It’s heartbreaking to keep trying new foods to help your “allergy dog,” only for her to continue being itchy, gassy, sick, and miserable.
Yet, so many of us watch our dogs suffer from intolerances. Until now, there haven’t been many options.
You could go to the vet for pills or shots that may be expensive, inaccessible, and that do not treat the underlying issue. Some of these medications cause adverse side effects that can be worse than the original symptoms.
I reached out to 5Strands because, despite changing her diet, feeding raw, and using medicated shampoos, Cow was still itchy.
While those things helped manage her itching, she was still having flare-ups. I was hoping I could do more for at home before resorting to medication.
Though I’m not anti-medication, I’ve been hoping to make sustainable lifestyle changes that would truly help her stop itching, and maybe even help the hair grow back on her belly.
Getting results back from 5Strands and speaking with their representatives has given me powerful insight as to why previous dietary changes have helped, but did not resolve her issues.
I also picked up a lot of knowledge about food intolerances that I’m using to create a plan to get Cow itch-free.
Best of all, this is an opportunity to help many of you whose dogs are also suffering through possible intolerances.
While there’s still so much we don’t know about why so many dogs are getting sick from ordinary food ingredients, I’ve put together some great insights that you can use to help your dog feel better.
Table of Contents
What Is The 5Strands Affordable Intolerance Test?
5Strands Affordable Intolerance Test is an easy, at-home test that allows you to test your dog or cat for over 300 common food and environmental intolerances.
When you purchase a test kit, you’ll get a special envelope that you’ll use to collect 5-10 strands of your dog’s (or cat’s) fur, then you’ll mail it back to their testing facility. After that, you’ll get results in via email in about 7-10 days.
From there, whether or not your dog recovers from the effects of food and environmental intolerances is up to you. I strongly recommend contacting the company after you get your results to help you understand them, and to make a plan that works for your dog.
What’s The Difference Between Allergies And Intolerances?
I always found this confusing, so now I’m glad that I finally understand the difference.
When your pet has an allergy, you’re going to see an immediate reaction. They might throw up after eating, for example.
An intolerance, on the other hand, causes symptoms after about 48 hours or so.
An allergy is when a substance sets off an immune response.
An intolerance is when your dog is not able to break down food properly because they have a deficiency in the enzymes needed to digest it.
Why Is Cow The Way She Is?
Intolerances are becoming increasingly common in both dogs and people.
How is it that our dogs, descended from wolves, are so choosy about what foods they can eat without getting sick?
There’s no single answer to this question. Some holistic vets believe that too many vaccines can negatively affect our pets’ immune systems. It could be the way their food is processed.
A big part of it is that our dogs are often exposed to the same foods every day.
Enzymes that help dogs (and people) break down and utilize foods are found in fresh foods, and they’re also created by the body.
But if your dog eats chicken every day, for example, they will not be able to generate the necessary enzymes quickly enough to break it down efficiently. Giving your dog’s body a break by varying their diet allows their body to restore those enzymes.
Genetics can also be a factor in why Cow is so bad at making enzymes. Dogs with white coats are, for whatever reason, predisposed to itching caused by intolerances.
It makes sense that some dogs have more trouble with this than others. Lactose intolerance in humans affects people from some parts of the globe more than others, affecting the majority of Asians, Africans and Native Americans, but a minority of Caucasians.
Cow has a crazy lineage according to her DNA test, so it makes sense that she’d have some mysterious predispositions to intolerances.
Decoding Cow’s Results
When I got Cow’s results, I felt simultaneously flabbergasted, discouraged and yet… not surprised at all.
View Cow’s 5Strands Intolerance Report
Cow’s intolerant of SO. MANY. THINGS. It wasn’t going to be possible to find a pre-made dog food, kibble or raw, that was exclusive of all of those foods.
Though extensive, her results made sense.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been feeding Cow Zignature Kangaroo kibble. She’s not intolerance of kangaroo meat, so it makes sense that she’s been doing slightly better on this food.
But it is made with peas, which are a Level 2 item for her.
It also contains some synthetic additives, which are Level 3 items.
What’s Next For Cow?
Though the results were troubling at first, I felt so much better after I talked to a few members of the 5Strands team.
