Evidence for Dogs: Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome is one of the most talked-about topics in canine health right now, but how much of what's shared online actually holds up?

This digest brings together four recent research papers on the canine gut microbiome, critically appraised and translated into plain English for dog professionals. You'll get a clear grounding in what the gut microbiome is and does, what shapes it in individual dogs, and what the current evidence genuinely shows (and doesn't show) about the link between gut bacteria and behaviour, including aggression, fear, and cognition.

This digest shows you how to weigh the evidence itself: what's well-supported, what's still speculative, and where studies conflict or fall short. You'll come away with a realistic, evidence-grounded understanding you can apply in your own practice and conversations with clients.

Format: ~20 minute narrated video presentation
Level: Suitable for trainers, behaviourists, and invested owners with a good grounding in dog care
Presented by:Tracey Jones-Hughes, PhD, BSc — dog trainer, canine fitness and movement specialist and all round dog geek with an academic background in systematic reviewing

This is part of the Evidence for Dogs series — regular, evidence-based digests on canine health topics for dog professionals.

About Evidence for Dogs
This is the first in an ongoing series of evidence-based digests on canine health topics, made for dog professionals who want to know what the research actually says. This introductory digest is free and stays free, so you can see exactly what to expect from the series. From here, each new digest will be shared as a short summary for everyone who subscribes to the newsletter. The full presentation, like this one, with slides, audio and links to the referenced open access papers will be available to purchase individually.