Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Canine Intestinal Organoids in a Dual-Chamber Permeable Support System
Published on: March 2, 2022
Intestinal microbiota of dogs and cats: a bigger world than we thought
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843‑4474, USA. jsuchodolski@cvm.tamu.edu
Abstract:
Gut microbes play a crucial role in the regulation of host health, but the true complexity of the gastrointestinal microbiota has been underestimated using traditional culture techniques. Recent molecular-phylogenetic and metagenomic studies have revealed a highly diverse microbial community in the canine and feline gastrointestinal tract of healthy animals, consisting of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Alterations in microbial communities have also been reported in dogs and cats with chronic enteropathies, notably increases in Proteobacteria and depletions of Firmicutes. This review summarizes the current information about the intestinal microbial ecosystem in dogs and cats.
Related Concept Videos
Microbiota of the Large Intestine
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine
Functions of the Gut Microbiota
Development of Human Microbiota
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.

