Anxiety and aggression in pet dogs: how much does the gut microbiota “weigh”?

The role of the gut microbiota in behavioral conditions has become increasingly evident in recent years, as there is growing evidence that the composition and changes in the gut microbiota are related to behavior and mental health. Dogs housed in a shelter and/or rescued from poor living conditions may be under the effect of acute stress, evident in their behavior (and potentially modifying the gut microbiota), which could affect the apparent relationship between behavior and microbiome. The relationship between gut microbiota, behavior and mental health in dogs offers a unique opportunity to further develop knowledge of these relationships i...