Temporal Variability is an Inherent Feature of the Healthy Canine Microbiome

This study aimed to investigate the temporal variability of the fecal microbiome in healthy domestic dogs. A cohort of 35 clinically healthy dogs was enrolled and sampled monthly over a period of 1 to 2 years. Fecal samples were collected under standardized protocols and screened monthly for parasites and pathogens. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using the PacBio Sequel IIe platform. Downstream statistical analyses included measures of alpha- and beta-diversity, microbiome dispersion, and taxon-level variability, with adjustments for sampling intervals and infection status.