At-Home Tests for Dogs: DNA, Sensitivities, Microbiome, Urine/Fecal, Cancer & More (What to Do & When)

At-home dog tests can be powerful—if you pick the right one. This guide breaks down DNA, sensitivities/bioenergetic, microbiome, and urine/fecal kits in plain English so you know what to do first for your dog’s symptoms.

There is a growing number of tests that are available for pet parents to use from the comfort of their own homes, and while they are not a replacement for veterinary care, they can be very valuable information that you can't get from your vet's office. We will go over the types of tests currently available at home, what they are best used for and some indications that they may or may not be a good fit for your dog at this time.

1. Gut Microbiome Testing
   
   Gut microbiome testing uses a fecal sample to detect which bacteria are present in the GI tract as well as quantity of the population of each. While it may be impossible to know what a "healthy" gut microbiome looks like, and there may be various different versions of what a healthy microbiome looks like, companies like Animal Biome have taken data from many dogs and cats, along with questionnaire samples from pet parents and created an average of those data points to provide us with what they believe a healthy microbiome should look like in a particular species.
   
   The sample you provide from your dog or cat is then measured against the models of prior data to determine if the types and levels of bacteria present in your pet are in what their data considers healthy. If not, the report will give you a breakdown of each type of bacteria, the levels, and if they should be corrected. 
   
   Some recommendations are also provided, but working with a nutritionist and pet health coach is always recommended. Get your Animal Biome gut test kit here.
   
   2. Oral Microbiome Testing
   
   Similar to the gut microbiome, the mouth has it's own set of bacteria that represent what a "healthy" oral microbiome should be in a dog or cat. Animal Biome has an at-home test kit where you swab your dog or cats gum lines, submit the sample, ad learn about the bacteria present in the mouth. 
   
   We know from recent studies and lots of anecdotal evidence that what is going on in the mouth has downstream effects, so it's not always just about balancing the gut microbiome, but the oral microbiome as well!
   
   3. Gut Health Testing
   
   Different from microbiome testing, gut health testing through Innovative Pet Lab uses a fecal sample to evaluate key markers that tell us the health of your dog or cats digestion, immune activity, inflammation, and intestinal barrier integrity. Start with the comprehensive test to learn about all of the biomarkers, then retest for what was out of balance, such as leaky gut. 
   
   This test is especially great at identifying physiological deficits as well as monitoring progress while working with your veterinarian, nutritionist, or pet health coach.
   
   4. Stress Testing
   
   Not all stress is bad, but if the body isn't properly handling the cortisol, or if there is too much of the stress hormone being made, it can cause all sorts of problems! Chronic elevated cortisol could be responsible for destructive behaviors, restlessness, digestive upset, and even aggression.
   
   Innovative Pet Lab gives us an easy at home cortisol stress test to help us decode some of the unexplained behaviors. 
   
   5. HTMA - Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Testing
   
   Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis testing uses a small amount of hair to measure mineral levels, mineral rations, and heavy metals. Unlike a blood test, which is a snapshot in time, HTMA ives you an average of weeks or months, which is better data when looking at patterns. 
   
   My preference for most animals that I work with is to have both a bioenergetics test and an HTMA test done at the same time so that we can compare and contrast the physiologic data with the energetic data.
   
   Parsley Pet is my current favorite HTMA for dogs. 
   
   6. DNA Breed & Health Testing
   
   Using a DNA or Breed test, like the one from Embark is often written off as frivolous or extravagant, but it can actually give you some really important genetic data about your dog. Not only can you be aware of breed specific genetic variations, like cancer in Golden's, but you can find out if your pet has a genetic variant for certain diseases, like IVDD. This won't necessarily mean that your dog will get these diseases, but you can be aware that there is a possibility and do everything possible to prevent epigenetic factors from pushing them over the edge.
   
   7. Cancer Screening Testing
   
   If you have a dog breed that is prone to cancer, or an aging dog, this could be a game changer for you. Oncotect is a simple urine sample submitted through the mail. " Oncotect detects the 4 most common cancers: melanoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumor, and hemangiosarcoma at 90% accuracy (83% true positive and 96% true negative), as demonstrated by clinical data."
   
   I recommend this test to any pet parent who wants the peace of mind along their dogs health journey and for those who want the earliest possible detection.
   
   8. Bioresonance Energetic Sensitivity Testing (Food & Environmental)
   
   Bioresonance, or bioenergetic testing, is a non-invasive energetic screening tool that looks at patterns of stress and imbalances in the body. Using hair and saliva, we look at how the body responds to foods, environmental factors and heavy metals, along with assessing the stress on the organ systems as well as nutritional imbalances on an energetic level.
   
   This type of test can help us understand where the body is struggling, compensating, or under stress. The Wild Wellness Bioenergetics At Home Test Kit is the most comprehensive available. If possible, pairing bioenergetic testing with HMTA testing can give you a very well rounded look at what is happening both physiologically as well as energetically.
   
   Pair it with a recorded report review or one-on-one consultation for best results!
   
   9. Ear Culture & Sensitivity
   
   Stubborn ear issues are almost always a result of gut dysbiosis, and while you absolutely need to address the root cause (again, a great time to mention one-on-one pet health coaching), if something opportunistic has taken advantage of the terrain and made itself stubbornly at home in your dogs ear, we also need to address that topically ... but we also need to know what it is, so doing a swab at the vet is a great option, but sometimes it can take weeks or months to get a vet appointment. 
   
   Affordable Pet Labs ear culture sensitivity at-home collection test is great to assess what is living inside the ear to make this quicker and easier.
   
   10. Skin Culture
   
   Just like with the ears, skin issues are almost always a secondary symptom of underlying gut disfunction, and you should work with a certified nutritionist and pet health coach, in combination with veterinary services, to address the root cause of the issue, but as I mentioned about the ears, opportunistic creatures can take over and we need to be able to identify them to properly address them. 
   
   When you have long wait times to get a vet appointment for a service like this, having access to at home testing can be a game changer since you can cut down on the time it takes to find out what you're dealing with and can address it sooner. Affordable Pet Labs skin culture test is an at-home solution. 

Working with your trusted veterinarian as well as a trusted nutritionist and holistic pet health coach is always a great idea when choosing at home testing to get the most out of the results, as understanding the results in the context of the whole body, especially when choosing multiple tests, can be complex. 

At Wild Wellness Pet, founded by someone who has worked in the healthy pet space for well over a decade, we have a trusted group of pet parent coaches who not only hold certifications but also go the extra mile to continue to learn from the best minds in natural and functional health for both pets and people.