Chicory Root for Dogs: 8 Science-Backed Health Benefits

Glendon Lloyd | Dip. Canine Nutrition (Dist.) | Dip. Canine Nutrigenomics (Dist.) | Founder, Bonza Specialisms: Canine Gut Microbiome, Nutrigenomics, Functional Plant-Based Nutrition | Reviews 5–6 peer-reviewed studies weekly

Dried Chicory Root – How One Prebiotic Powers Whole-Body Health

Chicory root, a popular plant-based food known for its rich, coffee-like flavour in human diets, raises the question of its benefits and suitability for dogs. As pet owners increasingly look for healthier, plant-based options for their furry friends, understanding chicory root’s health benefits for dogs, and precautions, is essential.

What makes chicory root truly remarkable — and what sets it apart from most other ingredients in canine nutrition — is the way its benefits radiate outward from the gut to virtually every major organ system in the body. Modern microbiome science has revealed that the gut doesn’t operate in isolation. Through a network of biochemical signalling pathways known as gut-organ axes, the microbiome communicates directly with the brain, immune system, heart, skin, liver, joints, and metabolic organs. Chicory root, through its exceptionally high inulin content and unique bioactive compounds, fuels this communication network at its source — making it one of the most strategically important prebiotic ingredients in canine nutrition today.

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History of Use

Origins

Chicory is native to western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. It lives as a wild plant on roadsides in Europe. The plant was brought to North America by early European colonists. It is also common in China, and Australia, where it has become widely naturalised.

It is believed to be one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in human history (1, 2). One of the first descriptions of chicory root cultivation dates from around the 3rd century before Christ (BC) when the Greek Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle and one of the first botanists, described chicory and its growth (3). Beside botanists, physicians, cooks, and even poets have also written about the chicory plant, which indicates that the plant enjoyed great popularity.

Chicory roots have been historically used for 3 purposes: 1) as a food product for culinary vegetable dishes and later for the production of ingredients, 2) as a medicinal plant prepared either as a whole or as a base for extraction, and 3) for miscellaneous use, such as cosmetic applications. It has also been used as forage for animals.

Adoption into Canine Diets

The incorporation of chicory root into canine diets is a more recent development (first introduced in 1999), paralleling the human trend towards more natural and plant-based diets. Its prebiotic properties and nutritional benefits have made it a noteworthy addition to dog foods, particularly in formulations aimed at improving digestive health.

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Nutritional Profile

Macro and Micronutrients

Proteins: Chicory root contains small amounts of protein essential for dog health, supporting muscle maintenance and repair.

Fibres: High in inulin, a type of soluble fibre, chicory root promotes healthy digestion and nutrient absorption in dogs.

Fats: While low in fats, the root supports a balanced diet for dogs with its nutrient-dense profile.

Vitamins and Minerals

Chicory root is a source of vitamins B6 and C, potassium, and manganese, supporting canine immune systems, bone health, and more.

Phytonutrients

Chicory root contains inulin and sesquiterpene lactones, known for their prebiotic effects and potential to enhance immune function and reduce inflammation. (4)

Contribution to Dogs’ Health and Wellbeing

The inulin in chicory root supports healthy digestion, while its antioxidant properties may help reduce inflammation and support overall health. These benefits make chicory root a promising ingredient for dogs with conditions like obesity, joint problems, and digestive issues.

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How Chicory Root Fuels Your Dog’s Gut-Organ Axes: The SCFA Connection

Before exploring the specific health benefits of chicory root, it’s important to understand the mechanism that underpins almost all of them: the production of short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs.

When your dog consumes chicory root, its high inulin content passes through the stomach and small intestine undigested, arriving intact in the colon. There, beneficial bacteria — particularly Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii — ferment the inulin, producing three primary SCFAs: butyrate, propionate, and acetate (13).

These SCFAs are far more than simple digestive byproducts. They are signalling molecules that communicate with virtually every major organ system in your dog’s body through what scientists now call gut-organ axes — bidirectional communication pathways between the gut microbiome and distant organs (14).

