OAKLAND, CA – AnimalBiome, a leader in pet microbiome science, announces the release of the 2024 State of the Gut report as part of its mission to improve the health of companion animals worldwide. Based on a survey of 2,224 pet parents and AnimalBiome’s database of over 50,000 stool samples, the State of the Gut Report provides crucial insights with best practices for supporting companion animal gut health for pet parents, those working with animal rescue organizations, and anyone involved in the pet care industry.
State of the Gut Report Highlights:
- Diet is Priority: High-protein, high-fiber, and low-carbohydrate diets are most beneficial for pet gut health.
- Exercise and Gut Health: Regular physical activity promotes a diverse and healthy gut microbiome.
- Antibiotic Impact: Antibiotic treatments disrupt gut bacterial communities significantly. The report discusses
what questions to ask when antibiotics are prescribed, and ways to rebalance the microbiome after treatment. - Testing for Microbiome Imbalances: Often an imbalanced gut has no symptoms. However, advanced
microbiome imbalances are seen in one in three pets as skin or digestive issues. Testing stool regularly can help
prevent illness before symptoms appear. - Parasites and Pathogen Prevention: The report explains common vectors for the spread of pathogens.
Astonishingly, 40% of dogs eat other dogs’ poop, also known as “coprophagy,” and the report notably highlights a
study indicating that 85% of dog parks test positive for parasites - Pet Ownership Purchasing Trends: A need for pet parent education is apparent; while over 40% of pet parents
purchased probiotics for their pets in the prior 12 months, over 55% did not know the difference between a
prebiotic and probiotic. Interestingly, the report also shares that one in three pet parents is uninformed about
the importance of gut health for cats and dogs. - Longevity and Pet Parent Facts: The report highlights that similarly to humans, companion animals with more
diverse healthy microbiota live longer, healthier lives. The report also shares interesting facts about human
behavior and pet ownership, such as the average pet parent talking to their pet about 34 times a day.
Dr. Holly Ganz, Chief Science Officer, shares, “I founded AnimalBiome with the simple goal of using and applying microbiome science to improve the health of pets. I am really proud of my team for creating the State of the Gut Report 2024, which translates our research into helpful information for anyone involved in pet care. ” For the full report and further information, visit animalbiome.com/state-of-the-gut-2024.
About AnimalBiome:
Founded in 2016, AnimalBiome is a global leader in pet microbiome research, offering advanced microbiome testing, actionable insights, and evidence-based supplements to restore balance to pet microbiomes. Through innovative research and collaboration, AnimalBiome is at the forefront of using microbiome science to improve pet health. Learn more: AnimalBiome.com.
