From dysbiosis to lymphoma: Key takeaways from EuroGut 2026 for veterinary practice
- Ecommercy
- 2026-09-22
- 14:53
- 0 comments
The following article summarises the webinar “From dysbiosis to lymphoma” with Veterinary Technician Angelika Gałkiewicz, a qualified Animal Nutritionist and member of the European Society of Comparative Gastroenterology and the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition.
The webinar covered selected findings presented at EuroGut 2026, including chronic enteropathies, dysbiosis, the microbiota, faecal microbiota transplantation, gastrointestinal neoplasia, and emerging approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of gastroenterology patients.
We encourage vets, veterinary technicians, animal nutritionists and professionals working with patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorders to watch the full webinar recording.
Small animal gastroenterology is developing rapidly. We increasingly understand that the gastrointestinal tract is not simply responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption. It is a complex immunological, metabolic, neurological and microbial system in which disruption of one component can quickly affect others.
The webinar reviewing selected findings from EuroGut 2026 covered several topics of particular relevance to vets managing gastroenterology patients. These included chronic enteropathies, dysbiosis, the role of the microbiota, faecal microbiota transplantation, gastrointestinal neoplasia, diagnosis of intestinal lymphoma in cats, emerging treatments for immune-mediated enteropathies and the potential role of biomarkers in assessing prognosis and the risk of disease progression.
These topics share one important theme: chronic gastrointestinal inflammation is not a neutral state. It can affect the microbiota, metabolism, intestinal barrier function, immune response, body weight and prognosis and, in some cases, may also influence the risk of neoplastic transformation.
Watch the webinar recording
Neu5Gc, red meat and chronic gastrointestinal inflammation
One of the particularly interesting topics was the role of N-glycolylneuraminic acid, or Neu5Gc, in the context of gastrointestinal inflammation and neoplasia. This molecule occurs naturally in most mammals, and its main dietary source is red meat.
Neu5Gc is found in particularly high amounts in goat, beef, pork, lamb and some types of game. Much lower levels are found in fish, while it is absent from poultry and plant-based foods.
The studies discussed during the webinar indicated that Neu5Gc may accumulate in gastrointestinal tumour tissues in dogs, while it was not detected in healthy tissues. The molecule was also identified in dysplastic tissues, which may precede neoplastic transformation.
This mechanism is relevant for several reasons. First, the incorporation of Neu5Gc into tissues may induce an immune response and sustain local inflammation. Second, chronic inflammation is one of the factors associated with an increased risk of neoplasia. Third, Neu5Gc may be associated with increased proliferative activity and therefore pathological cell proliferation.
This does not mean that red meat should automatically be regarded as contraindicated. Clinical context matters. In a patient with an allergy or food-responsive enteropathy, chronically feeding a poorly tolerated protein may be more problematic than using a well-tolerated source of red meat.
The practical conclusion is therefore not to eliminate red meat in every patient, but to take a more considered approach to feeding frequency, rotation of protein sources and monitoring of patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease.
Chronic enteropathies and intestinal fibrosis as a prognostic factor
Another important topic was intestinal fibrosis in dogs with chronic enteropathies. Fibrosis is a consequence of long-term inflammation and may have both histopathological and prognostic significance.
The study discussed during the webinar evaluated dogs with chronic enteropathies, including the degree of fibrosis in the duodenal lamina propria. The study population consisted mainly of young and middle-aged dogs presenting with signs such as diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and lethargy.
Food-responsive enteropathies accounted for the largest proportion of cases, followed by immune-mediated enteropathies, while non-responsive enteropathies – those that responded neither to diet nor to immunosuppressive treatment – represented the smallest group.
The most important finding was the correlation between more severe fibrosis of the duodenal lamina propria and poorer prognosis. Dogs with the highest degree of fibrosis were less likely to achieve remission and were more frequently euthanised because of severe enteropathy.
This represents an important direction for research because simple and reliable tools for assessing prognosis in patients with chronic enteropathies are still lacking. Histopathological assessment of fibrosis may in the future become one component of risk stratification, particularly in patients with severe, recurrent or treatment-resistant disease.
Subclinical intestinal changes in senior cats
Another clinically important study involved apparently healthy cats undergoing fPL, fTLI and vitamin B12 testing, ultrasonography and histopathological examination.