Butyrate is the primary energy source for colonocytes (the cells lining the colon), maintaining gut barrier integrity and preventing the leakage of harmful endotoxins into the bloodstream. It also plays critical roles in immune regulation, anti-inflammatory signalling, and even gene expression through histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition (15).

Propionate travels via the portal vein to the liver, where it influences gluconeogenesis, cholesterol metabolism, and detoxification processes. It also signals to the brain and endocrine system to regulate appetite and energy balance (16).

Acetate enters the systemic circulation, influencing cardiac function, lipid metabolism, and central appetite regulation through hypothalamic signalling (17).

This SCFA production is the foundation upon which chicory root’s wide-ranging health benefits are built. Each of the gut-organ axis connections explored below traces back to this central prebiotic mechanism.

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Health Benefits of Chicory Root for Dogs

Chicory root, renowned for its prebiotic properties primarily due to its high inulin content, offers a range of health benefits for dogs. Inulin is a type of soluble fibre that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can lead to improved digestion and overall health. What modern microbiome science now reveals is that these benefits extend far beyond digestion — radiating outward from the gut to influence virtually every major organ system through a network of gut-organ axis signalling pathways.

Below, we explore the specific gut-organ axes through which chicory root delivers its health benefits, along with the mechanisms and scientific evidence supporting each connection.

Gut Health — The Foundation

Mechanism: Inulin from chicory root acts as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in a dog’s gut. This can lead to an improved balance of gut flora, which is essential for healthy digestion. It can also enhance the absorption of nutrients and help regulate bowel movements.

Research demonstrates that inulin-type fructans from chicory selectively stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species while suppressing potentially harmful bacteria such as Clostridium and E. coli (18), a process known as selective fermentation. This shift in microbial composition strengthens the gut barrier by increasing the production of butyrate, which fuels colonocyte proliferation and enhances tight junction protein expression — the molecular “seals” that prevent harmful substances from leaking through the intestinal wall (19).

Chicory root’s inulin has also been shown to increase faecal moisture content and stool bulk through its osmotic and fermentative properties, promoting healthy bowel regularity without the irritant effects of some insoluble fibres (20).

Benefits: Regular consumption of chicory root can prevent constipation, reduce the risk of digestive disorders like IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and colitis, and may improve overall digestive function. The enhanced gut barrier integrity also forms the critical foundation for every other gut-organ axis benefit that follows — because a compromised gut barrier allows endotoxins and inflammatory mediators to enter the systemic circulation, driving inflammation in distant organs.

The Gut-Immune Axis

Mechanism: A healthy gut microbiota, supported by inulin, plays a crucial role in the development and function of the immune system. Approximately 70–80% of your dog’s immune cells reside in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), making the intestinal microbiome the primary training ground for immune function (21).

Chicory root’s inulin supports the gut-immune axis through multiple interconnected pathways. The butyrate produced by microbial fermentation of inulin directly promotes the differentiation of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) — immune cells responsible for preventing excessive inflammatory responses and maintaining immune tolerance (22). This is particularly significant for dogs prone to allergic reactions or autoimmune conditions, where immune dysregulation drives disease.

Additionally, inulin-type fructans have been shown to directly interact with dendritic cells and natural killer (NK) cells in the GALT, priming the innate immune response against pathogens without triggering inappropriate inflammatory cascades (23). Inulin also enhances the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the antibody that forms the first line of immune defence at mucosal surfaces throughout the body (24).

Benefits: Dogs consuming chicory root may experience fewer infections and an improved ability to fight off illness due to a more robust and better-regulated immune system. The immune-balancing rather than simply immune-boosting effect is what makes chicory root particularly valuable — supporting appropriate immune responses rather than overreaction.

The Gut-Brain Axis

Mechanism: One of the most exciting areas of microbiome research is the discovery that the gut communicates directly with the brain through the gut-brain axis — a bidirectional signalling network involving the vagus nerve, neuroendocrine pathways, immune mediators, and microbial metabolites (25).

