In our latest podcast, Modifying the Microbiome to Minimise Pain, Matt talks to Dr Siobhain O’Mahony, a leading academic in microbiome research. Dr O’Mahony has published work within human medicine, examining the link between the microbiome and pain outcomes after surgery. And we ask, ‘How could this translate into our field of veterinary pain management?’ 

We also touch upon what we should eat ourselves and ask whether we are feeding our pets correctly.

References for shownotes

The gut microbiota as a key regulator of visceral pain (2017)

The gut microbiota in persistent post-operative pain following breast cancer surgery

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11137075/

Stevens, Christina et al. “Gut Microbiome and Osteoarthritis: Insights From the Naturally Occurring Canine Model of Osteoarthritis.” Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.), 10.1002/art.42956. 19 Jul. 2024, doi:10.1002/art.42956

Stewart, H L et al. “Differences in the equine faecal microbiota between horses presenting to a tertiary referral hospital for colic compared with an elective surgical procedure.” Equine veterinary journal vol. 51,3 (2019): 336-342. doi:10.1111/evj.13010

Stewart, Holly L et al. “Changes in the faecal bacterial microbiota during hospitalisation of horses with colic and the effect of different causes of colic.” Equine veterinary journal vol. 53,6 (2021): 1119-1131. doi:10.1111/evj.13389

Jan S Suchodolski

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34514619/

The Dysbiosis Index (DI) is a validated quantitative PCR assay for canine fecal samples that measures the abundance of seven important bacterial taxa and summarizes the results as one single number. 

The DI can be used to assess the microbiome in clinical patients over time and in response to therapy (eg, fecal microbiota transplantation).