Dogs deserve the absolute best care we can give them and I am passionate about keeping my four-legged companions as healthy as they can be, so I am always interested by new theories and developments from the dog health world.
I was intrigued when a company called BIOME9 recently got in touch with me to tell me about BIOME9 – a simple to do, but cutting edge AI powered test, that analyses the bacteria in your dogs microbiome and can determine if there is a need to add any nutrients
I’m not going to lie, I had absolutely no idea that a dogs gut wall held so much vital information or indeed that it contains 70% of a dogs immune system. What I have been aware of for many years though, is that many dogs’ diets lack in essential vitamins, nutrients and minerals and are therefore not thriving as they should. By having your dogs microbiome decoded you would know exactly what was lacking in their diet, and therefore be able to make adjustments that would not only improve their general wellbeing but help provide solutions to conditions such as skin allergies and digestive issues,
I think I feed my dogs a natural and healthy diet and also give them a couple of supplements for joint support and the like, so I am really curious to get the results of the test and potentially be humbled!
The test itself could not have been easier, you simply collect a sample of your dogs stool and pop it in the post to the lab.
Once the results of the test comeback from the lab, the guys at Biome9 can detail a personal supplement plan for your dog – based on actual science as well as recommend any changes to your dogs diet etc they think would be of benefit. The supplements that are the best fit with the test results would obviously be BiomeBites®, a vet-formulated supplement that is available on a cancel anytime, flexible subscription from Biome9. BiomeBites® even come in the form of a daily treat, so that would be classed as a win in most dogs eyes!!
Anyway, as my scientific and tech knowledge is not up to much, I decided to pose some questions to the experts at BIOME9 so we can all better understand the advantages of having our dogs biome analysed and also some information about their vision of how this test and the associated supplements are going to help our dogs be healthier. I am sure, that you, like me, will have a much broader understanding of why having our dogs microbiomes tested can be beneficial by reading their comprehensive answers.
1. What motivated you to create the test?
Our dogs are facing a significant struggle, from the loss of their natural diet, excessive use
of chemical treatments and antibiotics, and ever-narrowing gene pools. Their overall health
is in decline.
Our motivation with BIOME9 is to leverage cutting-edge science, research and technology to reverse this trend.
Clinical studies show that over 90% of dogs will experience at least one avoidable symptom of poor microbiome health each year.
Testing the gut microbiome provides an in-depth insight into what’s going on not only with their digestive system, but their overall bodily function, empowering owners to take a proactive and personalised approach to their dog’s health and wellbeing.
practical application of the insights it provides?
It is a simple, at-home test where the owner takes a small stool sample and returns it to our UK lab.
At the lab, the sample is extracted and we use human-grade, 16s-rRNA sequencing to identify millions of unique data points.
The results are then run through proprietary InvisibleHealth® AI protocols against a large
library of canine metadata, to spot patterns that would be impossible for humans to identify.
This allows us to match how a dog’s diet and microbial makeup can be linked to biomarkers for:
often come to light that the dogs owner was previously unaware of?
Every dog is unique. So rather than relying on generic recommendations or guesswork
when it comes to diet and nutrition, testing the microbiome allows you to know precisely
what your dog needs. Our microbiome tests analyse how the bacterial population in each
dog affects their individual ability to digest key nutrients such as protein, fats and
carbohydrates, which enables us to offer highly specific dietary guidance to help ensure that
every dog’s diet is supporting their microbiome health.
testing process?
Yes, it is certainly worth testing a dog that appears healthy, the test will still reveal valuable insight, and may highlight previously unseen health issues related to the makeup of their gut microbiome. The InvisibleHealth® Score acts as a benchmark of their overall health, allowing you to track changes over time.
5. In the event of identifying deficiencies in my dog’s microbiome, what adjustments might be necessary in their diet and supplementation regimen?
Our dietary advice will usually recommend minor adjustments to your dog’s diet to address
any issues highlighted by their test. This might include switching to a food with higher levels
of fibre or protein, and adding in some specific superfoods to their diet such as fresh
vegetables, nuts, or sources of lean protein.
6. Given the relatively recent emergence of AI technology, do you anticipate enhancements to the precision and utility of this test over time?
Yes. Every sample taken contributes to a growing bank of data and new research.
This enhances our InvisbleHealth® AI, allowing it to detect new patterns and pinpoint emerging biomarkers, discoveries which hold the potential to identify early indicators and new diseases in dogs.
7. How frequently do you recommend conducting microbiome testing for dogs?
BIOME9 recommends re-testing every 6 months to track changes and improvements.
No, the report also includes dietary recommendations which are considerate of the existing feeding regime. These include everyday feeding suggestions and healthy treat tips, as well as specific superfoods that can help improve the diversity of the gut microbiome. The report also highlights foods to avoid, such as dairy products which can exacerbate imbalances in the microbiome.
9. Tell us a bit more about the supplements that you recommend, for example, are they completely natural?
BiomeBites® have been formulated by our team of vets, nutritionists and food production experts.
Each product has been designed to deliver specific health benefits using carefully researched bioactive ingredients and based on the latest scientific evidence on efficacy and safety.
● Reduced itching & skin irritation
I am really impressed by the information that the Biome9 test is capable of giving us in terms of our dogs health and wellbeing. I chose to have Maya’s microbiomes tested with the free sample that I was kindly gifted by the brand, but I think I may have Lucia’s tested at some time in the future as well.
As I said, I will update here as soon as I have the results to let you all know.
A huge thanks to the team and Biome9 for not only gifting me their innovative test to try but also for answering all my questions so clearly.
Love Sal. Maya and Lucia xx
* This post is sponsored by Biome9 and we also received a free sample of the test, in return for an honest review.
