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Scout's holistic veterinarian recommended that I have his gut biome tested through AnimalBiome (now DoggyBiome). She believes it's important to find the underlying cause of his cancer by starting with his gut. I didn't have a great experience with AnimalBiome the first time and was hesitant to use them again. But I was glad I set my ego aside and tested Scout because what I learned was invaluable.
Sadly, several months after Scout was tested, he succumbed to cancer. However, what I learned from AnimalBiome is helping to keep our other dogs healthy, including Rodrigo, who is 12.5 years old at the time of this post.
DoggyBiome Test Results
When I was notified that the results were available, I dropped everything to check them out. I was hopeful that there would be some insight into why my dog developed cancer.
Nothing stood out.
But I will say that the reports are amazing. Compared to the first set of reports from 2019, which was pure science and went completely over my head. Today, the DoggyBiome reports are easy to follow and fascinating. I love the shared information and how everything is broken down for pet parents.
However, the report brought up a lot of questions. Thankfully, DoggyBiome offers a consultation.
DoggyBiome Consultation
I requested a 45-60 minute consultation to go over everything in detail for a blog post. We chatted for 15 minutes because the rep got straight to the point. I called back once, gained more clarification, and received an email from the rep summarizing our discussion.
I'm not going to pretend I know more than the person I spoke with, and I don't know their qualifications – is she a veterinarian, nutritionist, or scientist? I don't know. Before the consultation, I was confident in what changes I needed to make to my dog's diet (listed below), and after the consultation, I realized that I have a lot more to learn.
The consultant told me that since Scout's results weren't alarming and he was stable (cancer wasn't spreading at the time), I could afford to wait and discuss the results with his veterinarian.
Gut Restore Supplement
The report recommended Gut Restore, one capsule daily for 30 days – $125.
DoggyBiome™ Gut Restore Supplement is a unique fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in a capsule designed to restore dog health. Convenient capsules are an alternative to surgical FMT, which is equally effective but far more invasive. More powerful than probiotics and prescription diets, because seeding the gut with beneficial, dog-specific microbes helps to restore it to a more balanced state.
Addresses chronic digestive issues and skin conditions in dogs, including diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, itchy skin, and atopic dermatitis.
During my consultation, I was told I should give him one capsule twice daily due to his weight- Yikes, that's going to be expensive.
The Gut Restore supplement should be given once daily for large dogs (over 20 pounds) and twice daily for dogs 80 pounds and above. Because Scout weighed 70 pounds, which is closer to 80 pounds, he would receive the supplement twice daily
The plan was:
- start him on a 30-day regimen of Gut Restore (two bottles)
- wait two weeks, then retest
- start again if there wasn't a significant improvement
I purchased the Gut Restore (sourced from raw fed dogs), and Scout went through nearly two rounds of the supplement. Once I began adding Gut Restore to his meals, Scout had more consistently solid stools, even after chemo treatments. I'm now considering ordering it for my other dogs, but I'll wait for a sale due to the price.
Restoring a Dog's Gut Naturally
The DoggyBiome reports provided a lot of information, including foods that feed the various gut bacteria. If I choose not to invest in Gut Restore, I can do the following instead:
Prebiotics
Prebiotics feed the gut bacteria. I choose not to add a prebiotic supplement to my dogs' diet because there's mixed information on whether or not prebiotics feed all the gut bacteria (good and bad) or just the good. When it comes to prebiotics, I prefer food over supplements.
Probiotics
I have a probiotic supplement that I add to my dogs' meals when I think they need more support (gas, loose stool, diarrhea). I don't add probiotics daily because it's just a temporary fix and many probiotic supplements only have one strain. I'm looking for bacteria that will set up shop and stay a while and I want a supplement with multiple strains of probiotics.
Fermented Foods
Fermented foods are a win in our house. I add them to my dogs' diet because they boost beneficial bacteria in the gut. I feed my dogs fermented fish broth, cabbage, yogurt, kefir, and raw goat's milk on a regular basis. They do more than support gut health and the immune system.
- Kefir reduces inflammation and supports bone health.
- Fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, beets, etc.) support health eye health, and one study showed that fermented cabbage is effective against cancer.
- Yogurt is nutrient-rich (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and vitamin B12), and supports bone health and a healthy weight.
I make yogurt for my dogs in an Instant Pot with whole milk and plain yogurt with live cultures to ensure my dogs get a healthy dose of probiotics.
Raw Dog Food
And finally, feeding a raw food diet introduces living enzymes to the gut. Fresh food is easier to digest, the nutrients are more bioavailable, and raw feeding supports gut health, the immune system, and much more.
I did most of these things with my dogs, but Scout needed more support, so I began adding chia seeds to my dogs' diet and searched for a fiber supplement. DoggyBiome recommended psyllium husk, but I went with an organic product that contains acacia fiber, apple fiber, and baobab fruit.
Organic Acacia Fiber
- promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria
- helps to build a barrier to protect the gut from harmful toxins
- supports a healthy weight
Organic Apple Fiber
- food for gut bacteria (a natural prebiotic)
- supports heart health
- normalizes stool (prevents/stops loose stool and diarrhea)
- fights cancer cells
- promotes a healthy weight
Organic Baobab Fruit Fiber
- reduces inflammation
- supports gut health
I read that baobab fruit can act as an anti-nutrient, preventing the absorption of nutrients. The amount in this supplement isn't a cause for concern.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a great source of fiber and…
- reduces inflammation
- supports a healthy weight
- supports heart health
- supports bone health
I'm doing this for all of my dogs because they live in the same house, play in the same yard, and eat the same diet – so I believe they can all benefit from additional fiber.
Final Thoughts on DoggyBiome aka AnimalBiome
Although AnimalBiome didn't shed light on the underlying cause of lymphoma, it did teach me that my dogs didn't have enough fiber in their diet. I also learned that supporting my dogs' gut health isn't as simple as reaching for a random probiotic.
I have completely changed my mind about this company and plan to test my dogs annually.
In the meantime, I now add an organic fiber supplement to my dogs' diet, alternating with fur (rabbit feat, rabbit ears) and chia seeds. Vegetables provide fiber; they are a daily part of my dogs' diet and aren't cutting it. I also began adding Gut Soothe by Adored Beast Apothecary. According to the site, it's a supplement made from a proprietary blend of “anti-inflammatory herbs, nutraceuticals, and pre and probiotics that soothe and replenish the lining of the bowel, fight yeast, and combat unhealthy bacteria.”
And it's turned out to be a great addition to my dog's diet. I'll keep you updated.
Read More About Raw Feeding
- Books to Help Dog Owners Feed Their Dog Better
- The Truth About Raw Feeding
- What You Don't Know About Chia, Hemp, and Flaxseeds
- Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs: Symptoms and Solutions
- Is the Billinghurst Institute Professional Raw Feeding Course Worth It?
Hi Tammy,
I don’t have a dosage amount. Instead, I started small (less than 1/4 tsp) and stayed around that amount because it seemed to work well for my dogs.
Kimberly, how much Organic Fiber Blend do you feed your dogs? I have a 84 lbs dog and was wondering what the dosage would be. I also feel my dog doesn’t get enough fiber in his raw diet. Thanks