In this blog post, we have compiled the key highlights from the session titled “The World Within Us: Gut Health and Nutrition”, presented by Prof. Dr. Pınar Saçaklı, held as part of VetSummit 2025: New Horizons in Veterinary Clinical Sciences, sponsored by the Kito Healthy Pet Nutrition Ecosystem. We would like to thank our speaker for the presentation.
Why Is Gut Health So Important?
How the Microbiome Is Changing the Veterinary Perspective
In veterinary medicine, there are topics we learn in lectures, touch in clinical practice, and only fully appreciate once we face their real impact in the field. Gut health is one of the most important of these. Because the issue is not simply “diarrhea happened, change the diet.” The gut is a major control center that quietly influences dozens of systems—from immunity and behavior to skin and coat health, and even aging.
Prof. Dr. Pınar Saçaklı’s talk, “The World Within Us: Gut Health and Nutrition,” reminded us of this truth. The main message was clear:
“The gut is a dynamic ecosystem inside the body. The clinician who understands this changes the entire game.”
A 2,500-Year-Old Statement Still Holds True: “Disease Begins in the Gut”
Hippocrates’ statement from 460 BC—“All disease begins in the gut”—is now being confirmed again through modern scientific evidence. Thanks to new molecular techniques, we can now see more clearly that:
The gut is not only an organ of digestion and absorption.
It is also:
- the first defense line against incoming pathogens,
- the largest immune organ in the body, containing approximately 70% of immune cells,
- the home of the vast ecosystem we call the microbiome.
When gut health is disrupted, the result is not just “diarrhea”—a systemic domino effect begins.
Gut Health Stands on Three Pillars
The speaker described intestinal integrity as a balance supported by three key components:
1. Histomorphology (the structure of the intestinal wall)
2. Microbiota / microbiome (the microbial ecosystem)
3. Immune system cells
If one pillar weakens, the others are affected as well.
A healthy gut means all three pillars remain strong at the same time.
Histomorphology: A Tissue That Renews Quickly and Damages Quickly
The renewal cycle of intestinal epithelium is remarkably fast:
- villi are shed and regenerated every 3–5 days.
This speed has two meanings:
- the gut can repair itself very quickly,
- but if energy and nutritional support are insufficient, it can deteriorate just as quickly.
- The mucous layer secreted by goblet cells forms the first barrier.
The tight junction proteins beneath it form the second barrier.
If these proteins weaken and spaces open between cells, pathogens can “leak” through the wall, and the process becomes infection. This is why the intestinal barrier is far more clinically important than we often assume.
Microbiota vs. Microbiome: The Difference Matters
The talk clarified an important distinction:
- Microbiota: the community of microorganisms living in the gut (who is there and how many).
- Microbiome: the genes of that community + its interactions with each other and the environment + its functions.
So the microbiome is not only about bacterial counts—it includes biological outcomes such as:
- metabolite production,
- immune regulation,
- digestive support,
- behavioral effects.
Where Does the Microbiome Come From? It Starts at Birth and Is Shaped by Nutrition
The gut microbiome begins colonizing at birth.
- In natural birth: maternal flora is transferred to the newborn—almost like a natural vaccination.
- In cesarean birth: environmental and skin flora dominate, and antibiotic/antiseptic exposure becomes more influential.
Factors that shape the microbiome afterward include:
- environment
- antibiotic and medication use
- stress
- age
- breed/species
- and most importantly: nutrition
Nutrition is the fastest and most powerful tool for microbiome modulation.
What the Microbiome Produces: The Balance of “Good Metabolites vs. Bad Metabolites”
Gut bacteria ferment nutrients and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs):
- acetate
- propionate
- butyrate
Butyrate is especially important: it is a primary energy source for intestinal cells and strengthens tight junctions.
But the story does not end there:
Some bacteria also produce harmful metabolites from protein fermentation, such as ammonia.
So the gut has a constant “good production vs. bad production” balance.
In dysbiosis, the issue is not simply a single pathogen—it is the disruption of this production balance.
Dysbiosis Is Not Infection (And Antibiotics Are Often the Wrong Answer)
This was one of the most important clinical messages of the talk:
Dysbiosis is not the overgrowth of one pathogen—it is the disruption of the ecosystem’s balance.
Therefore:
Antibiotics are often not the solution in dysbiosis—they can actually worsen the problem, because antibiotics “kill the good microbes while killing the bad ones.”
Typical dysbiosis signs include:
- chronic or acute diarrhea
- vomiting
- gas and foul odor
- loss of appetite
- behavioral changes and anxiety
- joint pain and skin problems
Gut imbalance can affect the body from end to end.
Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics: Which One, and When?
Probiotics
Live beneficial microorganisms.
Effects:
- reduce pH
- competitively inhibit pathogens
- produce antimicrobial peptides
- strengthen intestinal integrity
Prebiotics
Fibers that the host cannot digest; they reach the colon and feed probiotics.
Effects:
- increase beneficial microbes
- increase SCFA production
Synbiotics
A combination of probiotics + prebiotics given together.
A key point:
Prebiotics mainly act in the large intestine, so the type of diarrhea must be distinguished first.
Small Intestinal vs. Large Intestinal Diarrhea
The speaker placed this distinction clearly into clinical practice:
Small intestinal diarrhea:
- increased stool volume
- greasy or very bulky stool may be present
- weight loss is more prominent
- blood may be digested (dark/tarry stool)
Large intestinal diarrhea:
- normal or reduced stool volume
- very frequent defecation
- prominent mucus
- fresh red blood may be present
Dysbiosis mainly occurs in the large intestine.
Therefore, fiber-based prebiotic support is far more meaningful in large intestinal diarrhea cases.
Where Is the Future Going? The Era of “Personalized Nutrition”
The goal of microbiome research is now becoming clear:
- identifying each individual’s core microbiome
- creating individualized diet and supplement strategies accordingly
In other words, the one-size-fits-all prescription era is fading.
The era of microbiome-based personalized nutrition is coming.
In parallel, we will likely see growing visibility in:
- new probiotic and prebiotic species
- behavior–microbiome research
- microbiome-based strategies for aging and longevity
Closing: The Clinician Who Understands the Gut Ecosystem Can Manage the Clinic
This talk reminded us once again:
Gut health is not a “side topic.”
Nutrition, clinical medicine, behavior, immunity, aging—everything connects here.
A fitting sentence for the new era of veterinary medicine might be:
“If you cannot manage the gut ecosystem, you cannot manage disease.”
And perhaps the best summary remains the speaker’s own message:
“The world within us is very intelligent and very dynamic. We must become clinicians who are equally intelligent and equally dynamic.”
We will continue sharing key highlights from the sessions of VetSummit 2025: New Horizons in Veterinary Clinical Sciences, sponsored by the Kito Healthy Pet Nutrition Ecosystem. See you in our upcoming content that will support your clinical practice.
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