Can a synbiotic provided to puppies affect the incidence of diarrhoea during the transition from nest to puppy raiser? – Presented by Madeleine Goumas

Diarrhoea is a relatively common health condition in young puppies, particularly when transitioning to new environments. While many cases of diarrhoea are mild and short-lived, puppies’ health and wellbeing can be severely compromised when cases are chronic or acute. It is therefore important for assistance dog organisations to monitor diarrhoea early in life and through the transition from nest to puppy raiser, with the aim of reducing the number and severity of cases. Previous studies have suggested that the administration of synbiotics (a combination of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that naturally colonise the gut, and prebiotics, which are types of fibre that nourish these bacteria) could reduce the occurrence of diarrhoea, but evidence is limited. In this study, the effectiveness of a synbiotic was assessed using a triple-blind randomised controlled trial.

Coming soon.