More than one in 10 new veterinary appointments are related to gastrointestinal, or GI, problems in pets. Some of these issues are due to abnormalities in their microbiome — that’s the body’s collection of internal microbes that aid digestion and immunity.

Identifying changes in the microbiome can help determine if a pet has acute or chronic GI disease or something else, each requiring different treatment. A newly available diagnostic test may help provide answers. Called the Dysbiosis [dĭs-bī-Ō-sĭs] Index, it can track the levels of various bacteria over time, which are linked to chronic GI diseases.

The test also can warn of these diseases before clinical signs appear, helping veterinarians get a jump on management.