Effects of Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30, 6086) supplementation on apparent total tract nutrient digestibility and the fecal characteristics and metabolites, immunity, and microbiota of healthy adult dogs.

2025
Journal of animal science 103

PubMed: 40831181
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf251

Study Design

Type: Clinical Trial
Sample size: n = 12
Population: healthy adult dogs
Methods: Adult English Pointer dogs (n=12; age=5.9 ± 2.5 yr; body weight=26.6 ± 6.1 kg) were fed the same diet but supplemented with B. coagulans or a placebo via gelatin capsules in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Capsules were administered daily before each feeding, with basal diet + placebo, basal diet + low-dose B. coagulans (5 × 10^8 CFU/d), or basal diet + high-dose B. coagulans (2.5 × 10^9 CFU/d); fecal, blood, nasal, and pinnae samples were collected after a 22-d adaptation phase in each period.

Animal Study

Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086, is a lactic acid-producing, spore-forming bacteria with diverse characteristics that lend it resiliency through commercial pet food processing, storage, and chemical and enzymatic digestion through the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of B. coagulans on dietary apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD) and the hematology, immunoglobulin concentrations and fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota populations of healthy adult dogs. Adult English Pointer dogs (n = 12; age = 5.9 ± 2.5 yr; body weight = 26.6 ± 6.1 kg) were fed the same diet but supplemented with B. coagulans or a placebo via gelatin capsules in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Capsules were administered daily before each feeding, with the following treatments tested: (1) basal diet + placebo (control; 250 mg maltodextrin); (2) basal diet + B. coagulans [low dose; 5 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/d]; and (3) basal diet + B. coagulans (high dose; 2.5 × 109 CFU/d). Fecal, blood, nasal, and pinnae samples were collected after a 22-d adaptation phase in each period. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS 9.4, with P < 0.05 being significant and P < 0.10 being trends. Bacillus coagulans supplementation did not affect ATTD, food intake, fecal metabolites, immunoglobulin concentrations, or hematology, but did lower fecal scores (P < 0.05; firmer stool). Using qPCR, fecal Faecalibacterium spp. abundance was greater (P < 0.05) and fecal Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Ruminococcus gnavus abundances tended to be greater (P < 0.10) in dogs fed the low B. coagulans dose than those fed the placebo. Overall, our results demonstrate that this bacterial species can be safely supplemented to healthy dogs without a negative impact on nutrient digestibility or canine health parameters, and supplementation with the low dose treatment may help maintain fecal consistency and positively influence gastrointestinal microbiota.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	Improved Stool Consistency	Beneficial	Small	View source Bacillus coagulans supplementation did not affect ATTD, food intake, fecal metabolites, immunoglobulin concentrations, or hematology, but did lower fecal scores (P < 0.05; firmer stool).
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	Increased Beneficial Gut Microbiota Abundance	Beneficial	Small	View source fecal Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Ruminococcus gnavus abundances tended to be greater (P < 0.10) in dogs fed the low B. coagulans dose than those fed the placebo.
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086	—	No Change in Nutrient Digestibility or Blood/Immune Markers	Neutral	Small	View source Bacillus coagulans supplementation did not affect ATTD, food intake, fecal metabolites, immunoglobulin concentrations, or hematology.