As it turns out, Cow would not have to quit every food item on the list forever.
The color code on the items is like a stoplight. Stop feeding Level 1 items, slow down on feeding Level 2 items when possible, and feed Level 3 items in moderation.
To find what Cow COULD eat, I was advised to check off her items against the master list. Now, I could see that though Cow has Level 2 items that are forms of beef, she actually can eat raw or cooked ground beef. Cow can also eat chicken.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the test does not include absolutely everything.
For example, if you happen to live on an ostrich farm, and your dog likes ostrich eggs, you’d want to stop feeding them for a while because they’re not on the test, but your dog may still have trouble with them.
Truly “safe” foods are the ones that have been tested for, and have not been shown to cause an intolerance.
I was advised to make a homemade, fresh or cooked diet for Cow that included safe foods like ground beef and chicken that she would eat for a few weeks.
Since this diet is only meant to be fed in the short-term, it’s okay if it is not perfectly balanced.
After 6-8 weeks, I can slowly add other foods.
It’s going to be hard for me to put this plan to action because I’m under COVID-19 quarantine at the time of writing. Meat sales are limited here to just 1-2 packs per customer, and I don’t want to go to the store daily to get enough food for Cow.
In the meantime, I’m going to continue feeding the kangaroo food and include safe foods as much as I can until I can fully switch her over to her customized elimination diet.
Does 5Strands Affordable Intolerance Test Really Work?
The 5Strands Test uses bioresonance technology, which as been used for over 50 years in private practices to diagnose allergies and intolerances.
5Strands has made this test more affordable for the average pet parent by making it possible for you to use their kit collect a sample at home and send it directly to their facility for testing.
The bioresonance technology used to conduct 5Strands testing, as I understand it, involves a machine that runs an electronic frequency through your pet’s hair sample. It’s able to detect imbalances that indicate that your pet has a lack of enzymes that allow to them to efficiently process substances.
As with most types of alternative medicine, bioresonance technology is controversial among conventional veterinarians, but real-life case reports and detailed, 5-star reviews on Amazon tell us that a targeted elimination diet based on 5Strands results has been life-changing for both humans and animals.
When you get your dog’s results, you need to come up with a strict diet that only includes foods that were tested but not reported as intolerances. That means a bite of table scraps, a supplement, or a piece of garbage your dog scavenged can cause symptom flare-ups even if you’re giving your dog all the right foods.
The good news is, you’ll know what’s causing your dog’s symptoms and you’ll have more control over the outcome, rather than wondering why a “one-size-fits-all” elimination diet isn’t working.
Do I Recommend The 5Strands Pet Intolerance Test?
Absolutely!
If your dog seems to have food or environmental intolerances, if they’re itchy, gassy, losing fur, or just “not right,” the results from this test are going to be eye-opening for you.
Keep in mind that this test is not a substitute for going to your vet. You can discuss the results with your vet to come up with a diet that works best for your dog.
If you’re like me and you’ve been spending too much money on foods and seeing some temporary improvements, and have linked your dog’s symptoms to food intolerances, but just want to finally find out what to try next, you’re going to feel much better when you get those answers.
Again, when you get the results, do not hesitate to get in touch with the 5Strands team. They’re super friendly and helpful, and they want to make sure you see improvements with your dog. Getting the results is just the start of helping your dog feel better.
Get Your 5Strands Intolerance Test Kit!
Ready to find out what’s making your dog itch?
Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a 5Strands Affordable Pet Intolerance Test Kit (a $144 value!). Must be over 18 with a mailing address in the United States to enter.
Or, get your 5Strands Testing Kit on Amazon.
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She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.
As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.
You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.
My dogs tend to lick their feet. we believe they may have some environmental allergies but are not for sure
Hello
Thank your post:)
I’ve ordered the test for my dog and I’m wondering if benadryl will effect the results?
Or how long does he need to be off before testing? I can’t find any information on that.. thank you!
My French Bulldog can be very itchy during spring & summer so I believe he has some environmental allergies. He also has some intolerance to certain foods. We have seen a dermatologist but this may help to narrow down his issues and keep him comfortable
Bear’s been diagnosed with IBD – and won’t eat bland diets or novel proteins. Trying to figure out what might be causing the problem seems overwhelming, especially with how picky he is. Maybe it’s just the way he is, but given that he does better on some foods, I’m hoping it’s as easy as a simple food intolerance.
