A newly published interventional study led by Treat Therapeutics confirms that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP815, a proprietary GABA-producing probiotic developed by Verb Biotics, significantly reduces anxiety and aggression in dogs while improving sleep quality and maintaining a strong safety profile with no reported side effects.
The research, published in Animals journal, builds on positive results from prior human trials with LP815 and was designed to evaluate whether the same gut-brain axis benefits could be achieved in companion animals.
In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 40 home-based dogs with preexisting behavioral issues were observed in their natural environments over four weeks. The study noted LP815 supplementation led to statistically significant behavioral improvements measured through both owner-reported assessments using the Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and continuous wearable activity tracking.
Key findings included reduced aggression with significant improvement in aggression scores (p=0.0047), lower anxiety with significant reductions in anxiety-related behaviors such as excessive vocalization, pacing, and clinginess (p=0.0010), and improved sleep quality with more consistent sleep patterns, reduced daytime napping, and earlier wake times suggesting deeper, more restorative sleep without next-day drowsiness. No significant gastrointestinal or other adverse events were reported during the study period.
"LP815 offers an effective alternative that targets the root causes of stress and behavioral issues through microbiome modulation, rather than just masking symptoms," said Noah Zimmerman, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Verb Biotics.
Emmanuel Bijaoui, founder & CEO of Treat Therapeutics, added, "LP815 is one of the first probiotics with peer-reviewed evidence of behavioral benefits in real-world, home-based dogs. Backed by our track record of over 24 pet studies, we're proud to have helped Verb Biotics validate a new scientific standard for natural emotional wellness support in dogs."
The company said the study positions LP815 as a microbiome-based solution for promoting calm, balanced behavior in canines, providing companion animal supplement brands with clinical evidence supporting the ingredient's effectiveness for calming support applications.
