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Wellaroo
The science

Chicory root

Cichorium intybus · CHIK-o-ree

The root of a blue-flowered plant, rich in a fibre called inulin. Gut bacteria ferment it. In senior dogs, chicory at 1% of the diet raised bifidobacteria, a group of helpful gut bacteria.

Dog trials: positive

For gut-bacteria markers. No study shows better stools.

In Gut & Immunity
What the research adds up to

Chicory root is rich in inulin, a fibre that gut bacteria ferment. In senior dogs, chicory at 1% of the diet raised bifidobacteria. In healthy adult dogs, the related fibre FOS raised bifidobacteria and butyrate. At lower doses (0.2 to 0.4% of the diet), gut bacteria did not change. No study shows better stools.

Chicory root
Dog trials: positive. For gut-bacteria markers. No study shows better stools.
In
Gut & Immunity
What the research found in dogs

In 34 senior dogs, chicory at 1% of the diet raised bifidobacteria, a group of helpful gut bacteria.

Controlled trial, 34 senior dogs, 4 weeks · Arch Anim Nutr, 2004

Read the study
Rise in faecal bifidobacteria against the control diet, in log10 colony-forming units per gram of dry faeces. A rise of 0.4 log is about 2.5 times as many.
How the study worked
Who34 senior dogs: pointers aged 8 to 11 and beagles aged 9 to 11.
DesignRandom allocation to 4 diets: 1% chicory, 1% MOS, both, or neither. 4 weeks baseline, then 4 weeks on the diet.
Dose1% of the diet.
ResultChicory and MOS raised bifidobacteria by 0.4 and 0.5 log10 cfu/g (P ≤ 0.05). Chicory tended to raise fat digestion (P = 0.07). White blood cell counts did not change.

Every other study

Dog studies first. Each card says where the study was done, how it was set up and what it found.

  • In dogsCrossover study, 5 dogs

    Low doses of inulin and FOS in dogs

    At 0.2 to 0.4% of the diet, digestion improved but gut bacteria did not change. The authors say a higher dose is needed to change the bacteria.

    Barry et al. · J Anim Sci · 2009Read the abstract
  • In dogsControlled trials, 40 dogs

    FOS and a probiotic in healthy adult dogs

    FOS (2 g twice a day) raised bifidobacteria and butyrate and lowered faecal ammonia. FOS is the fibre family that chicory inulin belongs to.

    Swanson et al. · J Nutr · 2002Read the abstract
Gut & ImmunityAll 22 ingredients

This page describes ingredient research. It is not veterinary advice. Wellaroo products have not been tested in a trial of their own. Talk to your vet about your dog’s health.