My dog Nelly suffers terribly from allergies or intolerances. She really needs this test!
My dog has this horrible habit of licking her paws constantly. At first I thought it was dry skin, so I did some things to relieve that and the weather warmed up, and it definitely helped since she stopping biting at her fur, but she still licks her paws and I can’t figure out why. I’d love to be able to do this test and find out!
Every few months our little one gets into something that has causes inflammation on her foot pads, causes her to lick at her legs and belly, and brings on lethargy. We’ve already been trying to eliminate/change what we can in the yard and in the house but so far we haven’t had an Aha! moment.
We are in the middle of itchy season again. My dog is so itchy and nothing seems to be helping. We’ve tried pills, shampoos, lotions, sprays, diet changes. This would be great to help my pup!
My pup goes through itching spells.
My poor dog suffers off and on with allergies. It seems to be related to some of the pollen at different levels of time. I give him benadryl three times a day but it only helps a little. I would love to get some insight on just what is causing allergies.
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The Vet says our pup has allergies. He takes medication for allergies. But we don’t know what he is allergic to. This test would be great
my daughters dog scratches alot.
Our larger dog, Marty , has been diagnosed with a chicken allergy that caused his scratching, but we would like more detailed info about this issue.
Moe, our boxer, non stop licking his paws and his chin bleeds. Vet has given a once a month pill which clears up his chin for awhile but then it comes back.
I think our new pup has issues with chicken, anything else seems to be OK
My little Scooter itches for no reason.
my cat uses an expensive hypoallergenic diet. it would be nice to know specifically what her intolerance is
I would love to find out if my cats are having allergies or what is going on. My one cat has been pulling her fur out and has patches of skin showing. She also throws up a lot. I have another cat that seems to throw up when he eats any wet food that has any kind of fish/seafood/liver. I wonder if its that or something else that is causing his issues.I didn’t even know there was such a test until finding this through a sweeps website. I would love to win!
My Asher has been scratching a lot lately.
My cat scratches her eyebrows off and licks the fur off of her belly. She must have some type of allergy.
My little one is losing his hair and sneezes a lot. I am sure he is allergic to something but can’t figure out what it might be.
I don’t think my cat has food intolerances, but it would be good to know if she actually does so I can make sure to avoid any problematic foods.
Thank you for the information.
Roxie has sneezing fits after going for a walk as soon as the weather warms. Food issues as well. The ridiculously expensive prescription food was even worse than what we had been using.
Ember’s allergies has her licking her paws constantly (skin pink between toes). The medicine provided by the vet really does not help (tried two types). Maybe this will explain why.
My dogs are so miserable during the summer months and I would love to find out why.
Our dog Rio has chronic itching. Always worsens in the winter. Excessive flakes in her skin and even loses hair in places. We have adjusted her food but nothing ever really takes it away. Would be very interesting to know what intolerance’s she may have.
It would be great to find the answer to my dog’s paw licking which leads to constant infections. She also has continuous ear infections.
Oh man, I wish I would’ve known this existed years ago! Our 12 year old dog (that still acts like a puppy) is allergic to everything. We take her to the vet monthly and no one can figure out a good solution. She takes medication everyday, we clean her ears, bathe her, etc. etc. etc. but she still itches, licks, and smells. We have been told it’s a chronic yeast infection but it has to be allergies too!
My dog gets allergies in the spring time. She will get red, puffy eyes when shes outside for long periods of time! :/
He was underweight, he had a fever, his meow was very weak and his fur coat was dull. Once I changed from dry to wet food it improved but his life is in danger
My dog scratches and sneezes in the spring.
My dog gets soft stools pretty much once a day, Which tells me he has an intolerance somewhere. Bernese Mountain dogs are prone to sensitive tummies so I would really like to know what he is intolerant to!
I want this test for my Sister-in-law. Her lab has uncomfortable skin issues and I would love to help her understand his issues.
My dog goes through itching spell so bad in early spring and late fall he will chew or scratch till he bleeds if I do not do it for him .
