Meet your dog’s gut bacteria: Proteobacteria

This is the most diverse phylum of bacteria known to science, and can be found living in extreme environments, from geysers to icebergs. Many known pathogens, such as those responsible for Salmonella, meningitis, chlamydia and legionnaires disease, are members of this family.

But they’re not all bad! Other members of this group give squids their unique bioluminescence that protects them from predators.

In the dog’s gut, these bacteria are the most common in the gut of young pups. Their population tends to decrease after the dogs reach the age of nine weeks.

‍

Fast Facts:

• Proteobacteria are less abundant than Firmicutes and Bacteroides, but have the largest variety of genes, allowing them to serve many different functions in the gut.
• Some members of this group can be harmful to dogs, such as some members of the Enterobacteriaceae family that thrive at the expense of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
• Dogs with chronic gut disease were found to have high levels of Proteobacteria in their gut.

‍

This phylum prospers in dogs feeding on raw-meat diets, and tends to decrease when dogs eat more fibers.

Stay’s unique recipes are rich in a variety of digestible proteins, dietary fibers, and other nutrients specially designed to feed the different beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut and sustain a healthy balance between the five common phyla.

Our biofeedback process and seasonal microbiome checks allow us to understand how nutrition is impacting this delicate balance, as well as specific important bacteria in each phylum, and make sure your dog’s food is meeting the needs of the beneficial bacteria in their gut.