Gut Microbiota
腸内細菌叢 (chōnai saikinsō)
Definition
The entire community of bacteria living in a dog's or cat's intestines. Often called the gut flora, or the gut microbiome when its genes are included.
Key points
- The gut microbiota is the whole community of bacteria living in the intestines
- Gut flora means roughly the same thing; microbiome adds the genes those microbes carry
- Gene-sequencing tests can now map which bacteria live in a pet's gut, and in what proportions
What is the gut microbiota?
The gut microbiota is the entire community of bacteria living in a dog's or cat's intestines. In everyday language it is often called the gut flora, and both names point at the same thing: the balance of the many microbes that make the gut their home. Trillions of bacteria from hundreds of species live there, and together they behave less like passengers and more like an organ of their own.
Microbiota, flora, microbiome
The three words overlap, and it helps to keep them straight. Gut microbiota is the scientific term for the microbes themselves. Gut flora is the softer, everyday way of saying the same thing. Gut microbiome is usually used more broadly, taking in not just the microbes but the genes they carry.
Why it matters for dogs and cats
The gut microbiota helps break down food, produces compounds such as short-chain fatty acids that feed the gut lining, and is being studied for links to immunity, skin, behavior and more, including through the gut-brain axis. When the balance of the community breaks down, the state is called dysbiosis.
It can now be measured
Gene-sequencing technology has made the invisible visible: a stool sample can be analyzed to show which bacterial groups live in a pet's gut and in what proportions. At-home test kits for dogs and cats exist as well. Results are a snapshot rather than a diagnosis, so they are best read together with your veterinarian.
This entry shares general knowledge and is not veterinary advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. If you have concerns about your dog or cat, please consult your veterinarian.
FAQFrequently asked questions
Is the gut microbiota the same as the gut flora?
Essentially yes. Gut microbiota is the scientific term, while gut flora is the friendlier everyday name. Both refer to the balance of the many bacteria living in the intestines.
What is the difference between microbiota and microbiome?
Microbiota refers to the microbes themselves. Microbiome is often used more broadly to include the genes those microbes carry, and by extension everything they are capable of doing.
Can I test my dog's or cat's gut microbiota?
Yes. Gene-sequencing tests that analyze a stool sample, including at-home kits for pets, can show which bacterial groups are present and in what proportions. Ask your veterinarian how to interpret the results.