PetBiome Faecal Test Kit for Pets
ThePetBiome Faecal Test uses state of the art technology to count and identify the complex diverse community within the gastointestinal tract of cats and dogs (also suitable for guinea pigs, pet birds and ruminants).
Problems within the gastro intestinal tract of companion animals are common and the information from the PetBiome test will help the pet owner to identify imbalances and manage the diet to suit the gut community.
Between 500-1,200 species of bacteria are identified, including the good the bad and the ugly (verrucomicrobia). Allowing the pet owner to make better descisions to promote and prolong health.
DNA extraction and analysis is complex please allow 8-10 weeks from the time we receive your sample to receipt of results by email.
The microbiome is home to over 1014 bacterial species, with links to immune function, energy and nutrient availability.
Dysbiosis (imbalances) are common.
The gut bacteria, eubacteria, roseburia and clostridiales, help to form a barrier against invasion from pathogenic bacteria, the barrier is called the 'Resistome'. Many of our pets have low levels of these good gut bacteria. The NGS test will accurately pinpoint low levels of all the good gut bacteria and make personalised recommendations on how best to increase them through dietary changes.
Pet Biome's Story
In the past two decades, there has been a massive escalation in our understanding and appreciation of the microbiome and host physiology. The inhabitants of the gut contribute as many cells and many times more genes to the canine holobiont, influencing every action from digestion, metabolism to immunity, including the function of the brain. Imbalances or dysbiosis have been associated with multiple diseases or animals and humans, there is optimism that in human medicine at least this will allow for new therapies and treatments to be developed. The conclusion from human medicine is that the microbiome is complex, and progress is most likely to be driven by long-term data -collection through scientists working in the field.
Biome4Pets continues to grow its population data library of dogs, profiling dogs in health and disease using the bioinformatic database of the largest genomic sequencing company in the world (Illumina).
Since 2014 PetBiome have done thousands of samples from dogs around the globe. Each sample is processed through the IBERS genomic sequencing lab at Aberystwyth University. They are constantly striving to add to the type of testing we do, including Emerging Pathogens, Aspergillus, Viruses and the Mycobiome, all from one sample. They have access to AI which can rapidly convert data into gut dysbiosis profiles which are then compared against the database. PetBiome are here for the long term, it’s a fantastic time to be in microbiology, the tools and access to new science is mind-boggling, hope to take you with us on the journey
Pet Biome began researching the microbiome of dogs in 2013 as their parent company Phytorigins. They were fortunate to work with some of the leaders in the field based at Aberystwyth University.
At that time sequencing technology was in its infancy and they had to freeze the faecal samples immediately after collection which made commercialisation impossible due to the cost and difficulty of dry ice transportation. To complete their first research projects they drove to collection points around the country in a refrigerated van, donated by the university. This enabled us to begin to gather the important data needed to not only identify the bacteria 'Who's in there' but to also make sense of the complex inter-relationships of the microbiome.
The first presentation of that research was made by Gabi de la Fuente at the ESVCN a non-profit organisation relating to academic research in veterinary nutrition, comparative nutrition and nutrition-related diseases.
In 2018 and with the advent of 16s rRNA sequencing we were finally able to offer a service to pet owners. We were very excited to present our findings to vets initially and attended several animal veterinary exhibitions.
Collaborative research projects with universities and veterinary hospitals/practices include.
- Inflammatory biomarkers in the oral microbiome – horses and dogs
- Obesity in Dogs - a 2-year Project with a national pet food company, several vet practices, and the microbiology team at Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities.
- A four-year project on obesity biomarkers, and changes in gut bacteria in the gut-horses and dogs involving the leading team of gut microbiome researchers in the UK with Professor Jamie Newbold Kirsty Dougal and Gabi de la Fuente.
- The Extraction of a novel compound to help reduce the effects of obesity including the reduction of inflammation in the gut.
- Assimilation of raw data from the genome and profile this against the complex internal microbial communities and the phenotype status of the dog (breed, health and age).
The Use of ML/AI: In the last 12 months we have developed and completed over fifty different gut microbiome profiles linking dysbiosis/imbalances with health conditions and diseases, we have achieved this by sequencing thousands of samples from affected and healthy dogs and using collaborative research with leading AI developers in the UK, Australia and Silicon Valley USA.
