Bacterial diversity is considered a marker for assessing the gut health of our dogs. The microbiome, bacteria, and other microbes in the gut are complex and not yet fully understood, and it can be complex to say exactly what constitutes a healthy microbiome. But the researchers do agree on one thing: A diverse microbiome generally leads to healthier bodies.
Having a large number of different microbes allows your dog’s gut to process and produce essential nutrients and is able to fight off different types of diseases. If one microorganism is unable to perform its function, another microorganism can step in. It’s like teamwork on a micro scale!
Bacterial diversity reduces the risk of obesity and various health problems, including bowel disease, arthritis, diabetes and even depression 。 Studies of human subjects have even linked microbiome diversity to longevity. The study found that older subjects with a more diverse microbiome also tended to be healthier and lived longer than their peers with less diverse guts.
How do we determine gut diversity?
We measure diversity by combining both richness and uniformity.
Richness is how many different types of bacteria are found in a sample. In the following example, we will say that the sample on the right is richer because it has more types of different colors. When there are more types of different bacteria in the sample, the microbiome is more diverse.
Uniformity measures the proportion of each bacterium to other types of bacteria. In the example below, even though the two samples have the same number of colors, we can see that the number of blue bacteria on the left far exceeds the other colors. We usually say that the sample on the left is less uniform than the sample on the right, and therefore not as diverse.
This is not to say that all bacteria need to be evenly distributed. Higher or lower concentrations of certain bacteria in the healthy microbiome are sometimes expected, especially when referring to harmful types of bacteria
When determining whether your dog has a balanced microbiome, Stay’s researchers consider your dog’s bacterial richness and uniformity. There are different ways to evaluate them to determine your dog’s diversity. The most common one is called the Shannon Diversity Index, named after the American mathematician and cryptographer Claude Shannon.
Compare your dog’s level of diversity with the average diversity of a healthy dog. You should remember, though: diversity is important, but it’s just one aspect of your dog’s gut health, and we’ve come across happy and healthy dogs with below-average diversity.
It’s also important to take a closer look at specific types of bacteria, not only their diversity, but there are studies that link diversity to negative effects. For example, a recent study on the effects of the microbiome on dog behavior found that aggressive dogs share similar types of bacteria and that aggressive dogs are more diverse than calm dogs.
On the other hand, the same study found that feared dogs had the least diversity of microbiomes in the three groups studied. This study reveals the complexity of the gut microbiome and how positive and negative effects intertwine.
Every dog is unique, so we use our seasonal fecal samples to track changes in your dog’s diversity and learn more about specific bacteria and their role in your dog’s microbiome. Always remember that it’s not just the biological data that matters most, but also how each of our dog members feels.
What affects gut diversity?
Human and dog health experts emphasize that physical activity and exercise are important for maintaining a diverse microbiome. Repeated stress and antibiotic treatments can wreak havoc on diversity and open the way for harmful bacteria to dominate the gut.
Nutrition is key. Stay’s recipes are designed to enhance variety. Our meals include a variety of dietary fibers, which feed different bacteria in the gut. These recipes are made with high-quality animal and plant proteins to meet the dietary needs of different bacterial groups.
Stay’s food is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols, compounds that act as fuel for these bacteria. We can help your dog achieve healthy levels of diversity in their gut with our meals and keep them happy and active long into the future!
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