Supplementing prebiotics, particularly plant polysaccharides, in pet food is currently regarded as an important approach to enhancing gut health. Polysaccharides can produce abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the large intestine, thereby benefiting health. Seaweed is rich in plant polysaccharides and bioactive substances, which makes it a promising ingredient for prebiotics. However, there is currently a lack of research on the application of seaweed extract (SWE) in dog food. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the impact of SWE on the antioxidant properties, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiota of dogs with loose stools. Our findings suggest that dietary supplementation with SWE can improve antioxidant capacity and alleviate loose stools in dogs, which may be associated with the regulation of SCFA-producing gut microbiota and the SCFA composition.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.