Review scope

This summary is based on the published abstract. We have not appraised the full methods, tables or supplementary material. Details absent from the abstract remain unverified.

Question and design

17 healthy dogs transitioned to the same complete food. Psyllium husk, banana-flour resistant starch and methylcellulose supplements. Comparator: Measurements before and after each supplement, with washouts.

What was measured?

Faecal scores, clinical indices and bacterial sequencing.

Main findings

Resistant starch reduced microbial richness and altered several taxa. Psyllium had minor taxonomic effects; methylcellulose changed faecal scores without changing microbiota.

Study strengths

Randomised crossover comparison on a common base food.

Limitations

Small healthy population. Sequencing results cannot establish clinical benefit or harm; findings concern the tested fibre preparations.

Researchers’ conclusion

The authors cautioned against recommending this resistant-starch preparation as a canine prebiotic.

Evidence.pet interpretation

The result should not be generalised to all resistant starches or used to diagnose an unhealthy microbiome.

Funding and conflicts

The publisher lists Comparative Gastroenterology Society and BBSRC support. Full conflict declarations were not appraised.

Source and review date

Salavati Schmitz S, Perez-Accino Salgado J, Glendinning L. Randomised crossover comparison of three fibres and the canine microbiota. Access Microbiology. 2024;6(5):000774.v4. Title shortened; final article version linked.

Read the primary source · DOI record

STU-031. Reviewed 25 September 2026. Next review 25 December 2026.