Fecal Transplant For Cognition?

Hello Summarians!

Transplanting gut bacteria from a healthy donor may slow cognitive decline in aging dogs.

That sentence would have sounded like science fiction ten years ago.

This week also brings a look at liquid biopsy technologies for canine cancer detection, where blood and urine tests are beginning to challenge the need for tissue samples. And a Bluetooth pulse oximeter clipped to a horse's nostril provides continuous oxygen monitoring that holds up against the gold standard. Three promising tools. None of them finished yet.

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Liquid Biopsy Update

Liquid biopsy (LBx) is an emerging diagnostic approach that analyzes bodily fluids such as blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and secretions to detect cancer-related biomarkers and circulating tumor cells. In veterinary medicine, LBx is gaining attention as a less invasive complement to traditional tissue biopsy, which remains the gold standard for cancer diagnosis. Tissue biopsies provide definitive information about tumor type, extent, and behavior but require invasive procedures and carry risks such as bleeding, infection, and sampling errors. LBx offers advantages including minimal invasiveness, repeatability, lower complication rates, and the potential for monitoring disease progression and treatment response. However, it is not considered a standalone diagnostic tool and must be interpreted alongside clinical examination, imaging, laboratory testing, and tissue biopsy findings.  

Several LBx technologies are currently available for canine cancer detection. Blood-based tests evaluate circulating tumor DNA, cell-free DNA, tumor RNA, extracellular vesicles, or circulating tumor cells. Examples include the Nu.Q test, which detects cancer-associated nucleosomes, and the INCaSe test, which measures thymidine kinase and C-reactive protein concentrations. Urine-based assays are also emerging, including CADET BRAF for transitional cell carcinoma and OncoTect, which uses nematode responses to urinary compounds associated with cancer. These tests have demonstrated varying levels of sensitivity and specificity, but none have yet proven that they can reliably detect cancer at an early, asymptomatic stage or improve long-term clinical outcomes.  

A newer technology, Urine Molecular Fingerprinting (UMF), uses Raman spectroscopy to identify cancer-associated molecular patterns in urine. Preliminary studies have reported high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing dogs with cancer from cancer-free dogs. Despite these advances, the authors emphasize that veterinary LBx remains in an early stage of development. Large-scale validation studies and evidence demonstrating improved patient outcomes are still lacking. Nevertheless, LBx shows considerable promise as an adjunctive tool that may enhance cancer detection, guide therapeutic decisions, and improve disease monitoring in dogs as research and clinical validation continue to evolve.

Robertson, J., Issa, A. S., Dervisis, N., McGuire, K., Tuohy, J., Rossmeisl, J., Marine, B., Jodar, L., Marconato, L., Fonseca-Alves, C., Feiock, C., Conner, B., Fesler, E. B., Ngo, L., Asl, R. S., Luczko, M., White, C., & Senger, R. (2026). Liquid biopsy technologies offer new insights and approaches for canine cancer detection and management. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.02.0124 

Bottom line — Shows promise.

Remote Pulse Ox For Horses

This pilot study evaluated a wireless Bluetooth pulse oximeter designed for continuous oxygen monitoring in horses. Researchers wanted to determine whether the device could be comfortably worn for extended periods, provide reliable data, and accurately estimate blood oxygen saturation compared with arterial blood gas analysis, the current gold standard. Fourteen horses participated, including seven healthy horses, three horses with respiratory disease, and four horses undergoing general anesthesia. The sensor was attached to a nonpigmented area of the nostril and monitored oxygen saturation continuously for periods ranging from 28 to 492 minutes.  

The results showed that the device was well tolerated by all horses. None actively attempted to remove the sensor, and 11 of the 14 horses kept the sensor in place for the entire monitoring period. The system successfully recorded valid oxygenation data an average of 98% of the monitoring time, demonstrating strong reliability even when horses were moving, eating, or recovering from anesthesia. Temporary signal interruptions occurred occasionally during chewing or movement but generally resolved quickly.  

Researchers collected arterial blood samples throughout the monitoring period and compared laboratory-measured oxygen saturation (SaO₂) with pulse oximeter readings (SpO₂). Analysis of 49 paired measurements showed good agreement between the two methods. The pulse oximeter slightly overestimated oxygen saturation by about 1%, which was considered clinically insignificant. The calculated accuracy met international standards for pulse oximetry performance. The device also successfully detected episodes of hypoxemia in the one horse that experienced low blood oxygen levels during anesthesia and recovery.  

The authors concluded that wireless Bluetooth pulse oximetry is a practical and accurate method for prolonged oxygen monitoring in conscious horses with normal oxygen levels. This technology may be especially valuable for horses at risk of low blood oxygen, such as those recovering from anesthesia or suffering from respiratory disease. However, larger studies involving more hypoxemic horses are needed to confirm its performance under more challenging clinical conditions. 

Granacka, V., & Kapaldo, N. (2026). Continuous Bluetooth pulse oximetry monitoring in conscious and anesthetized horses: a pilot study. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.04.0147

Bottom line — Early results support this technology.

FMT for Cognitive Dysfunction

This prospective study evaluated whether fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could improve cognitive function in dogs with suspected canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), a condition that shares many similarities with human Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers enrolled 11 senior dogs diagnosed with CCD and treated them with oral FMT capsules twice daily for 90 days. Cognitive function was assessed using the DISHAA questionnaire, which measures disorientation, social interactions, sleep patterns, house soiling, learning and memory, activity levels, and anxiety. Fecal samples were also collected throughout the study to evaluate changes in the gut microbiome.  

One dog developed gastrointestinal side effects and was withdrawn, leaving 10 dogs for microbiome analysis and 6 dogs with complete cognitive assessments. Among those six dogs, four demonstrated improved cognitive function after treatment, with average DISHAA scores decreasing by more than eight points. Improvements were most notable in dogs that initially had moderate cognitive impairment. Two dogs experienced worsening cognitive scores despite treatment. In many of the dogs that improved cognitively, researchers also observed increased microbial diversity and enrichment of bacterial species considered beneficial for gut health, including Peptacetobacter hiranonis, Prevotella copri, Bacteroides species, and Sutterella stercoricanis. These bacteria are associated with healthy metabolism, production of short-chain fatty acids, and maintenance of intestinal and neurological health.

The authors propose that FMT may influence cognition through the gut-brain axis, a communication network linking intestinal microbes and brain function. Beneficial gut bacteria can reduce inflammation, strengthen intestinal and blood-brain barriers, and increase production of neuroprotective compounds. These mechanisms have previously been demonstrated in rodent models and human studies of Alzheimer’s disease.  

Despite encouraging findings, the study had important limitations, including a small sample size, lack of a placebo control group, variable diets among participants, and incomplete follow-up data. Consequently, the results should be considered preliminary. Nevertheless, the study provides early evidence that FMT may represent a promising adjunctive therapy for CCD and supports the need for larger, controlled clinical trials to determine optimal dosing, treatment duration, and long-term effectiveness. 

Dewey, C. W., Rojas, C. A., Pomeroy, C., Gerardi, J., & Ganz, H. H. (2026). Fecal microbiota transplantation shows promise in slowing or reducing cognitive impairment in aging dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.03.0231

Bottom line — Encouraging but needs further study.

Just putting things in perspective …