BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM
A group of researchers from the University of Illinois have published a new study, which tested the turnover rate of gut microbiome in dogs during a diet change. Previously, scientists were only guessing on the timeframe during which less active bacteria can multiply and dominate overshadowing the current active bacteria and the gastrointestinal tract.
The metabolic byproducts of gut microbes is essential for the host’s health. When the population of microbes changes to different species, the chemical byproducts change as well potentially having an adverse effect on the health of the pet.
Microbial populations stabilize in a short period of time and begin making new byproducts as little as 2 days after a new diet is started. The entire populations of microbes can shift and stabilize in 6 days.
Dogs in the study were fed a dry kibble diet for two weeks and were then switched to a new 14-day diet without a transition period. Half of the dogs were switched to high- fat, high-protein canned diet and the other half were switched to a high-fiber kibble. Study researchers collected feces two days after the diet change and then every four days during the two weeks. The researchers then repeated the trial switching the groups of dogs to the opposite diet at the 14-day mark.
Microbial metabolites from each fecal sample were extracted and bacterial species in the samples were identified. The metabolites were then correlated with the bacterial species that were present. For both diets, the metabolite changes were detected on day two and changes in the bacterial community were identified by day six.
Scientists were also able to confirm previous research findings that high-fiber diets are more beneficial to overall health than high-fat, high-protein diets. It is possible that the gut microbiomes of other species may respond to diet change in a similar timeframe, but further research will be needed to confirm.
Researchers in the study suggest that it may be better to implement a diet change even more gradually than the seven-day period usually recommended. This will give the body more time to adjust to the new microbial population and help avoid loose stools and flatulence.
