your dog’s health.
This refers to what a dog eats, including ingredients, nutrients, and feeding habits. Nutrition is one of the biggest influencers of the gut microbiome.
This refers to the process of breaking down food into smaller parts so the body can absorb its nutrients. It starts in the mouth and continues into the stomach and then the intestines. Gut bacteria play a key role in the later stages of digestion, especially by helping break down fibre and producing beneficial compounds like SCFAs. Good digestion is closely linked to a healthy, balanced gut microbiome.
This refers to the measure of how many different microorganisms are present in the gut. Higher diversity is generally linked to better health, resilience and a good gut microbiome.
This refers to the number of different species found in the gut microbiome. More species often means better potential for healthy function and balance.
This refers to the relative proportions of major groups (phyla) of bacteria. In dogs, the balance between Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria is vital for digestion and immune health.
This refers to the ability of the gut microbiome to recover after disruption (e.g. antibiotics, illness, or diet change). A resilient microbiome is better at returning to balance and preventing disease.
This is a broad category in the classification of bacteria, like the equivalent of ‘mammals’ in the animal kingdom. It gives us a general idea of what type of bacteria we’re looking at, much like knowing that dogs belong to the class Mammalia.
This is a more specific group within a bacterial category. It’s similar to the genus Canis, which includes dogs, wolves, and coyotes. In bacteria, Lactobacillus is a genus that includes many related species.
This is the most specific level of classification. Just like Canis lupus familiaris refers to the domestic dog, Lactobacillus acidophilus refers to a particular species of bacteria within the Lactobacillus genus. Each species has distinct traits and functions.
This is a microorganism that can cause disease. Some may be naturally present in low levels in the gut but become harmful if they overgrow, or if the dog’s stressed or unwell.
This is a type of fibre or compound that feeds the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics help those microbes grow and do their job by acting as their food. Natural examples include inulin, chicory root, or particular fruit and vegetable fibres.
These are live microorganisms (usually bacteria) that, when given in the right amounts, can have health benefits, like supporting digestion or boosting the immune system. These are the helpful microbes themselves. Common probiotic strains include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
These are beneficial compounds that gut microbes make when they digest food (especially prebiotics). These include short-chain fatty acids, which support the gut lining, immune system, and reduce inflammation. They’re the useful products made by microbes, not microbes themselves.
This is a combination of prebiotics and probiotics given together to support gut health. The prebiotic feeds the probiotic, helping it survive and thrive in the gut. Synbiotics aim to create a more effective and lasting impact on the microbiome.
These are substances made during digestion and other bodily processes, including by gut bacteria. The microbiome consists of vitamins, gases, or acids, especially those that affect health, like anti-inflammatory compounds or toxins. Depending on the balance of the microbiome, some are beneficial, and some are not.
Acids, alcohols and sugars are beneficial compounds that are produced by, or are by-products of, the bacteria within the gut microbiome. These compounds can be used by other bodily processes to support their function and strength. The alcohol produced isn’t the normal alcohol we know, but just a by-product of fermentation that occurs within the gut during digestion.
This is a type of beneficial compound made when gut bacteria break down fibre. SCFAs (like acetate, propionate, and butyrate) are vital for gut health. They help feed the gut lining cells, reduce inflammation, and support the immune system. They’re one of the main ways that the microbiome keeps the body healthy.
This is the chemical process in the body (and the microbiome) that keeps an animal alive. These processes include turning food into energy, building or breaking down compounds, and removing waste. Gut bacteria have their own metabolism that significantly affects how nutrients, medicine, and even hormones are processed.
These are things outside the dog’s body, such as diet, medications, stress, lifestyle, and surroundings, that influence the microbiome.
These are things found inside your dog that affect the microbiome, including age, genetics, immune function, and overall health.
This refers to what your dog is. In scientific terms, your dog is of the species Canis lupus familiaris.
This is a segment of DNA that carries the instructions for making proteins or molecules with specific functions. Genes are the blueprint of life, and by studying microbial genes, we can learn what bacteria can do inside the gut.
This is the process of determining the exact order of the building blocks (nucleotides) in a DNA or RNA molecule. Sequencing allows us to identify which microbes are present and what genetic potential they hold.
If you're looking to take the first step towards optimal health and wellbeing for your dog, then look no further than a Gut Health Test! Giving you an insight into their microbial diversity, their gut health and how it's impacting the rest of their body, a Gut Health Test for your dog tells you exactly what their body needs to live their best life. Explore Gut Health at Pooch and Mutt, and if you have any questions, please reach out to our expert team.
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