Chicory root’s inulin influences the gut-brain axis through several key mechanisms. First, the prebiotic stimulation of Bifidobacterium populations supports tryptophan metabolism — tryptophan being the essential amino acid precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter critically involved in mood regulation, emotional balance, and stress resilience (26). Approximately 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, and its synthesis is directly influenced by microbial composition.

Second, the SCFAs produced from inulin fermentation — particularly butyrate and propionate — can cross the blood-brain barrier and influence neuroinflammation, neuroplasticity, and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports learning, memory, and adaptive stress responses (27). Butyrate also strengthens the blood-brain barrier itself through the same tight junction mechanisms it employs in the gut (28).

Third, prebiotic supplementation has been shown in preclinical studies to reduce the stress-related cortisol response and modulate HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis activity — the neuroendocrine system that governs your dog’s fight-or-flight response (29). This has direct relevance for dogs experiencing anxiety, noise phobias, or separation-related behaviours.

Benefits: By supporting a healthy gut-brain axis, chicory root may help promote emotional balance, improve stress resilience, and support cognitive function in dogs. This is particularly relevant for anxious dogs, ageing dogs experiencing cognitive decline, and dogs exposed to stressful environments.

The Gut-Heart Axis

Mechanism: Inulin has been shown to positively influence lipid metabolism, potentially leading to lower levels of harmful cholesterol. This effect is driven by the production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which are produced when beneficial bacteria ferment inulin.

The gut-heart axis operates through several pathways that chicory root’s inulin directly influences. Propionate, one of the primary SCFAs from inulin fermentation, inhibits hepatic cholesterol synthesis by downregulating key enzymes in the mevalonate pathway, leading to reduced circulating LDL cholesterol (16). Propionate has also been shown to have direct vasodilatory effects and may contribute to blood pressure regulation through activation of the Olfr78 and GPR41 receptors expressed in vascular smooth muscle (30).

Equally important is the gut microbiome’s role in TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) metabolism. Certain gut bacteria convert dietary precursors into trimethylamine (TMA), which the liver then oxidises to TMAO — a metabolite strongly associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including atherosclerosis and cardiac events (31). The prebiotic modulation of gut microbial communities by chicory root inulin may help shift the balance away from TMA-producing species, potentially reducing TMAO-associated cardiovascular risk (32).

Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of butyrate — reducing systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 — help protect the vascular endothelium from the chronic low-grade inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease (33).

Benefits: By supporting healthier cholesterol levels, promoting vascular function, potentially reducing TMAO production, and dampening systemic inflammation, chicory root can help reduce the risk of heart disease in dogs. These cardioprotective effects originate in the gut — reinforcing that cardiovascular health begins with microbiome health.

The Gut-Skin Axis

Mechanism: The connection between gut health and skin condition is one of the most visible manifestations of gut-organ axis communication. The gut-skin axis describes the bidirectional relationship in which intestinal microbiome composition, gut barrier integrity, and systemic immune regulation directly influence skin health, coat quality, and susceptibility to dermatological conditions (34).

Chicory root supports the gut-skin axis through three primary pathways. First, by strengthening gut barrier integrity through butyrate-mediated tight junction reinforcement, inulin helps prevent the translocation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) — bacterial endotoxins — into the systemic circulation. LPS translocation is a recognised driver of systemic inflammation that manifests in the skin as itching, redness, and inflammatory dermatological conditions (35).

Second, the SCFA-mediated promotion of regulatory T-cells (discussed in the gut-immune axis above) has direct implications for skin health. Tregs help suppress the exaggerated immune responses — particularly the Th2-skewed responses — that drive allergic dermatitis, one of the most common skin conditions in dogs (36).

