title: Efficacy of a Probiotic-Prebiotic Supplement on Incidence of Diarrhea in a Dog Shelter: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diarrhea is the most frequent morbidity affecting kenneled dogs in animal shelters. Diarrhea impacts animal welfare and the finances of the shelter as they must treat, clean, and house affected animals until recovered.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Supplementing dogs entering an animal shelter with a probiotic-prebiotic, known as a synbiotic, will decrease the incidence of diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and seventy-three dogs entering an animal shelter in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical difference was found between the groups across 3 measures of diarrhea incidence. First, the mean percentage of scored days per dog that were scored as diarrhea throughout their stay was 2.0% in the synbiotic group and 3.2% in the placebo group (P = .0022). Second, the occurrence of diarrhea within the first 14 days' stay was 18.8% in the synbiotic product group and 27.2% in the placebo group (P = .0008). Third, the occurrence of ≥2 consecutive days of diarrhea within the first 14 days' stay was 4.6% in the synbiotic product group and 8.0% in the placebo group (P = .0300).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementing healthy dogs entering an animal shelter with a synbiotic supplement significantly decreased the incidence of diarrhea in this trial. Animal shelters can use synbiotic supplements to improve animal welfare and decrease costs involved in cleaning and housing animals as well as potentially decreasing veterinary intervention.
authors.affiliation: Probiotics International Ltd, Lopen Head, Somerset, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Wood Green The Animals Charity, Godmanchester, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gosling
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universtity of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058616:Synbiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: 
  Enterococcus faecium
  ; Canine; Diarrhea and vomiting; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal; Nutrition