Canine chronic enteropathies (CEs) are inflammatory processes resulting from complex interplay between the mucosal immune system, intestinal microbiome, and dietary components in susceptible dogs. Fatty acids (FAs) play important roles in the regulation of physiologic and metabolic pathways and their role in inflammation seems to be dual, as they exhibit pro–inflammatory and anti–inflammatory functions. Analysis of red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid profile represents a tool for assessing the quantity and quality of structural and functional molecular components. This study was aimed at comparing the FA membrane profile, determined by Gas Chromatography and relevant lipid parameter of 48 CE dogs compared with 68 healthy dogs. In CE patients, the levels of stearic (p < 0.0001), dihomo–gamma–linolenic, eicosapentaenoic (p = 0.02), and docosahexaenoic (p = 0.02) acids were significantly higher, and those of palmitic (p < 0.0001) and linoleic (p = 0.0006) acids were significantly lower. Non-responder dogs presented higher percentages of vaccenic acid (p = 0.007), compared to those of dogs that responded to diagnostic trials. These results suggest that lipidomic status may reflect the “gut health”, and the non–invasive analysis of RBC membrane might have the potential to become a candidate biomarker in the evaluation of dogs affected by CE.

Dogs with acute diarrhea are often presented to clinical practice and, although this generally represents a self-limiting condition, antibiotics are still frequently used as treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects in dogs with acute non-hemorrhagic diarrhea of the administration of an antibiotic combination in comparison to a nutraceutical product. Thirty dogs were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: 15 dogs (group A) received a nutraceutical commercial product while 15 dogs (group B) received an antimicrobial combination of metronidazole and spiramycin. For each dog, the Canine Acute Diarrhea Severity Index, the fecal microbiota and the Dysbiosis Index were assessed. Both stool consistency and frequency decreased on day 2 in the dogs of group A compared to baseline, while in group B, these parameters significantly decreased at days 3 and 4. The global concern for rising antibiotic resistance associated with indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, in both humans and animals, suggests the necessity of avoiding empirical and injudicious use of these molecules in diarrheic dogs. These results suggest that the nutraceutical treatment had a similar clinical effect compared to the antibiotic formulation, representing a valid antibiotic-sparing therapeutic approach in canine acute diarrhea.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in veterinary medicine due to its involvement in a wide range of physiological processes including pain, inflammation, immune function, and neurological function. Modulation of the ECS receptors has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects in various animal models of disease, including dogs with osteoarthritis. The goal of this study was to identify and compare the cellular expression and distribution of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and the cannabinoid-related G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) on the synovial cells of hip and stifle joints of seven dogs of different breeds without overt signs of osteoarthritis (OA). The synovial membranes of seven hips and seven stifle joints were harvested post mortem. The expression of the CB1R, CB2R, and GPR55 present in the synovial tissues was investigated using qualitative and quantitative immunofluorescence and Western blot (Wb) analysis. Synoviocytes of the stifle and hip joints expressed CB1R, CB2R, and GPR55 immunoreactivity (IR); no significant differences were observed for each different joint. Cannabinoid receptor 2- and GPR55-IR were also expressed by macrophages, neutrophils, and vascular cells. The ECS receptors were widely expressed by the synovial elements of dogs without overt signs of OA. It suggests that the ECS could be a target for the therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa extract in canine arthropathies.

Many environmental aspects influence the preservation of a beneficial microbiome in dogs, and gut dysbiosis occurs when imbalances in the intestinal ecosystem cause functional changes in the microbial populations. The authors evaluated the effects of two specific commercial dietary supplements: a combination of a postbiotic and prebiotics (Microbiotal cane^®) and a probiotic product (NBF 1^®) recommended for counteracting intestinal dysbiosis in dogs, on the gut canine microbiota composition and its metabolic activities (production of short-chain fatty acids). The investigation was performed using an in vitro fermentation system inoculated with dog fecal samples. Microbiotal cane^® promoted a more immediate increase in Lactobacillus spp. after the first 6 h of fermentation, whereas NBF 1^® promoted the increase at the end of the process only. The two supplements supported an increase in the Bifidobacterium spp. counts only after 24 h. The in vitro abilities of Microbiotal cane^® and NBF 1^® to increase selectively beneficial bacterial groups producing acetic, propionic, and butyric acids suggest a possible positive effect on the canine gut microbiota, even if further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects on the intestinal health.

Fatty acid-based lipidomic analysis has been widely used to evaluate health status in human medicine as well as in the veterinary field. In equine species, there has been a developing interest in fertility and sperm quality. Fatty acids, being the principal components of the membranes, play an active role in the regulation of the metabolic activities, and their role on spermiogenesis seems to be of great importance for the resulting quality of the sperm and, thus, fertility. With the application of widely used lipidomic techniques, the aim of this study was to evaluate: (a) the fatty acid content of the spermatozoa’s membranes of 26 healthy male Martina Franca donkeys and its possible correlation with sperm parameters, and (b) the evaluation of the composition of the red blood cells’ membrane. PUFA omega-6 are the principal components (40.38%) of the total PUFA content (47.79%) in both types of cells; however, DPA is the predominant one on the spermatozoa’s membrane (27.57%) but is not present in the erythrocyte’s membrane. Spermatozoa’s motility (%) is positively correlated with stearic acid and EPA, and progressive motility (%), with oleic acid. These findings offer information on the composition of both types of cells’ membranes in healthy male MF donkeys and reflect the metabolic transformations of the spermatozoa’s membrane during the maturation period, providing a better perception of the role of fatty acids in sperm parameters and fertility.

Background: an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota can cause health problems in the gastrointestinal tract and in other organs. Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed, inflammatory and pruritic allergic skin disease with multifactorial etiology and multimodal treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a nutraceutical product on Dysbiotic Index (DI) and the skin lesions of atopic dogs. Methods: a nutraceutical product was administered to 32 dogs with CAD. The product was associated with a standardized hypoallergenic diet for 60 days; the dietary regimen continued for 120 days, while ongoing therapies remained unchanged. Values of Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesional Index (CADLI) and DI were evaluated on day 0, 60, 120. Results: all the 32 dogs showed a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.001) to V60 of VAS and CADLI, which persisted and increased to V120 when diet alone was continued. The decrease in the DI value was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: the intake of nutraceutical associated with diet resulted in a decrease in the index of intestinal dysbiosis, with an improvement in the subjective severity of cutaneous lesions.