2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Ten healthy pet dogs were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups in a double-blinded fashion: 6 dogs treated with oral tylosin at 20 mg/kg and 4 dogs treated with a placebo capsule, each given q12 hr for 7 days. All dogs were maintained on their usual diet. Fecal samples were collected on day 0. A fecal score (range: 1 to 7) was noted daily during drug administration, with additional fecal samples collected on days 7, 10, 21, and 63. Fecal samples were assessed using qPCR for 7 bacterial groups: Faecalibacterium, Turicibacter, E. coli, Streptococcus, Blautia, C. hiranonis, and Fusobacterium. Results were analyzed for each bacterial group and also compiled mathematically into a single numeric value, the Dysbiosis Index (DI). Parameters were compared using a Friedman's test, followed by Dunn's post-test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.