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What your dog eats shapes more than their body — it can impact their energy, mood, behaviour and overall wellbeing. That’s the power of dog gut health, and at the centre of it is something called the gut-brain axis.
The gut-brain axis is a connection between the gut and the brain. It's how food affects everything from emotional regulation to digestion, immune response and behaviour.
When you understand how the gut-brain axis works, you can make informed decisions for your dog — ones that support both their physical and mental health for years to come.
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis is the physical and chemical connection between your pup’s gastrointestinal tract and their brain.
It works through:
Neural pathways, especially the vagus nerve
Hormones and neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine
Gut bacteria and other micro-organisms that form the microbiome
Meet the three key players in gut-brain communication
Your dog’s gut and brain are constantly talking to each other. When communication flows well, your dog feels calm, focused and physically well. But when the system’s out of sync, you might notice changes in mood, behaviour or digestion.
Here’s what drives the gut-brain connection — and why your dog's gut health is so important.
1. The vagus nerve: the gut’s direct line to the brain
Your dog’s gut has its own network of nerves: the enteric nervous system, which connects to the brain via the vagus nerve. This nerve helps manage heart rate, digestion, breathing, and emotional responses.
It's also part of the parasympathetic nervous system — responsible for the body’s 'rest and digest' state — helping to keep your dog physically and mentally balanced.
2. The microbiome
Your dog’s gut is home to trillions of micro-organisms, collectively known as the microbiome.
There’s growing evidence that gut bacteria influence brain chemistry, neural development, and behaviour.
A balanced microbiome supports emotional stability and physical health. But when it’s disrupted — a condition called dysbiosis — it can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety and even neuroinflammation, which may affect your pup’s mood.
Read more: Improve your dog’s gut health: a vet expert’s guide to the microbiome
3. Neurotransmitters and hormones
Neurotransmitters are the body’s chemical messengers — and many are made in the gut, making it a hormone-producing powerhouse.
About 90% of serotonin, the “happy hormone”, is made in the gut
Ghrelin, the hunger hormone that tells your dog when to eat, is also produced there
These chemicals help regulate appetite, mood, and energy.
Studies suggest that changes in the microbiome can impact neurotransmitter levels. While more research is needed, it reinforces the link between gut health and emotional wellbeing.
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How food supports mood and behaviour
The food your dog eats doesn’t just fuel their body — it helps shape how they feel, behave, and respond to the world.
A fresh, nutrient-rich diet supports a healthy microbiome and gut-brain communication, which in turn benefits your dog’s mood, behaviour, and digestion.
If you're looking to improve your dog's gut health, here’s what to look for:
Prebiotic dietary fibre
Many prebiotics are indigestible fibres found in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They feed beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, helping them thrive.
Dietary fibre is also a great way to support your pup’s healthy and regular bowel movements.
Read more: Dog poo decoded: colour, consistency and smell (vet approved guide)
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microbes that help maintain microbial balance. They’re also a beneficial way to replenish good bacteria after antibiotics and can help with dietary transitions.
Recent research has found that probiotics can help reduce anxiety-like behaviours and help with behavioural improvements in dogs
If your dog shows signs of stress — like barking, jumping, spinning, or pacing — probiotics may help regulate behaviour.
Lyka’s Go-To Gut Helper is a dog gut health supplement to support digestion and microbial diversity — just sprinkle over your dog’s meal. Or if you’re looking for support with your dog’s anxiety, try Lyka’s Calm Supplement containing probiotics and passionflower extract to promote sleep and quieten busy minds.
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High-quality protein and fresh food ingredients
Protein supports brain and metabolic function. Lyka meals include human-grade animal protein like grass-fed beef and free-range chicken — far more nutritious than processed meat meals or animal by-products.
Other ingredients like leafy greens, berries, and mushrooms contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit gut health and more.
Lyka meals are designed by Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and contain a variety of fresh, real food ingredients selected for their health benefits, including nourishing your pup's gut bacteria.
How Lyka was a game-changer for Sparky
Meet Spark Plug, aka Sparky, a Border Collie with anxiety and a sensitive stomach. Hear first-hand from Sparky’s parents how a simple switch to Lyka made all the difference to their pup’s health.
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Read more: How real food helped Sparky’s sensitive stomach
Lyka’s fresh take on gut health
Lyka meals lay the foundation for long-term wellbeing by nurturing the gut-brain axis — the powerful link between digestion, nutrition, mood, and behaviour. Formulated by Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, each meal is made with functional ingredients like human-grade protein and prebiotic-rich produce, all gently cooked to retain nutrients and support optimal gut health.
Explore Lyka’s fresh meal range and start shaping your dog’s health from the inside out.
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