Effects of a Nutraceutical Treatment on the Intestinal Microbiota of Sled Dogs

Abstract

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.

Keywords: dysbiosis; intestinal microbiota; nutraceutical; sporting dogs; stress.

Figure 1

Bacterial concentration expressed as log UFC/mL in the pre- and post-training period in the control group (* significantly different p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001 with respect to the pre-competition period).

Figure 2

Bacterial concentration expressed as log UFC/mL in the pre- and post-training period in the Microbiotal group (* significantly different p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001 with respect to the pre-competition period).

Figure 3

Dysbiosis Index calculated in the Control and Microbiotal groups of dogs before and after a training session (** p < 0.01, **** p < 0.0001 with respect to the pre-competition period; ^### significantly different (p < 0.001) with respect to the post-competition period of the control group).