Production and Inhibition of Gas in Various Regions in the Intestine of the Dog. ∗

Summary

The relationship between the small intestinal and colonic flora and the gas volumes and composition resulting from the introduction of navy bean homogenates into surgically prepared intestinal segments of normal and antibiotically pretreated dogs was investigated. Intestinal gas production was effectively inhibited or greatly reduced in animals pretreated with Neomycin Sulfate and Sulfathalidine, Mexaform, and Vioform, following the administration of navy bean homogenates. Mexaform and Vioform effectively destroyed the anaerobic bacteria of the intestinal tract while the normal aerobic and coliform bacteria increased in total numbers, indicating that the increased gas production from a navy bean homogenate was due to the anaerobic intestinal flora. Contrary to some current belief, it has been shown that bacterial action in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the dog may add significantly to the total intestinal gas volume of animals fed navy bean homogenates.