THE ECOLOGY OF THE DOG LARGE-INTESTINE, D IGESTIVE INTOLERANCE AND DIETARY DERMATITIS

The dog exhibits a large digestive tolerance which can hide certain pe rtubations. These problems may only be seen at weaning, in stressful s ituations (eg. sport), or in breeds or individuals which are sensitive . An excess of certain nutrients, a poorly balanced diet or ingredient s of mediocre quality can induce a dysfunction in particular phases of digestion and provoke an imbalance in the ecology of the large intest ine. The large intestine is a fermenter which receives all the nutrien ts undigested in the small intestine. An excess or deficiency in certa in fermentation substrates disrupts the equilibrium of this system. Th e result of which is the increased formation of metabolites such as bi ogenic amines (which can be badly tolerated) or the appearance of bact erial toxins. It is then possible to see digestive or cutaneous pathol ogy resulting from this dysbalance and not from a specific pathogenic organism or from an allergic process.