Effect of a Supplement Containing Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Yeast Extract on Gut Inflammation, Microbiota, and Cytokines in Healthy Dogs

Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics are of interest for their potential gastrointestinal and immunological benefits in pet health. This study aimed to assess whether a unique blend of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans (Weizmannia coagulans), FOS, GOS, and a postbiotic yeast extract could provide beneficial gut and immunological effects when fed to healthy, adult dogs. Twenty-four healthy adult beagle dogs (mean age 5.17 yrs) were fed the probiotic, prebiotic, and yeast chew (PPYC) or control chew (CC) supplement for 31 days, accompanied by fecal and blood sampling. Following 31 days, PPYC fed dogs had decreased (p < 0.05) fecal calprotectin concentration, a biomarker indicative of reduced intestinal inflammation, compared with dogs receiving the CC. In the PPYC group, blood C-reactive protein levels, an indicator of tissue inflammation, tended (p = 0.11) to be reduced. In addition, dogs receiving the PPYC supplement showed an increase in the IL-17a cytokine (p < 0.05). Despite dogs being in a clinically healthy state, changes in some dysbiosis-related bacterial strains were observed. There was an increase (p < 0.05) in the % of total bacteria of Blautia in the PPYC group by the end of the study, as well as an increase in the percent change from Day 0 of C. hiranosis (p < 0.05). Increased alpha diversity, a measure related to the resilience to environmental change, was observed in the PPYC group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that after consuming a supplement containing probiotics, prebiotics and a postbiotic yeast extract, markers of gut and systemic health were improved in otherwise healthy dogs.