I think it is safe to say that every pet parent wants their pet to live a healthy, comfortable life. Unlike humans, animals have a hard time telling us when they are sick or in discomfort. There are certainly signs that we can look for like scratching, biting their paws, or rubbing their faces. However sometimes intolerances can be more severe and cause digestive issues, difficulty breathing, and skin irritations. In order to help our pets live a more comfortable life, we first have to understand what is causing them discomfort.
To our knowledge, our one year old cardigan corgi, Navy, did not have any allergies or intolerances. When she was a puppy she did get a rash on her lower stomach after walking in the grass, and she would also turn her nose up and refuse a number of kibbles we sampled. Honestly, we never thought anything of this because Navy is generally a happy, healthy puppy! However, we were always curious whether or not Navy had any allergies we were unaware of.
Enter the Affordable Pet Test!
We first heard of the Affordable Pet Test through a friend whose dog suffered from a number of allergies. They took their puppy to their vet who quoted them a ridiculous fee of close to one thousand dollars. After doing some research online they came across Affordable Pet Test. Affordable Pet Test offers intolerance tests for dogs (and cats and horses) at an affordable price! Using a sample of your pet’s hair (10-15 strands) 5 Strands® Affordable Pet Testing technology is able to analyze hair against 300 different items to determine sensitivities.
There are only four simple steps to take!
- Step 1: Take a look at what Affordable Pet Test has to offer. Their website lists all items that your pet will be tested against along with common symptoms.
- Step 2: Order your kit! Use code PUPFLUENCE to get 10% off.
- Step 3: Fill out the requested information on your order form. This form asks questions like the age of your dog, where they live, breed, etc.
- Step 4: Mail this, along with your 10-15 strands of fur in a clear sealable bag. In approximately 5-7 days, Affordable Pet Testing will email your pet’s results.
Reading your Results
When our results first came, we were overwhelmed. Lucky for us, Affordable Pet Test makes things incredibly simple by providing videos, along with an extensive, easy-to-read report. Affordable Pet Test measures both food and environmental intolerances as well as metals and mineral intolerances. In addition, the test also determines which nutritions your pet may be deficient in.
Our report explained…
The food and environmental intolerances are arranged by Level 3, 2 and 1 and are color-coded like a stoplight. Within each level, the items are arranged in reverse alphabetical order. The level indicates the type of response the body may experience with ingestion or exposure. Remember that we are testing for intolerances (NON IgE mediated responses), which are reactions that can take up to 48 hours or longer to appear. With our method of intolerance testing, you or your pet do not have to ingest or be exposed to the item for it to register as an imbalance.
Items listed at the Level 3 (STOP) level are intolerances that are very likely to cause noticeable symptoms: inflammation, digestive issues, skin problems, fatigue, etc. Items at the Level 2 (SLOW DOWN) level may cause reactions such as itchy skin, runny nose, watery eyes, etc. Items at the Level 1 (BE AWARE) level may have no noticeable symptoms but may cause indigestion issues over time.
Our Results
We used to pride ourselves in saying that Navy did not have any allergies. WOW! WOW! WOW! All we can say is WOW. We are absolutely shocked with the results from Navy’s 5 Strands® Affordable Pet Test. When I read through the results I found myself saying IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!
As we mentioned, Navy was an incredibly picky eater as a puppy. We spent so much money on kibbles and treats that she would just spit out. Little did we know, she was trying to tell us that some of the proteins in these foods made her sick! Our food intolerance research test listed: tuna, trout, pork, mackerel, and lamb as being level 3 intolerances. Sardine and Salmon were listed as level 2 intolerances. It was also interesting to see that strawberries were listed as a level 3 intolerance. We tried to give Navy a strawberry once and she (literally) ran away from it! What a smart girl!
Our environmental research test also helped explain some of Navy’s irrotic behavior. Guess what was a level 3 intolerance? CATS! Navy has only met a few cats, but each time she has kept her distance. In fact, whenever she has visited a home with cats she is constantly sneezing. What also surprised us was the amount of grasses and bush she was allergic to: colonial bent grass, bermuda grass, buttercup, and dandelion. When Navy was just a puppy and didnt have fur yet on her belly, she would get a horrible rash on her lower stomach. Our vet said Navy may just be a little sensitive to the grass. However, whenever Navy eats grass (usually not that common) she vomits afterwards.
Final Thoughts
We are so incredibly thankful that we finally got Navy properly tested for allergies and intolerances. All this time we had been exposing her to elements that not only caused her discomfort, but physically made her ill! Needless to say, we are going to make the necessary adjustments to ensure she lives a happy, comfortable life.
Are you interested in getting your pet tested? Check out Affordable Allergy Testing website for more information! Use PUPFLUENCE to save 10% on your kit!
Interested in reviewing a kit on your social media pages? Affordable Pet Test is currently looking for accounts with 5,000 followers internationally to review their products. Click here to put in a request.
