ISSUE FOCUS 56 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2025 Your pet's gut is home to trillions of microorganisms working behind the scenes to support digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. Scientists have discovered that postbiotic bacteria —non-viable bacterial cells that retain their structure and functional properties— can help maintain this internal ecosystem, especially during stressful events like antibiotic treatment or dietary changes. Here's what the latest research reveals about these shelf-stable, science-backed ingredients for pet gut health. The next time you look at your dog, your cat, or even yourself in a mirror, think of this: each of us is currently hosting trillions of microorganisms. This inner world, called the microbiome, is a complex collection made up mostly of bacteria, but also includes viruses, fungi and other microbes. For the most part, we coexist harmoniously with this second internal world. Most of our microbiome lives in our gut, where it performs a variety of functions like helping us digest food, producing vitamins and neurotransmitters, supporting our immune systems, and even influencing our moods. As science continues to explore the gut microbiome, we learn more about its significant impact on our physical and mental health. If a balanced gut microbiome helps keep us healthy, it is important to remember that what we (and our pets) eat impacts the ability of our microbiome to do its job. FEEDING THE “GOOD GUYS”: PREBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS Nutritionists recommend a high-fiber diet for many reasons, but for the microbiome the crucial one is the introduction of prebiotics. Prebiotics fuel the beneficial bacteria in our gut, helping them thrive. When they do, they support our overall health from the inside out. Another aspect of our gut microbiome is the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria. This balance can be disrupted by many factors, including dietary changes, stress, infections, and antibiotics. When disrupted, the imbalance can cause acute or chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, ultimately impairing digestion and nutrient absorption. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that can help restore the healthy balance of bacteria and digestion. Probiotics have additional complex benefits. Current understanding of their properties includes providing immune support by helping stimulate the immune system, outcompeting “bad” bacteria, and initiating host-microbiome crosstalk that can have a positive impact on the intestinal barrier. POSTBIOTICS: THE NEXT GENERATION OF PET GUT HEALTH SUPPORT Dr. Francesca Susca Global Category Manager Lallemand Animal Nutrition
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==