Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Escherichia coli, often called E. coli, is a bacterium that can normally live in the intestines. Many E. coli strains are harmless and can be part of the gut microbiome, while some strains may become more relevant when the gut environment is disturbed. Higher levels may reflect a shift toward bacteria that grow well when microbial stability is reduced or when the intestinal environment has changed. This may be seen together with diarrhoea, soft stool, abdominal discomfort, gas, mucus in stool, or other digestive changes. Escherichia coli levels can help show whether this common gut bacterium is becoming more prominent within the dog’s broader microbiome pattern.

Bacterias