Global symposium on animal gut microbiome is announced

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The focus of the 2024 Hill’s Global Symposium—a major free global educational resource for veterinary professionals—will be the gut microbiome-organ connection. This year's event, ‘Nourish the Gut, Nurture the Future,’ draws on Hill's research into microbiome health. It will offer a platform for experts in the US to discuss the significance of the gut microbiome and its role in pet health care, according to a Hill’s Pet Nutrition release.¹

The symposium will allow participants to gain insight and learn about practical applications to help guide clinical decision-making and overall pet wellbeing, according to Hill’s.¹ The event will be livestreamed from October 24 to October 25, 2024.

"The microbiome is a trending focus in human health, and Hill's Pet Nutrition is proud to assemble leading minds to bring this emerging topic into deeper focus for the veterinary community," Karen Shenoy, DVM, US chief veterinary officer at Hill's, said in the release.¹ "We're bringing this powerful content to an even broader audience this year through livestreams in both Spanish and English. I'll be hosting the English stream, and I'm excited about our plans for guest appearances from the speakers and sharing extra tidbits to make the virtual experience as engaging as it is informative."

The symposium will have more than 17 professionals, including Hill’s scientists, per the company. These specialists will discuss how the gut functions as a key organ affecting the overall health of dogs and cats. Speakers will also provide recent updates on the gut microbiome’s connection to the kidneys, brain, and skin.

Topics will include the following¹:

• The potential for the gut microbiome to help modify disease and maintain health in cats and dogs
• The One Health Microbiome Resource
• A therapeutic approach to balancing waste products through the gut-kidney axis
• The role of the microbiome in managing chronic stress in cats

"Supporting veterinary professionals is a key priority for Hill's Pet Nutrition, and the Hill's Global Symposium reflects that commitment by providing emerging, functional knowledge about the microbiome and how to make use of it in clinical practice," Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, global chief veterinary officer at Hill's, said in the release.¹ "We are grateful to all of the speakers for dedicating their time and expertise to help veterinary professionals better understand the power of nourishing and managing the gut microbiome."

Although the gut microbiome of cats and dogs has an impact on their overall health, they are not the only animals whose health is impacted by their gut flora. A recent study showed that the gut microbiota of Thoroughbred foals has an effect on their health later in life. The study found that foals with less diverse fecal bacterial communities faced a much greater risk of developing respiratory issues later in life, as well as problems related to soft tissues and orthopedics.²

References

1. Hill’s global symposium will explore the power of the gut microbiome-organ connection to improve pet health. News release. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. September 10, 2024. Accessed September 10, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hills-global-symposium-will-explore-the-power-of-the-gut-microbiome-organ-connection-to-improve-pet-health-302243665.html
2. Bautista-Alejandre A. Can the gut microbiota of foals impact their health later in life? dvm360. August 19, 2024. Accessed September 10, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/can-the-gut-microbiota-of-foals-impact-their-health-later-in-life-