The term “clinically healthy” is particularly important here. These were cats whose owners had not observed gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite or other concerning symptoms. Despite this, histopathology revealed lymphoplasmacytic enteritis in some cats and low-grade intestinal lymphoma in others.
The practical conclusion is clear: the absence of clinical signs in a cat, particularly an older cat, does not necessarily mean that there is no underlying gastrointestinal disease. Cats may compensate for disease for a long time without displaying signs that are obvious to their owners.
From a clinical perspective, this highlights the importance of preventive examinations in senior cats and careful interpretation of abnormalities found during diagnostic testing. Increased fPL or fTLI values or abnormalities in vitamin B12 status should not automatically be dismissed as incidental findings or simply “normal for that patient”. In some cats, they may indicate an underlying inflammatory or neoplastic gastrointestinal process.
Tryptophan in chronic enteropathies and protein-losing enteropathy
One of the more practical topics was the significance of tryptophan in dogs with chronic enteropathies, including protein-losing enteropathy. Tryptophan is an amino acid involved in numerous metabolic, immunological and neuroendocrine pathways, and deficiency may be relevant in patients with chronic intestinal inflammation.
The study discussed during the webinar confirmed that dogs with chronic enteropathies may have reduced tryptophan levels, with the problem being particularly pronounced in patients with protein-losing enteropathy. Low tryptophan levels correlated with low albumin, lower vitamin B12 levels and more severe clinical signs.
Following the introduction of a tryptophan-supplemented diet in patients with protein-losing enteropathy, clinical improvement, reduced CRP, weight gain and improved BCS were observed. Patients with substantial tryptophan deficiency also showed reductions in inflammatory markers.
This is a very interesting direction, although further research is still needed. Data on the effects of tryptophan supplementation on the intestinal microbiota will be particularly valuable. From a practical perspective, this raises the question of whether assessment of amino acid metabolism may eventually become part of more advanced nutritional and clinical management in patients with severe enteropathies, particularly protein-losing enteropathy.
Gastrointestinal neoplasia in dogs and the need for earlier diagnosis
Gastrointestinal neoplasia in dogs is often diagnosed at a late stage. One reason is that these diseases may produce non-specific signs for a long time or resemble chronic gastrointestinal disorders. This is particularly relevant in middle-aged and older dogs, although some breeds appear to have a markedly increased risk.
During the webinar, particular attention was drawn to Belgian Shepherds, Collies, Huskies and certain Scandinavian breeds, in which an increased incidence of gastrointestinal neoplasia has been observed. In selected populations, the proportion of dogs developing gastrointestinal neoplasia during their lifetime may be very high.
An interesting area of research involves developing sample databases, case maps and tissue archives similar to those used in human medicine. Analysing healthy, dysplastic and neoplastic tissues, comparing histopathological profiles, identifying biomarkers and investigating molecular similarities may eventually allow earlier diagnosis, more accurate prognostication and more targeted treatment.
For clinical practice, this means maintaining a particularly high level of vigilance in predisposed breeds and in patients with chronic, recurrent or atypical gastrointestinal signs.
The microbiota of the entire gastrointestinal tract, not just the colon
Discussions about the microbiota tend to focus on the colon and faeces. However, the gastrointestinal microbiota is not uniform. Different bacterial populations occur in the stomach, small intestine, ileum, caecum and colon.
One of the studies discussed examined the microbiota throughout the feline gastrointestinal tract. Of particular interest was the role of bacteria from the genus Blautia, found in areas including the ileum and more distal regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Blautia can produce bacteriocins – compounds that inhibit the growth of other bacteria. In this way, it may influence the composition of the local microbiota and competition between bacterial strains.
In humans, low levels of Blautia have been associated with conditions including obesity and diabetes. In veterinary medicine, we are only beginning to understand the significance of individual bacterial populations in specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
The key conclusion is that future microbiota modulation may become considerably more precise than today’s broad approach to probiotic therapy. If we can identify where the primary gastrointestinal disorder is located and which bacteria are particularly important in that region, more targeted microbiome support may become possible.
