Skye’s Microbiome Report

Your dog's intestinal tract contains an incredible variety of microbes whose genetic material is referred to as the gut microbiome.

The specific types and amounts of microbes that colonize your dog’s gut are affected by both your dog genetics as well as modifiable factors such as diet, physical activity, and antibiotic use. This means every pet has a unique gut microbiome that can change over time!

Skye’s Microbiome Diversity

A diverse microbiome helps keep your pet healthy because it has microbes to fulfill a wide range of functions that are present in the right amounts.

Richness

Richness is simply the number of different bacteria found in your sample.

Evenness

Evenness specifies how evenly represented each type of bacteria is within the sample.

Bacteria Living in Skye’s Gut

The bacteria represented below are regularly found in dog microbiomes. If you’d like to learn a little more about them, keep reading.

Our baseline

Skye

Blautia

Clostridium

Dorea

Lactobacillus

Megamonas

Ruminococcus

Bifidobacterium

Fusobacterium

Bacteroides

Escherichia

Abundance

Commonly found in the guts of dogs
Abundance reduced in dogs with gastrointestinal disorders or acute diarrhea
Abundance increases when dogs are fed a diet with supplemental fiber

Typically the most abundant group of bacteria in the guts of healthy dogs
Abundance increased in dogs fed a raw red meat diet
Abundance can decrease upon switching to a low fat high fiber diet
Lower abundance associated with inflammatory bowel disease in dogs

Prevalent in the guts of healthy dogs
Breaks down carbohydrates to produce beneficial nutrients for its host
Abundance decreased when dogs are switched to a low fat high fiber diet

Several strains are commonly found in healthy dogs
When administered as a probiotic it can shorten recovery time from acute diarrhea and results in measurable improvements in health
Various species frequently used as probiotics

Negatively associated with the rate of weight loss in dogs, i.e., dogs with more Megamonas may lose weight more slowly
Lower abundance in dogs with irritable bowel syndrome

Higher abundance in dogs fed a high protein low carbohydrate diet
Able to break complex carbohydrates down into smaller molecules called short chain fatty acids, (SCFA), which can provide energy for intestinal cells
Dogs with increases in Ruminococcus have decreased rate of weight loss, possibly because SCFAs are used as an additional energy source by a dog’s cells within the gut

Several species are regularly found in healthy dogs
Responds favorably to potato fiber in the diet
Various species frequently used as probiotics

Common in the guts and oral cavities of healthy dogs
More abundant in dogs fed a diet that includes raw meat
Abundances lower in dogs with gastrointestinal disease

Growth is favored when dogs are fed a diet high in carbohydrates and low in protein
Abundance increases as dogs age
Abundance can decrease if dogs have been treated with omeprazole, a common treatment for gastrointestinal reflux and ulcers

Associated with gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and chronic diarrhea
Abundance increases in dogs fed a diet of raw beef or bones and raw food
Providing the prebiotics inulin or yeast cell extract may help reduce levels