Third, chicory root’s support of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations helps maintain microbial diversity in the gut, which is increasingly recognised as a predictor of skin health. Studies have shown that dogs with atopic dermatitis tend to have reduced gut microbial diversity compared to healthy controls, suggesting that restoring diversity through prebiotic intervention may support dermatological improvement (37).

Benefits: Through the gut-skin axis, chicory root may help improve coat quality, reduce skin inflammation and itching, and support dogs with allergic or atopic skin conditions. Rather than treating skin problems topically, this approach addresses one of their underlying root causes — the health of the gut microbiome.

The Gut-Joint Axis

Mechanism: The anti-inflammatory effects of chicory root can help to reduce pain and stiffness associated with joint issues in dogs. What microbiome science now reveals is that much of this anti-inflammatory benefit originates in the gut and is mediated through the gut-joint axis (38).

The gut-joint axis operates through multiple pathways. Butyrate, produced from the fermentation of chicory root’s inulin, is a potent inhibitor of the NF-κB inflammatory signalling pathway — the master regulator of inflammatory gene expression that drives joint inflammation and cartilage degradation in conditions like arthritis (39). By suppressing NF-κB activation systemically, butyrate reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) that would otherwise drive joint tissue destruction.

Additionally, a compromised gut barrier — sometimes called “leaky gut” — allows bacterial endotoxins to enter the circulation, which has been shown to exacerbate joint inflammation in animal models of arthritis (40). By strengthening gut barrier integrity, chicory root’s inulin helps prevent this endotoxin-driven amplification of joint inflammation.

Chicory root also contains sesquiterpene lactones and chlorogenic acid, which have direct anti-inflammatory properties independent of the SCFA pathway, providing a complementary mechanism of action (4).

Benefits: Dogs may experience relief from joint discomfort and an improvement in their ability to move and enjoy physical activity through improved mobility. The gut-joint axis approach recognises that lasting joint health requires addressing systemic inflammation at its source — the gut — rather than relying solely on direct anti-inflammatory intervention.

The Gut-Liver Axis

Mechanism: The gut and liver are intimately connected via the portal vein — the major blood vessel that carries everything absorbed from the intestines directly to the liver for processing and detoxification. This anatomical connection makes the gut-liver axis one of the most direct and well-characterised gut-organ relationships (41).

Chicory root has a particularly compelling story within the gut-liver axis. Its sesquiterpene lactones — the compounds responsible for chicory’s characteristic bitter taste — have demonstrated hepatoprotective properties in preclinical studies, supporting the liver’s capacity to neutralise and eliminate harmful substances (42).

Additionally, chicory root’s chlorogenic acid has been shown to modulate hepatic enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and to exert hepatoprotective effects, reducing markers of liver oxidative stress and inflammation in preclinical studies (43). This is particularly relevant for dogs exposed to environmental toxins, those on long-term medications that place metabolic demands on the liver, or those with compromised hepatic function.

The prebiotic action of inulin further supports the gut-liver axis by strengthening gut barrier integrity and reducing the translocation of bacterial endotoxins through the portal vein to the liver. Endotoxin exposure activates Kupffer cells (the liver’s resident macrophages), driving hepatic inflammation — a process that chicory root’s prebiotic effects help to mitigate (44).

Benefits: Chicory root supports liver health and detoxification capacity through multiple gut-liver axis mechanisms — providing hepatoprotective antioxidant compounds, and reducing the burden of gut-derived endotoxins reaching the liver. This makes it a valuable ingredient for supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes and maintaining healthy liver function.

The Gut-Metabolic Axis

Mechanism: The high fibre content in chicory root promotes a feeling of fullness, which can help control appetite and prevent overeating. However, the metabolic benefits of chicory root extend far beyond simple satiety, operating through the gut-metabolic axis — the signalling network between gut microbes, their metabolites, and metabolic organs including the pancreas, adipose tissue, and endocrine system (45).

The SCFAs produced from inulin fermentation are potent stimulators of enteroendocrine L-cells in the colon, triggering the release of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and PYY (peptide YY) — satiety hormones that signal to the brain to reduce food intake and to the pancreas to optimise insulin secretion (46). This hormonal signalling pathway provides a more sustained and physiologically regulated form of appetite control than simple fibre bulking alone.

