The impact of the microbes on puppies and kittens microbiota: a review

Abstract

Recently it was discovered that canine and feline neonates are not born in a sterile environment as was stated previously. The acquisition, colonization, and maintenance of early life microbiota is a rapidly developing area of research. In humans it has been seen that the infant microbiome plays an essential role in human health and its composition is determined by maternal–offspring exchanges of microbiota. Even though this topic is becoming more and more important in dogs and cats, the exact role of the neonatal microbiome is not yet known. In this review, the current knowledge about the neonatal microbiome in puppies and kittens is summarized.