Canine behavioral disorders such as anxiety, aggression, and compulsive behaviors continue to pose major challenges for dog owners and veterinarians. In a July 2024 review published in Animals, researchers Paula Kiełbik and O. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz explore the mounting evidence linking these disorders to gut microbiota imbalances, commonly referred to as gut dysbiosis.
The authors provide an extensive overview of the gut–brain axis, the bidirectional communication pathway connecting the gastrointestinal system with the nervous system. This axis is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of behavior and emotional well-being in mammals. In dogs, disturbances in this axis—especially through gut inflammation, dysbiosis, and altered microbial metabolite production—can contribute to behavioral changes.
Particular focus is given to the role of microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the modulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, both of which are critical to behavior regulation. The review also highlights the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in response to gut dysbiosis, a process linked to increased stress responses in animals.
Notably, the authors discuss the emerging potential of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a therapeutic intervention. Drawing from comparative research in humans and rodent models, FMT involves transferring fecal material from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of an affected individual to restore microbial balance. Though still experimental in veterinary medicine, early evidence suggests FMT could offer behavioral improvements in dogs suffering from chronic disorders resistant to standard therapies.
This review underscores the urgent need for integrative treatment strategies in veterinary behavioral medicine—ones that consider the gut microbiome as a central component of canine emotional and cognitive health.
Source: Paula Kiełbik, O. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz. Animals, Volume 14, July 1, 2024.
