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Why You Should Test Your Pet for Sensitivities

Dog licking paw

Scratching and itching, discomfort, upset stomach, red eyes: These common allergy symptoms don't just affect you. These are all common signs that a dog may be reacting to something and are one of the top three reasons a dog visits the vet.

Allergy Test My Pet, part of the DNA My Dog Genetic Testing Group, now offers an affordable solution for getting to the bottom of the sensitivities that affect so many dogs. Testing reactions to over 100 food and environmental items will help pet parents discover the intolerances that may be making their dog miserable.

From common food ingredients and pet supplements, environmental triggers to everyday household items including cleaners and laundry detergent there are a number of factors that dogs can react to. Even simple environmental allergens such as tobacco and dust mites can cause owners to spend hundreds of dollars in vet bills, expensive medications and special foods.

"Many dog owners don't consider that their pet is on the ground all the time. Popular cleaning products are often a contributor to itchy skin and discomfort for many dogs. Sometimes just changing your cleaning products to something a dog can tolerate is the easy answer," says Mindy Tenenbaum, President of Allergy Test My Pet. This information can save dog owners thousands of dollars in vet fees, medications and costly foods designed for dogs with allergies.

Scratching Dog

Why should I test my pet for sensitivities? 

If your pet is suffering from itchy skin, rashes, gas, stomach pain and a host of other skin, stomach and even behavioral issues chances are they have sensitivity to a food or environmental factor. By learning which of these are affecting your dog you can easily change your pet’s diet and keep them away from the products they show sensitivity toward. Instead of masking your pet’s symptoms with expensive and often unhealthy foods and medicines it is best to get to the bottom of the problem and recognize exactly what is causing the issues and how you can avoid them. Many people find this is best route to ensure the well-being of their pet.

What are some of the symptoms of pet sensitivities? 

Common symptoms that may indicate an intolerance by your pet include: itching and scratching and redness in the skin, including consonant paw chewing and licking; ear itching, redness and soreness; gastrointestinal issues including gas, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating; hair loss and also wheezing. Other symptoms can include altered behaviors including excessive or aggressive behaviors.

Is this an allergy test? 

Allergy Test My Pet, while called an allergy test is in fact not a traditional allergy test. Allergy Test My Pet was designed to report, with the highest accuracy available, the food and environmental intolerances your dog is reacting to. 

What if my dog still reacts after I have followed all of your recommendations? 

We believe that if you are able to recognize and remove the allergens causing your pet to react you will see the symptoms decline. In some cases they can even disappear immediately. Please ensure you are keeping your dog away from the products they have shown a reaction to. Sometimes certain foods and supplements are buried deep in the list of ingredients in pet food. Make sure you are aware of these and alter your pet’s diet accordingly.

If your pet has a reaction to common environmental factors including certain types of grass or weeds common to your area there may be little you can do to prevent a reaction. In these cases we recommend working with your vet to find the best way to deal with these sensitivities.

In Summary

Food and environmental sensitivities affect our pets as much as they affect us: Getting to the bottom of these factors can go a long way to improving the wellness of our dogs. Costly medications and expensive premium foods can often just mask a problem. Discovering the source of the insensitivity is an easy way to navigate through the many solutions available to help dogs with allergies. "It may often be easier to eliminate the source rather than mask it". say Tenenbaum.

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Results take just 2 -3 weeks once the lab receives your sample.


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