Effects of Postbiotic Administration on Canine Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Postbiotics are inactivated microorganisms or their components conferring health benefits.
• They are increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic tool in veterinary medicine.
• This review focuses on their application and effects in dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the types, mechanisms, and physiological effects of postbiotics in dogs.
• To assess the current evidence for postbiotic efficacy in canine health.
• To identify research gaps and future directions for postbiotic use in veterinary medicine.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2024.
• Inclusion of peer-reviewed canine or mechanistic postbiotic studies; exclusion of studies in other species or non-peer-reviewed.
• Risk of bias assessment and random-effects meta-analyses for selected outcomes.

Main Results:

• 69 out of 157 records met inclusion criteria, including 13 in vivo canine studies.
• Meta-analyses showed no statistically significant differences between postbiotic and control groups.
• Evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneity, and varied study designs.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence for postbiotic efficacy in dogs is limited and inconclusive.
• Evidence from other species suggests benefits in gut microbiota, immune modulation, and oxidative stress reduction.
• Further research is needed to support postbiotic use in treating common canine diseases, potentially as an alternative to antimicrobials.