Gut microbiota (intestinal flora)

The gut microbiota is the whole population of micro-organisms inhabiting the digestive tract, mainly bacteria but also fungi and viruses, and this community takes part in digestion, the synthesis of some vitamins, immune maturation and protection against pathogens. Its balance, sometimes called eubiosis, depends largely on diet: fermentable fibres and prebiotics feed beneficial bacteria, while abrupt food changes, antibiotics or stress can disturb the balance, a state termed dysbiosis that is linked to various digestive disorders and is the subject of active research (gastroenterology veterinary literature). Probiotics deliver live micro-organisms intended to support the flora, though their effectiveness depends on the strains and the situation. Because the microbiota varies with individual, age and diet, gradual food transitions are advised, to let the flora adapt, which is one reason sudden diet changes can cause [flatulence](/glossary/flatulence) or loose stools tracked by a [fecal score](/glossary/fecal-score). An honest caveat: understanding of the dog and cat microbiota is advancing but remains more recent than for humans, so many questions are still open and claims should be read with caution. The marker: the gut microbiota is a diet-shaped ecosystem central to digestion and immunity, and respecting it means changing food gradually, a principle echoed across the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary), including in [inflammatory bowel disease](/glossary/ibd-inflammatory-bowel-disease).

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General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.