Gut-Brain Axis Impact on Canine Anxiety Disorders: New Challenges for Behavioral Veterinary Medicine

Figure 1

Mechanisms involved in the GBA. Anxiety disorders may lead to the hyperactivation of the HPA axis, causing the release of cortisol into the systemic circulation. In an inflammatory environment, characterized by gut dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability, microbiota can translocate through the intestinal barrier. Moreover, immune cells may produce proinflammatory cytokines, while the gut microbiota itself may produce metabolites such as SCFAs and neurotransmitters that can directly impact mental health. Original illustration based on [15, 16] captioned as shown above: 1–hypothalamus, 2–pituitary gland, 3–adrenal gland, ACTH–adrenocorticotropic hormone, CRF–corticotropin–releasing factor, and SCFAs–short chain fatty acids.