Additionally, a healthy gut microbiome, supported by prebiotics like inulin, is linked to better regulation of the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio — a measure of microbial composition that is associated with metabolic health. An imbalanced ratio, often seen in obese individuals, is linked to increased caloric extraction from food and greater fat storage (47). Inulin supplementation helps normalise this ratio, supporting a microbial profile associated with healthy body weight.

Propionate, specifically, has been shown to stimulate intestinal gluconeogenesis — a process that generates a glucose signal via the portal nerve, promoting a sense of satiety and improving hepatic glucose handling (48). This mechanism provides yet another pathway through which chicory root supports metabolic health.

Benefits: Chicory root can be a valuable part of a weight management plan for dogs, helping to prevent obesity and related health issues by regulating appetite through hormonal signalling, supporting healthy insulin sensitivity, and promoting a metabolic-friendly microbiome composition. These effects position chicory root as far more than a simple dietary fibre — it is a metabolic signalling ingredient that works through the gut-metabolic axis.

The Gut-Longevity Axis

Mechanism: Perhaps the most compelling long-term benefit of chicory root lies in its influence on what researchers now describe as the gut-longevity axis — the relationship between microbiome health, chronic low-grade inflammation, and the biological processes that determine how gracefully (and how long) your dog ages (49).

Ageing is increasingly understood not simply as the passage of time, but as the accumulation of cellular damage driven in large part by chronic, systemic inflammation — a process scientists call “inflammaging.” The gut microbiome plays a central role in this process: as microbial diversity declines with age, gut barrier integrity weakens, endotoxin translocation increases, and a self-reinforcing cycle of systemic inflammation accelerates cellular ageing (50).

Chicory root’s inulin directly counteracts these ageing mechanisms. By maintaining microbial diversity and supporting beneficial bacterial populations, inulin helps preserve gut barrier integrity throughout your dog’s life (18). The butyrate produced from inulin fermentation acts as an HDAC inhibitor — a mechanism that influences gene expression in ways that promote cellular repair, support autophagy (the body’s cellular “housekeeping” process that removes damaged cellular components), and reduce the oxidative stress that drives cellular ageing (51).

Chicory root’s polyphenolic compounds — particularly chlorogenic acid — provide additional antioxidant protection, neutralising the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes over time (5, 6, 7). The combination of prebiotic-driven anti-inflammatory signalling and direct antioxidant activity creates a synergistic defence against the two primary drivers of biological ageing.

Benefits: Through the gut-longevity axis, chicory root supports healthy ageing by maintaining microbiome diversity, reducing chronic inflammation, promoting cellular repair mechanisms, and protecting against oxidative stress-related damage. For dog owners committed to extending both the lifespan and healthspan of their companions, the gut-longevity axis represents one of the most powerful nutritional levers available — and chicory root sits at its centre.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Mechanism: Beyond its gut-organ axis contributions, chicory root contains several direct-acting antioxidants, including polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, coumarins like cichoriin, and other organic acids (5), which are known to have various health-protective effects (6, 7). These compounds can neutralise harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and damage. Chicory root also has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation throughout the body.

These direct antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects work synergistically with the SCFA-mediated, gut-axis pathways described above — providing both local protection within the gut and systemic protection through absorbed polyphenolic metabolites. This dual mechanism — prebiotic-driven and direct-acting — is what makes chicory root such a comprehensive protective ingredient.

Benefits: These properties make chicory root beneficial for dogs with chronic inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, and can help protect against oxidative stress-related diseases.

