Diarrhoea is a common complication in canine radiotherapy patients unrelated to the radiation treatment. Stress due to the hospitalisation most likely contributes to the development of diarrhoea in these patients. Probiotics have been shown to mitigate stress-induced diarrhoea in cats and dogs. A synbiotic (combination of pre- and probiotic) preparation might have a similar effect in dogs undergoing radiotherapy.

The aim of this prospective, double blinded randomised placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effect of once daily administration of an oral synbiotic preparation (Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 4b1707, fructo-oligosaccharide, gum Arabic, mannan-oligosaccharide, and beta-glucans) on diarrhoea, in dogs undergoing radiotherapy. Clinical parameters evaluated included stool consistency, body weight, appetite, and vomiting frequency. Dogs receiving radiotherapy to the pelvic area and those with intestinal parasitism identified on an in-house faecal flotation test were excluded. Dogs were fed a bland commercial diet unless their owners requested a specific diet, or the dog required an alternative diet for health reasons. Data were assessed for normality using Shapiro-Wilk test, and differences between groups analysed using chi-squared test, T-test, or Mann Whitney U test where appropriate.

Thirty-one dogs were recruited. There were 16 dogs within group A which received the synbiotic and 15 dogs in group B which received the placebo. The duration of treatment ranged from 11 to 30 days, and there was no difference between groups (median for group A 22 days vs. median for group B 22 days, p=0.49). There was no significant difference between stool scores, (mean for group A 5 vs. mean for group B 10, p=0.11), nor percentage of days of abnormal stools (median for group A 18 days vs. median for group B 17 days, p=0.40). There was no difference between groups for the frequency of vomiting (p=0.682), weight loss (p=0.432), or appetite score (median for group A 1 vs. median for group B 0, p=0.47).

The use of the synbiotic product did not provide a clinical benefit compared to a placebo in dogs undergoing radiotherapy.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.