SUMMARY OF UK DELIVERY INFORMATION (Please note that the delivery time is from the date of dispatch and not from the date your order has been placed)
Please note that we do not send orders addressed to a HOTEL address or POST OFFICE address, unless prior arrangement has been made with us.
Orders under £44.99 (and under 3.5kg)
Customers have the option of :-
- Shipping with Royal Mail Tracked 48 (typically 2 days but can take 4 days) at £3.49
- Shipping with Royal Mail Tracked 24 (1-2 days) at £4.99.
- Shipping with DPD Next Day Courier service at £7.99 [see below for exceptions] (please note this is a next day service, but from time to time this can take 2 days)
- Saturday delivery - with DPD £16.99
Orders over £44.99 (and less than 3.5kg) are sent free of charge using Royal Mail 48 Tracked. There is however the option to upgrade to Royal Mail Tracked 24 for £1.49 or use a DPD Courier at £4.99
Orders over £130 will be sent with DPD or Royal Mail Tracked 24
Click & Collect - free You are welcome to collect your order from our offices at Northwich, Cheshire (CW9 7TN). Office hours are typically 9.00 – 4.30 but often we are here later, so it is recommended to ring ahead. Tel: 01565 745463.
Orders over 3.5kg will need to be send with DPD as we are unable to ship heavy items with Royal Mail. DPD will attract an additional shipping charges – see below for more information.
Please be advised that during busier periods, such as Christmas and Black Friday, parcel deliveries may take longer to be delivered.
DPD Courier: All orders over 3.5kg will be shipped via DPD as follows:-.
- UK Mainland, next working weekday delivery is £7.99
- UK Mainland, Saturday Delivery is £16.99
- Special UK Postcodes* two-working day service is special price applies [* Special UK Postcodes include Highlands Islands, Isle of Wight as follows: AB36-AB38, AB55-AB56, FK17-FK21, IV1-39, IV52-54, IV63, KW 1-14, PA21-PA40, PH19-PH26, PH49-50, PO31-PO41)
- UK Offshore, including the Scottish Islands (HS1-9, IV40-51, IV55-56, KA27-28, KW15-17, PA20, PA41-49, PA60-78, PH42-44, ZE1)
- Northern Ireland - special price applies
- Isle of Man - special price applies
- Scilly Islands, Channel Islands - special price applies
We are currently unable to ship to the Republic of Ireland with DPD Courier.
General Rules for DPD
Under normal circumstances, all orders placed before 1.30pm will be dispatched the same working day. Orders placed after 1.30pm will be dispatched on the following working day. Orders placed after 1.30pm on a Friday will be dispatched on the following Monday for delivery on Tuesday (or Wednesday for UK special postcodes). This also applies to orders received after 1.30pm on a Thursday.
Saturdays, Sundays and all Bank & Public Holidays are classed as non-working days and orders will be dispatched on the next working day.
Your order will be fully trackable, and you will receive a text and email (if supplied) when your order has been dispatched, and on the day of delivery you will receive an estimated 1-hour delivery window, with alternative options if you are not in.
We reserve the right to switch this service to Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day, in exceptional circumstances.
GENERAL INFORMATION - SERVICE OVERVIEW
Generally all orders placed before 3.30pm will be dispatched the same working day. Orders placed after 3.30pm will be dispatched on the following working day.
For courier deliveries please note that orders placed after 4pm on a Thursday will be dispatched Friday for a Monday delivery and orders placed after 4pm on Friday will be dispatched on Monday for a Tuesday delivery (or Wednesday for UK special postcodes).
Saturdays, Sundays and all Bank & Public Holidays are classed as non-working days and orders will be dispatched on the next working day.
Please double check your delivery address is correct and contact us straight away if not.
Email notification will be sent once your order has been dispatched.
If in the unusual situation there is an issue with your order, such as an item is unexpectedly out of stock or there is an issue with delivery, we will make contact with you. In these instances, we will keep you update via email or telephone to confirm the progress of the order.
Further information on UK deliveries as well as full information on international deliveries, please see our Delivery & Returns section of the website.
