What is the Importance of the Microbiome?
In a healthy gut, thousands of different types of microbes make up a diverse, balanced community. However, when there are not enough beneficial members or too many harmful ones, the balance is disrupted. This can cause some of that community’s important functions to stop working, which can cause your pet to develop uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea or itchy skin. This disruption can be caused by a variety of factors, including disease, diet, age, and medications – especially antibiotics!
What is a Fecal Microbiome Transplant (FMT)?
“Fecal transplant” might sound strange or gross at first, but it’s a well-established treatment approach that has been used effectively in both animals and humans for a very long time. A fecal transplant involves the transfer of stool from a healthy balanced donor to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the unblanced recipient. By providing thousands of healthy, species-appropriate gut bacteria, FMT can alleviate a variety of symptoms associated with an unbalanced or dysfunctional gut microbiome. Examples of some of the issues that can be addressed by healing and blancing the microbiome of your pet include:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Chronic Enteropathies
- Colitis
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Immune System Issues
Curious about your pet’s microbiome balance? Call us today at 423-531-8899!