(GI36) Esomeprazole with and without Probiotics in Healthy Dogs

Abstract:


Background: Proton pump inhibitors can cause diarrhea and a transient increase in fecal dysbiosis index (CMDI) in dogs. It is unknown if concurrent probiotic administration mitigates these effects.
Objective/Hypothesis: To assess the fecal canine microbial dysbiosis index (CMDI), fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA), and calprotectin concentrations in healthy dogs administered esomeprazole with and without a probiotic.
Animals: Sixteen healthy dogs.

Methods: Prospective, within-subjects before and after study. Dogs received a 7-day course of esomeprazole (1 mg/kg PO q 12h) with and without a probiotic (15 billion CFU/kg). A 4-week washout period was administered between treatments. Data were compared between phases using mixed effects ANOVA or generalized estimating equations with post-hoc Holm adjustment for two-way comparisons.

Results: Fecal CMDI increased with esomeprazole administration (mean CMDI -1.04, SD 3.21) compared to baseline (mean CMDI -2.99, SD 2.78, P = .017). The fecal CMDI also increased when probiotics were administered concurrently with esomeprazole (mean CMDI 0.39, SD 2.83, P < .001) compared to baseline. CMDI was not statistically different when esomeprazole was administered alone versus with probiotics (P = .059). Fecal calprotectin and SCFA concentrations did not differ between phases. The occurrence of vomiting (P = .003) and diarrhea (P = .008) increased with the administration of esomeprazole with or without a probiotic compared to baseline and washout phases.
Conclusions and clinical importance:  In healthy dogs, short-term esomeprazole administration with or without a probiotic induces a transient and mild increase in fecal CMDI with no changes to fecal concentrations of calprotectin or SCFA.