Your dog can't tell you what's missing from their diet. GutDiscovery® can.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the microbiome?

  The microbiome is the name given to the collection of microbes, mostly bacteria, but also fungi and protozoa, that exist within your dog’s gut. It is a diverse and complex microbial community which can directly affect health and wellbeing. We know that 90% of a human’s body cells are microbes, with only 10% being human cells – it’s just that human cells are markedly larger than the microbes. It’s similar for our four-legged friends. Testing the microbiome gives us an idea of exactly which bacteria are present in your dog’s gut and this can help indicate existing or future health problems.

• Why should I get my dog's microbiome checked?

  A healthy diversity within the microbiome has been found to be an accurate indicator of overall health and wellbeing. If your dog appears healthy, but has an imbalance in their microbiome, then this could be an indicator of a potential future health issue. If your dog has any existing health complaints, then improving the health of their microbiome can help to improve immune system health and overall wellbeing, as well as improving disease symptoms.

• What are you testing for?

  We are testing your dog’s stool for different bacteria and creating a map of their microbiome. We look to see which bacteria are present in your dog’s biome, and whether these levels are normal, higher than normal or lower than normal. This information will give us an idea of what is going on within their gut now, as well as what issues could arise in the future. We will then give advice on how to improve the balance and diversity of the biome to help it return to optimum health.

• What conditions might testing and treatment help with?

  Testing and treatment have the potential to help with a whole range of different health complaints. The immune system is very closely associated with the gut, so any imbalance in the microbiome can influence immune system health, overall vitality and wellbeing. Our supplement recommendations are also tailored to your individual dog, with specific ranges designed to help with gastrointestinal inflammation, joint problems, allergies and skin complaints, to name a few.

• What do I have to do to get my dog tested?

  All you need to do is order a kit online and fill in our questionnaire about your dog and their general health. We will then send the kit out to you by post. You then just need to collect a sample and return it to us, again by post. Once the test is performed, we will email the results directly to you.

• Do I need to talk to my vet about testing or about the results?

  You do not need to get your vet’s permission to test, or talk to them about performing the test beforehand. We do recommend that you pass on a copy of your test results to your regular vets, as it may help them in understanding your pet’s current health, and any future complaints they may have.