Benedetta Belà

Probiotic effects in dogs may depend not only on the bacterial strain but also on host-related characteristics. Differences in body size are associated with distinct gastrointestinal and microbial features that may influence responses to nutritional interventions. This study evaluated the effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 32203 in healthy small-breed dogs and investigated whether responses differed between Chihuahua and Dachshund dogs with different body weights. Healthy adult dogs were supplemented daily with L. reuteri DSM 32203, and body weight, body condition score, fecal score, fecal moisture, total lactobacilli, and total coliforms were evaluated throughout the study. Supplementation improved fecal quality, with increased consistency and reduced moisture, and fecal scores reaching or approaching the optimal value. An increase in total lactobacilli and a reduction in total coliforms was also observed. These findings are consistent with previous observations obtained with the same strain in other canine breeds. However, the magnitude of the reduction in total coliforms differed from that observed in our previous studies in larger breeds. Because breed, body size, and diet were not independently controlled, these cross-study differences cannot be directly attributed to body size alone. Although body size cannot be established as a direct causal factor due to potential confounding factors such as dietary differences, these findings provide preliminary evidence that host phenotypes may contribute to probiotic responsiveness.

Probiotic effects in dogs may depend not only on the bacterial strain but also on host-related characteristics. Differences in body size are associated with distinct gastrointestinal and microbial features that may influence responses to nutritional interventions. This study evaluated the effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 32203 in healthy small-breed dogs and investigated whether responses differed between Chihuahua and Dachshund dogs with different body weights. Healthy adult dogs were supplemented daily with L. reuteri DSM 32203, and body weight, body condition score, fecal score, fecal moisture, total lactobacilli, and total coliforms were evaluated throughout the study. Supplementation improved fecal quality, with increased consistency and reduced moisture, and fecal scores reaching or approaching the optimal value. An increase in total lactobacilli and a reduction in total coliforms was also observed. These findings are consistent with previous observations obtained with the same strain in other canine breeds. However, the greater reduction in total coliforms compared with our previous studies in larger breeds may suggest that the response to a defined probiotic strain varies among canine phenotypes. Although body size cannot be established as a direct causal factor, these findings provide preliminary evidence that host characteristics may contribute to probiotic responsiveness.

The importance of lipid molecules present at the level of cell membranes is already well known. They can act as secondary messengers, participating in signal transduction processes that regulate various organ functions; furthermore, their nature significantly influences cellular properties and functions. Recent studies have seen how the lipid composition of cell membranes is connected to the animal lifespan and the onset of several pathological conditions. While numerous studies have been conducted aimed at characterizing the membrane lipidomic profile in the human field, in the animal field, especially in pets, the number of studies is very limited. In recent years, preliminary analyses have been conducted to provide initial information on the composition of membrane fatty acids in healthy pets and those with chronic enteropathy. The results of these studies are very interesting as they highlight differences in fatty acid composition between the two groups of animals. Obviously, a greater number of works is needed to obtain more reliable results and to analyze how the membrane lipid composition can vary in different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats in an attempt to understand the mechanisms underlying it. The present review is divided into three main parts: the first one examines the close influence of fatty acids on membrane properties/functions, the second one presents the main lipidomic analyses conducted so far on companion animals, and the third and final part summarizes the latest works on the link between membrane lipid profiles and animal lifespans, also focusing on dietary and non-dietary strategies able to influence it. Membrane lipidomics allows us to obtain a concrete overview of an animal’s metabolism and nutrition; furthermore, lipid alterations could be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pathologies. This represents an innovative tool in the veterinary field to monitor the metabolic/health status of animals.

