Work

Pediococcus acidilactici Long21 Alleviates Intestinal Sensitivity and Improves Gut Health in German Shepherd Dogs by Regulating Intestinal Metabolic Profiles

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Canine intestinal sensitivity is a multifactorial functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent soft feces, impaired nutrient utilization, and low-grade intestinal inflammation, and it acts as a major trigger for chronic gastrointestinal discomfort in dogs. Conventional antibiotic therapy causes side effects and drug resistance. Probiotics modulate host physiology, immunity, and metabolism, serving as promising alternatives for improving canine intestinal health. This study aimed to compare the gut microbiota of healthy and sensitive German shepherd dogs, screen and identify candidate probiotics, and verify their efficacy in ameliorating canine intestinal dysfunction and hypersensitivity. Results: Fecal microbiota transplantation from healthy dogs effectively improved these fecal indicators and was associated with enhanced serum antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities in intestinal-sensitive dogs (p < 0.05). Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that healthy German Shepherd dogs had higher intestinal microbial α- and β-diversity, with Pediococcus acidilactici enriched in healthy dogs and Shigella increased in diarrheic dogs (p < 0.05). P. acidilactici Long21 intervention, either alone or combined with its fermentation supernatant, significantly improved fecal traits; reduced pathogenic bacterial abundance; increased the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude fibre, and ether extract; and was associated with normalized antioxidant function and inflammatory indicators in German Shepherd dogs with intestinal sensitivity (p < 0.05). We identified 2085 differentially abundant metabolites enriched in amino-acid and energy metabolism using untargeted metabolomics, with glutamate, malate, and pyruvate as hub metabolites correlated with nutrient digestibility and fecal traits. Conclusions: Intestinal flora imbalance is associated with intestinal sensitivity-related diarrhea in dogs. P. acidilactici Long21 supplementation alleviated intestinal sensitivity-associated diarrhea and improved intestinal health, possibly through coordinated changes in gut microbiota, metabolic profiles, and nutrient utilization. These findings provide a theoretical basis and a candidate strain for microecological intervention, although causal mechanisms remain to be confirmed.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani16203181

Authors: Xinyu Zhang, Yuhe Ma, Haozhen Liu, Ying Yang, Zhenlong Wu

Institutions: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Gut microbiota and health

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896