2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the dog is a complex ecosystem and its biological and biochemical compositions vary along the length of the GIT. The analysis of fecal samples is frequently used as a surrogate indicator for gastrointestinal disease occurring in more proximal intestinal sections. While the canine gastrointestinal biogeography of the microbiome has previously been described, corresponding metabolite profiles at various points along the GIT of healthy dogs have not been characterized to our knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform 16s rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics on samples from multiple sites to characterize the metabolome and microbiome along the GIT of healthy dogs.