Disease Prevention

Mechanism: The cumulative benefits of chicory root — operating through the gut-immune, gut-heart, gut-metabolic, gut-liver, and gut-longevity axes, alongside its direct antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties — contribute to a reduced risk of various chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancers, and heart disease. (8)

This “whole-body” protective effect is not coincidental — it reflects the fundamental biology of how the gut microbiome influences systemic health. When the microbiome is well-nourished with prebiotic substrates like inulin, the resulting SCFA production, immune regulation, barrier integrity, and metabolic signalling collectively create an internal environment that is resistant to chronic disease development.

Benefits: Incorporating chicory root into a dog’s diet can be a proactive measure to help prevent the onset of chronic diseases and support long-term health. This is the essence of the “One Gut. Whole Dog.” approach — recognising that investment in gut microbiome health through ingredients like chicory root pays dividends across every organ system.

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How to Support Your Dog’s Gut Health with Chicory Root

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Why Bonza Includes Chicory Root Across Its Entire Range

Chicory root isn’t just an ingredient in one Bonza product — it appears across virtually our entire range, and that’s a deliberate formulation decision rooted in the science described above.

In Bonza Superfoods and Ancient Grains, our complete plant-based dog food, chicory root works alongside baobab as a foundational prebiotic, supporting daily microbiome health and fuelling the gut-organ axes that underpin whole-body vitality. The formulation combines chicory root with the probiotic Bacillus velezensis (Calsporin®) and the postbiotic TruPet® — creating a complete synbiotic system of prebiotic fuel, probiotic organisms, and postbiotic metabolites.

In our Bioactive Bites supplement range, chicory root provides the prebiotic foundation that supports each supplement’s targeted function:

Belly (Digestive Support) — Chicory root’s inulin directly supports the gut-immune axis and digestive health that Belly is designed to optimise, working synergistically with L-Glutamine for gut barrier repair and Bacillus velezensis for microbial balance.

Biotics (Microbiome Support) — As the prebiotic pillar of Biotics’ pre-, pro-, and postbiotic formulation, chicory root fuels the very microbial ecosystem that Biotics is designed to nurture.

Block (Allergy Support) — Chicory root supports the gut-skin and gut-immune axes — the pathways most relevant to allergic and atopic conditions that Block is formulated to address.

Banish (Pest Protection) — Chicory root’s sesquiterpene lactones contribute natural anthelmintic properties, while its prebiotic support of gut immune function strengthens internal resistance to parasitic challenge.

Bounce (Joint & Mobility Support) — Through the gut-joint axis, chicory root’s SCFA production provides the systemic anti-inflammatory foundation that complements Bounce’s glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM.

Boost (Nutritional Enhancement) — Chicory root ensures that Boost’s comprehensive vitamin, mineral, and bioactive nutrient profile is supported by a healthy gut capable of optimal nutrient absorption and systemic distribution.

This consistent inclusion of chicory root across the range reflects Bonza’s foundational philosophy: One Gut. Whole Dog. Every product we make is designed with the understanding that a healthy gut microbiome is the starting point for whole-body health.

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Incorporating Chicory Root into a Dog’s Diet

Chicory root can be introduced to dogs in various forms, including raw, cooked, or powdered. It’s also found in many high-quality, plant-based dog foods. When adding chicory root to homemade diets, it’s essential to do so under the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist to ensure it’s done at a nutritionally appropriate level.

Recommended Amounts

The quantity of chicory root to include in a dog’s diet should be minimal, serving primarily as a supplement rather than a primary ingredient to avoid any nutritional imbalances. A general guideline is to start with small quantities, such as 0.05% of the food’s dry matter basis. (9) Incremental increases, while monitoring the dog’s response, can help identify the optimal dosage.

Innovative Home-cooked Recipes

Incorporating chicory root into homemade dog treats or meals can be a creative way to enhance your dog’s diet. Recipes could include chicory-infused dog biscuits or a sprinkle of chicory powder over their usual meal.

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Environmental Impact

Sustainable Production

Chicory root is generally considered a sustainable crop, requiring less water and land than many other agricultural products. Its cultivation can contribute positively to soil health and biodiversity.