Granulomatous colitis in Boxers and French Bulldogs
The webinar also covered granulomatous colitis, also known as histiocytic ulcerative colitis. This is a severe form of inflammatory bowel disease classically associated with Boxers, although it also occurs in French Bulldogs.
The disease often affects young dogs and is associated with invasion of the intestinal mucosa by bacteria, frequently strains of E. coli. In some patients, a genetic predisposition may impair the body’s ability to control these bacteria. Potential triggers may include infection, previous antibiotic treatment, poisoning, severe dysbiosis or another factor disrupting the intestinal microbial balance.
Treatment is usually based on targeted antibiotic therapy following identification of bacteria invading the mucosa. Endoscopy with biopsy remains the preferred diagnostic method. However, the use of rectal swabs to monitor treatment efficacy and antimicrobial susceptibility during therapy represents an interesting development. The data discussed showed promising agreement between biopsy and rectal swab results.
This does not replace biopsy for initial diagnosis, but it may eventually reduce the need for repeated invasive procedures in patients requiring monitoring of their response to antimicrobial treatment.
Giardia, elimination diets and faecal microbiota transplantation
Recurrent giardiasis is a common and frustrating problem in gastroenterology practice. The study discussed involved dogs with repeatedly positive Giardia tests that had previously been treated with fenbendazole or metronidazole.
The patients were placed on an elimination diet based on a novel protein or hydrolysed protein and underwent faecal microbiota transplantation. In most dogs, Giardia was no longer detected after 14 days. After two months, owners reported improvements in stool quality, appetite, flatulence, abdominal pain, lip smacking and energy levels. The dysbiosis index also decreased.
The particularly interesting question, however, concerns causality. Does recurrent Giardia itself induce dysbiosis and chronic clinical signs? Or do some young dogs with recurrent giardiasis already have an underlying chronic enteropathy, with Giardia representing only one component of a broader problem? Or could both mechanisms be involved?
From a practical perspective, the study suggests that patients with recurrent giardiasis may require a broader approach than simply another course of antiparasitic treatment. Diet, microbiota and overall gastrointestinal health may all be relevant to achieving sustained clinical improvement.
Faecal microbiota transplantation in neurological patients
Another particularly interesting study examined faecal microbiota transplantation in paralysed dogs. Paralysis can result in loss of autonomic control over the gastrointestinal tract, affecting motility, mucosal permeability, perfusion, mucus secretion and microbiota composition.
Consequences frequently include constipation, diarrhoea, reduced motility, dysbiosis and secondary inflammation. These problems not only reduce patient comfort but can also make home care and rehabilitation more difficult and interfere with maintaining adequate nutritional status.
In the study, paralysed dogs were divided into a standard rehabilitation group and a group receiving faecal microbiota transplantation in addition to rehabilitation. Following FMT, rapid improvements in stool quality and defecation frequency were observed and persisted through subsequent follow-up assessments. Dysbiosis decreased and microbial diversity increased.
This is an important observation because improved gastrointestinal function in neurological patients has implications beyond gastroenterology. It may influence quality of life, ease of care, nutritional status, recovery and rehabilitation. FMT does not replace neurological treatment or rehabilitation, but it may become a valuable adjunctive therapy in selected cases.
Narrow-band imaging in the diagnosis of intestinal lymphoma in cats
Differentiating lymphoplasmacytic enteritis from low-grade intestinal lymphoma remains one of the more challenging areas of feline gastroenterology. The two conditions may produce similar clinical signs and ultrasonographic findings, and diagnosis often requires endoscopy, histopathology and additional testing.
The webinar discussed the use of narrow-band imaging, an advanced optical imaging technique that enhances the contrast of superficial blood vessels and the capillary network within the mucosa. The aim was to determine whether macroscopic patterns could help distinguish low-grade T-cell intestinal lymphoma from lymphoplasmacytic enteritis.
The results were described as promising. Narrow-band imaging does not replace biopsy, but it may help identify more appropriate biopsy sites and potentially support earlier therapeutic decisions while histopathology results are pending.
For vets working with feline gastroenterology patients, this represents an important area of development, particularly because chronic intestinal inflammation and intestinal lymphoma may form a clinical and pathological continuum, and the timing of diagnosis can have a major impact on subsequent management.
