Randomized, controlled, crossover trial of prevention of antibiotic‐induced gastrointestinal signs using a synbiotic mixture in healthy research dogs

Abstract

Abstract Background Synbiotics decrease antibiotic‐associated gastrointestinal signs (AAGS) in cats, but data supporting synbiotic use to ameliorate AAGS in dogs are lacking. Objectives To determine if administration of synbiotics mitigates AAGS in dogs. Animals Twenty‐two healthy research dogs. Methods Randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, 2‐way, 2‐period, crossover study with an 8‐week washout period. Each period included a 1‐week baseline and 3‐week treatment phase. Dogs received enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg PO q24h) and metronidazole (12.5 mg/kg PO q12h), followed 1 hour later by a bacterial/yeast synbiotic combination or placebo. Food intake, vomiting, and fecal score were compared using repeated‐measures crossover analyses, with P 9 weeks after discontinuation, mitigating AAGS in dogs being treated with antibiotics followed by placebo.

Keywords

• antibiotic‐associated diarrhea
• antibiotic‐associated gastrointestinal signs
• diarrhea and vomiting
• probiotic
• saccharomyces boulardii