The importance of lipid molecules present at the level of cell membranes is already well known. They can act as second messengers participating in signal transduction processes regulating various organ functions; furthermore, their nature significantly influences cellular properties and functions. Recent studies have seen how the lipid composition of cell membranes is connected to the animal lifespan and the onset of several pathological conditions. While in the human field numerous studies have been conducted aimed at characterizing the membrane lipidomic profile, in the animal field, especially in pets, the number of studies is very limited. In recent years, preliminary analyses have been conducted to provide an initial information on the composition of membrane fatty acids in healthy pets and those with chronic enteropathy. The results of these studies are very interesting as they highlight differences in fatty acid composition between the two groups of animals. Obviously, a greater number of works is needed to obtain more reliable results and to analyze how the membrane lipid composition can vary in different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats trying to understand the mechanisms underlying it. The present review is divided into three main parts: the first one examines the close influence of fatty acids on membrane properties/functions, the second one presents the main lipidomic analyses conducted so far on companion animals and the third and final part summarizes the latest works on the link between membrane lipid profile and animal lifespan, also focusing on dietary and non-dietary strategies able to influence it. Membrane lipidomics allows to obtain a concrete overview of animal metabolism and nutrition, furthermore lipid alterations could be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pathologies; this represents an innovative tool in the veterinary field to monitor the metabolic/health status of animals.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in dogs’ health, influencing immune function, digestion, and protection against pathogens. This study evaluates the effects of three canine dietary supplements—Microbiotal (prebiotic), Lactobacillus reuteri (probiotic), and a combination of both—on the gut microbiota composition of a healthy canine donor using an in vitro colonic fermentation model. The SCIME™ platform, adapted to simulate the canine gastrointestinal tract, was used to monitor microbial shifts in the luminal and mucosal environments of the proximal and distal colon over a 2-week treatment period. The microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess changes at various taxonomic levels. Alpha- and beta-diversity indices were calculated, while LEfSe and treeclimbR were employed to identify taxa-driving microbial shifts. Results indicated that all treatments led to significant modulations in key microbial groups, with enrichment of Limosilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium. These changes suggest improved saccharolytic fermentation and butyrate production, particularly when prebiotics and probiotics were co-administered. This study highlights the promising benefits of combined prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in promoting gut health and microbial diversity, providing a basis for future studies targeting the metabolic activity of the gut microbiota using the same supplements and technology.

In recent years, the interest in the well-being of companion animals has grown more and more. After discovering the central role of the intestinal microbiota, various nutritional strategies (prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics) have been evaluated to modulate its composition. However, to date, there are still few studies that analyze the effects of a specific probiotic and even fewer are the studies that evaluate how this strain can have different effects depending on the breed and size of the animal. In this study was investigated the effect of a specific probiotic strain, Limosilactobacillus reuteri NBF 1 DSM 32203, on the fecal parameters and intestinal microbiota of healthy small-sized adult dogs, specifically Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. The results obtained have highlighted how this probiotic is able to improve fecal parameters, reducing fecal humidity with the formation of more compact feces, significantly improving the fecal score. Furthermore, L. reuteri NBF 1 DSM 32203 is able to modulate the microbiota of Chihuahuas and Dachshunds by increasing the number of beneficial bacterial species such as lactobacilli and decreasing that of potentially pathogenic ones such as coliforms.

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.

Dog sledding is the main discipline of working dogs on snow, consisting of a team of dogs pulling a sled under the guidance of the owner. To carry out this sport, dogs must have adequate nutrition and vitamin and antioxidant supplementation to ensure that the physical effort is optimal. The present study evaluated the effect that sporting activity and stress have on the canine intestinal microbiota by dividing the dogs into two groups: a control group that did not take any nutraceutical products and the treated group to which a nutraceutical product was administered. The nutraceutical administered in this study is used in all cases of canine intestinal dysbiosis in which it is essential to quickly restore a balanced intestinal microbiota. The results obtained show that in dogs not taking the nutraceutical, there is an increase in bacteria, such as Streptococcus spp. and E. coli, considered enteropathogenic to the detriment of beneficial bacterial species such as Faecalibacterium spp., Turicibacter spp., Blautia spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Clostridium hiranonis. Instead, the group of dogs treated with nutraceutical displays a lower amount of enteropathogenic bacteria and a great increase in the other bacterial species considered beneficial for the animal’s health. The results obtained in the present study show that Microbiotal cane^® can be used in dogs subject to intense sporting activity by preventing severe alterations at intestinal ecosystem levels by maintaining intestinal bacterial composition as balanced as possible.

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. Literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical signs changes or symptom modifications. 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with almost a complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.

The management of gastrointestinal disease in animals represents a significant challenge in veterinary and zootechnic practice. Traditionally, acute symptoms have been treated with antibiotics and high doses of zinc oxide (ZnO). However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential for microbial resistance and ecological detriment due to the excessive application of this compound. These concerns highlight the urgency of minimizing the use of ZnO and exploring sustainable nutritional solutions. Hydrolysable tannins (HTs), which are known for their role in traditional medicine for acute gastrointestinal issues, have emerged as a promising alternative. This study examined the combined effect of food-grade HTs and subtherapeutic ZnO concentration on relevant biological functions of Caco-2 cells, a widely used model of the intestinal epithelial barrier. We found that, when used together, ZnO and HTs (ZnO/HTs) enhanced tissue repair and improved epithelial barrier function, normalizing the expression and functional organization of tight junction proteins. Finally, the ZnO/HTs combination strengthened enterocytes’ defense against oxidative stress induced by inflammation stimuli. In conclusion, combining ZnO and HTs may offer a suitable and practical approach for decreasing ZnO levels in veterinary nutritional applications.