Mycophenolate mofetil in immune-mediated enteropathies
The section on treatment of chronic immune-mediated enteropathies included a discussion of mycophenolate mofetil, an immunosuppressive drug used in human medicine, including in transplant patients. It works by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation, which may be relevant in immune-mediated diseases.
Interest in MMF in veterinary medicine is partly driven by the need for alternatives to corticosteroids and ciclosporin. This may be particularly important in patients that do not respond adequately to standard treatment, experience adverse effects from corticosteroids or require a reduction in corticosteroid dosage.
The data discussed suggested that MMF may reduce disease activity both as monotherapy and in combination with corticosteroids, including in patients with protein-losing enteropathy. Adverse effects mainly involved the gastrointestinal tract and included nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea. As in humans, the risk appears to be dose-dependent.
It is not a first-line treatment for every patient with enteropathy, but it may become an important option in difficult, immune-mediated cases that do not respond to standard treatment.
The dysbiosis index and the importance of testing methodology
The webinar also highlighted the importance of how dysbiosis is assessed. The dysbiosis index can provide useful information about changes in the intestinal microbiota, but its interpretation should always take the methodology and the patient’s clinical context into account.
Different testing approaches may assess different bacterial populations or aspects of microbial composition, which means that results obtained using different methods are not necessarily directly comparable.
The dysbiosis index should therefore not be treated as an isolated diagnosis. Its greatest value lies in combining the result with the patient’s clinical signs, nutritional history, previous treatment and other diagnostic findings.
As our understanding of the microbiome develops, standardisation of testing and interpretation will become increasingly important if microbiota-based markers are to be used reliably in everyday clinical practice.
Implications for clinical practice
The most important conclusion from the webinar is that chronic gastrointestinal diseases require an increasingly precise approach. Broad labels such as “diarrhoea”, “IBD”, “intolerance” or “dysbiosis” are no longer sufficient. In gastroenterology patients, diet, inflammation, the microbiota, intestinal barrier function, metabolism, genetics, age, breed, neoplastic risk and immune response all need to be considered.
In practice, this has several implications.
First, chronic gastrointestinal signs should not be normalised. Even mild, recurrent signs may be part of a broader disease process.
Second, the absence of clinical signs in cats does not exclude significant histopathological changes. Preventive healthcare in senior cats should therefore be taken seriously.
Third, diet remains one of the most important therapeutic tools, but its role extends far beyond choosing a protein source. Diet influences inflammation, the microbiota, metabolism, body weight and treatment tolerance.
Fourth, the microbiota is becoming an increasingly important therapeutic target, but it requires careful interpretation. FMT, dysbiosis index testing and microbiome modulation have considerable potential, but they should be used within an appropriate clinical context.
Finally, veterinary gastroenterology is moving increasingly towards personalised medicine: more precise diagnostics, better prognostication, targeted treatment and closer collaboration between vets, nutritionists, diagnostic imaging specialists, pathologists and owners.
Summary
EuroGut 2026 demonstrated that modern small animal gastroenterology extends far beyond the traditional “diet, probiotic, steroid” approach. We are learning increasingly more about the role of the microbiota, inflammatory markers, amino acid metabolism, intestinal fibrosis, breed predispositions and early neoplastic changes.
At the same time, many questions remain unanswered. Could Neu5Gc become a practical marker of inflammatory or neoplastic risk? Will tryptophan become an established part of the management of patients with protein-losing enteropathy? Could FMT become a standard treatment option for selected patients with dysbiosis, recurrent giardiasis or neurological disorders? Could narrow-band imaging facilitate earlier diagnosis of intestinal lymphoma in cats?
We will have to wait for some of these answers. However, the direction is already clear: gastroenterology patients require careful, multi-level assessment. Clinical signs represent only the surface of the problem. Beneath them are inflammatory, microbial, immunological and metabolic processes that we are becoming increasingly able to investigate, understand and incorporate into therapeutic decisions.
A full discussion of the topics covered in this article is available in the webinar “From dysbiosis to lymphoma” with Veterinary Technician Angelika Gałkiewicz. We particularly recommend watching the recording if you regularly work with patients presenting with chronic diarrhoea, enteropathies, dysbiosis, recurrent giardiasis, suspected intestinal lymphoma or other challenging gastrointestinal conditions.