Contribution to Biodiversity

Chicory planting can enhance agricultural biodiversity, supporting soil health and reducing the need for chemical inputs.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Chicory Root for Dogs

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Scientific References

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2. Al-Snafi, A.E. (2016). Medical importance of Cichorium intybus. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy. PMC7360457 Ref 52
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4. Nwafor IC, Shale K, Achilonu MC. Chemical Composition and Nutritive Benefits of Chicory (Cichorium intybus) as an Ideal Complementary and/or Alternative Livestock Feed Supplement. ScientificWorldJournal. 2017;2017:7343928. doi: 10.1155/2017/7343928. Epub 2017 Dec 13. PMID: 29387778; PMCID: PMC5745685.
5. E. Leclercq, Determination of lactucin in roots of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) by high-performance liquid chromatography, Journal of Chromatography A, Volume 283, 1984, Pages 441-444, ISSN 0021-9673, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(00)96288-5.
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7. Puhlmann, M.L. & de Vos, W.M. (2020). Back to the Roots: Revisiting the Use of the Fiber-Rich Cichorium intybus L. Taproots. Advances in Nutrition, 11(4), 878–889. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmaa025. PMCID: PMC7360457.
8. Snelson M, de Pasquale C, Ekinci EI, Coughlan MT. Gut microbiome, prebiotics, intestinal permeability and diabetes complications. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 May;35(3):101507. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101507. Epub 2021 Feb 17. PMID: 33642218.
9. Beloshapka AN, Duclos LM, Vester Boler BM, Swanson KS. Effects of inulin or yeast cell-wall extract on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative end-product concentrations, and blood metabolite concentrations in adult dogs fed raw meat-based diets. Am J Vet Res. 2012 Jul;73(7):1016-23. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.73.7.1016. PMID: 22738053.
10. Rizvi W, Fayazuddin M, Shariq S, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of roots of Cichorium intybus due to its inhibitory effect on various cytokines and antioxidant activity. Anc Sci Life. 2014;34(1):44-49. doi:10.4103/0257-7941.150780
11. Valente AH, de Roode M, Ernst M, Peña-Espinoza M, Bornancin L, Bonde CS, Martínez-Valladares M, Ramünke S, Krücken J, Simonsen HT, Thamsborg SM, Williams AR. Identification of compounds responsible for the anthelmintic effects of chicory (Cichorium intybus) by molecular networking and bio-guided fractionation. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2021 Apr;15:105-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.02.002. Epub 2021 Feb 11. PMID: 33618233; PMCID: PMC7907819.
12. Peña-Espinoza M, Williams AR, Thamsborg SM, Simonsen HT, Enemark HL. Anthelmintic effects of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus) against free-living and parasitic stages of Cooperia oncophora. Vet Parasitol. 2017 Aug 30;243:204-207. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.07.008. Epub 2017 Jul 10. PMID: 28807295.

Gut-organ Axis Science References (potentially translational Research Studies)

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15. Hamer HM, Jonkers D, Venema K, Vanhoutvin S, Troost FJ, Brummer RJ. Review article: the role of butyrate on colonic function. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Jan 15;27(2):104-19. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03562.x. Epub 2007 Oct 25. PMID: 17973645.
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17. Frost G, Sleeth ML, Sahuri-Arisoylu M, Lizarbe B, Cerdan S, Brody L, Anastasovska J, Ghourab S, Hankir M, Zhang S, Carling D, Swann JR, Gibson G, Viardot A, Morrison D, Louise Thomas E, Bell JD. The short-chain fatty acid acetate reduces appetite via a central homeostatic mechanism. Nat Commun. 2014 Apr 29;5:3611. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4611. PMID: 24781306; PMCID: PMC4015327.
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Editorial Information

Last reviewed	February 2026
Next review due	February 2027
Author	Glendon Lloyd, Dip. Canine Nutrition (Dist.), Dip. Canine Nutrigenomics (Dist.)
Medical disclaimer	This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before making changes to your dog’s diet or supplement regimen.