Fecal and Clinical Profiles of Dogs With Chronic Enteropathies Treated With Bile Acid Sequestrants for 5-47 Months: A Retrospective Case Series.

Background: Bile acid (BA) malabsorption and BA diarrhea (BAD) are prevalent but underdiagnosed conditions in people with chronic diarrhea of multiple causes. Recent studies have shown BA dysmetabolism in dogs with chronic enteropathies (CE).

Objective: Describe canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index (CIBDAI), dysbiosis index (DI) and fecal BA concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with refractory or partially immunosuppressive-responsive CE or CE dogs requiring high doses of corticosteroids, treated with BA sequestrants (BAS).

Microbial Gene Profiling and Targeted Metabolomics in Fecal Samples of Dogs With Chronic Enteropathy With or Without Increased Dysbiosis Index.

Background: In previous studies, only a subset of dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) had an increased dysbiosis index (DI) or altered fecal metabolites or both, suggesting differences in underlying intestinal pathophysiology between these subsets.

Objectives: To compare microbial functional genes and fecal metabolites between healthy dogs with DI < 0 (HC) and dogs with CE and DI > 0 (increased DI-CE) or DI < 0 (normal DI-CE).

Animals: Retrospective cross-sectional study including 78 HC and 138 CE dogs.

Serum Amino Acid Profiles in Dogs with a Congenital Portosystemic Shunt.

: A functional liver is vital for normal protein metabolism. Alterations of circulating amino acid (AA) concentrations have previously been reported in dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis, and hepatocutaneous syndrome. The purpose of this study was to compare serum AA profiles between dogs with a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) and healthy control dogs.

Analytical Validation of an Assay for Concurrent Measurement of Amino Acids in Dog Serum and Comparison of Amino Acid Concentrations between Whole Blood, Plasma, and Serum from Dogs.

Amino acids play an important role in metabolism. Comprehensive analytical validation of an assay for the concurrent measurement of a large number of amino acids in dogs is lacking, which precludes its usefulness in a clinical setting. Amino acids are often measured in plasma or whole blood.

Whole blood and plasma taurine reference intervals in adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and correlations between taurine concentration, diet and mitral valve disease.

Objective: To determine breed-specific reference intervals for whole blood (WB) and plasma taurine concentrations in adult, overtly healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) and determine whether taurine concentrations differ across preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stages or between CKCSs eating diets that meet World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) nutritional guidelines versus other diets.

Animals: 200 privately owned CKCSs.

Procedures: Clinically healthy adult CKCSs were recruited prospectively.

Long-Term Recovery of the Fecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Dogs with Steroid-Responsive Enteropathy.

The long-term impact of treatment of dogs with steroid-responsive enteropathy (SRE) on the fecal microbiome and metabolome has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the fecal microbiome and metabolome of dogs with SRE before, during, and following treatment with standard immunosuppressive therapy and an elimination diet. We retrospectively selected samples from 9 dogs with SRE enrolled in a previous clinical trial, which received treatment for 8 weeks, and had achieved remission as indicated by the post-treatment clinical scores.

Developmental stages in microbiota, bile acids, and clostridial species in healthy puppies.

Background: The fecal microbiota, fecal bile acid concentrations, and abundance of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile are altered in acute and chronic gastrointestinal disease in adult dogs. However, less is known in young puppies.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine composition of the fecal microbiota, assess development of fecal bile acid profiles, and determine the abundance of Clostridial species in puppies, young adult dogs, and adult dogs.

Effects of metronidazole on the fecal microbiome and metabolome in healthy dogs.

Background: Metronidazole has a substantial impact on the gut microbiome. However, the recovery of the microbiome after discontinuation of administration, and the metabolic consequences of such alterations have not been investigated to date.

Objectives: To describe the impact of 14-day metronidazole administration, alone or in combination with a hydrolyzed protein diet, on fecal microbiome, metabolome, bile acids (BAs), and lactate production, and on serum metabolome in healthy dogs.

Fecal Microbial and Metabolic Profiles in Dogs With Acute Diarrhea Receiving Either Fecal Microbiota Transplantation or Oral Metronidazole.

The aim was to characterize differences in fecal consistency, and fecal microbiota and metabolome profiles in dogs with acute diarrhea (AD) treated with either fecal microbiota transplantation as enema (FMT; = 11) or oral metronidazole (MET; = 7) for 7 days. On days 0, 7, and 28 fecal samples were obtained. Fecal samples from healthy dogs (HC; = 14) were used for comparison.

Long-term impact of tylosin on fecal microbiota and fecal bile acids of healthy dogs.

Background: Tylosin is commonly prescribed to dogs with diarrhea. Orally administered antibiotics may alter the intestinal microbiota, which is responsible for crucial key bile acid (BA) biotransformation reactions.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate the impact of tylosin administration on fecal microbiota and unconjugated bile acids (UBAs) over time.

Altered microbiota, fecal lactate, and fecal bile acids in dogs with gastrointestinal disease.

The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in health and disease and produces, through fermentative reactions, several metabolic products, such as lactate, that can affect the host. The microbiota also interacts with and metabolizes compounds produced by the host, such as primary bile acids. Lactate and bile acids (BA) are of particular interest in gastrointestinal diseases because they have been associated with metabolic acidosis and bile acid diarrhea, respectively.

Comparison of intestinal expression of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter between dogs with and without chronic inflammatory enteropathy.

Background: Intestinal absorption of bile acids is mediated by the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT). Fecal bile acid dysmetabolism has been reported in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE).

Objective: Characterization of ASBT distribution along the intestinal tract of control dogs and comparison to dogs with CIE.