Would love to try this for my dog Yogi. He has always had very flaky skin and for the last few years he has been licking his inner legs and belly so much! Had him checked several times at the Vet they have no idea. Tried switching shampoo and food doesn’t work.
I constantly worry about my little Sparky boy. He’s the sweetest Chiweenie, as sweet as Chiweenies can be lol. Anyway it seems like he coughs or sneezes daily and is constantly scratching at itches. A test like this will answer so many questions for me. Good luck to everyone who has entered!
Im a dog groomer and would love to show my clients there is an over the counter allergy test out there that I can highly recommend. My dog has allergies so I would like to use this on him.
Roxy’s pink belly will turn bright red and become inflamed. We haven’t been able to pin point exactly what is causing it. It would be a huge help to be able to win. I pray that you are staying safe.
My dog itches and has hot spots and has ear issues
Ok first, love the name. We have a Trout 🙂 And I would love to try the test on her. She has liver issues and copper storage disease. This test would be so insightful!
Because Ringo is constantly scratching and biting at himself. We have tried many different things from the vet and from searching on the internet, and nothing works. So this is something that could lead to help for the poor guy.
My sweet Sadie has seasonal allergies. The worst part of this time is the itching. She scatches and scatches some more. I’d like to learn if there are other options to treat her allergies that I am not already using.
My dog Fred always is scratchy and itchy when he comes in from outside. He is in a fenced in yard and the only thing I can think of is that he is allergic to grass. I would love some help.
my little buddy licks and scratches himself a lot
Our dog itches a lot. Would love to find out what is causing it!
My pets have pretty mild symptoms so I want to verify what type of intolerances they may have. Thanks.
NANCY recently posted…Thrive While Teaching & Learning at Home
I think my oldest pup is sensitive to chicken and DEFINITELY has environmental irritants. My youngest has been itching quite a bit as well the more she spends outside but also has diarrhea frequently and I’m wondering if it’s something in her food. I hope that if I win, I can try it on one of my pups and then get another test for the other; and hopefully find some relief for my babies.
This is fascinating! Would love see what ails my hound mix.
My cat gas allergies and is always sneezing, I would love to find out his specific allergies.
I know my oldest has some food intolerances to some food because of blood work that has been done in the past by the vet. she would get constipated, get itchy and have an upset tummy. it has been hard to really detect specifically. sometimes the girls get itchy during the summer when we get out in the grass, but i have this problem as well. just like humans, as you age, you develop different reactions and allergies to things. My youngest has some allergies, but the vet has tested her and cant find what it is. she get mucus clogged in one nasal area. she has been on meds in the past but i prefer not to continue to keep her on meds constantly unless it gets very bad.
Absolutely fascinating post. So sorry Cow is having such trouble, but lucky to have a great dog mom to figure it out! We had a dog a few years ago who had a poultry allergy and people thought that was odd. So many things to be aware of now as a pet parent. Thanks so much for the helpful info.
Cheri recently posted…Dog Mom Tested Must-Have Dog Items We Love
My dog used to get ear infections all the time.
I did a groupon for one of these dog allergy/intolerance tests & changed her food based on the results. (I forget which brand because it was like 7 years ago!)
I would be interested in doing this to see if any of her allergies/intolerances have changed over time.
Since my father in law has moved in after having strokes, he has “dropped” all kinds of food for our dog to which not only has the dog become chunky but has also developed a lot of cyst like zits. The vet has told us it more than likely is due to allergies as other than an occassional piece of plain steak or chicken, the dog had never, ever had table food, We can not convence my father in law to stop because he thinks we are full of nonsense about the dog having allergies.
Thank you dog lover! For your article of blogging on dogs it’s very good information and insight!
I have a husky/Akita. Every year my husband goes medicated from allergies from cutting hay fields. It happens about the same time our dog Houdini starts having choppy breathing funny nose and sneezing. I am pretty positive that he has allergies but haven’t tested for it. Not including the fact that everytime he goes out in high grass he tries to eat his paw raw. The vet gave me an ointment for his paws saying they are sensitive but I’m not sure I agree.
My pup licks her paws all day!
My little dog has itch skin in the spring/summer and I would like to find out why.
Yesterday I adopted a chihuahua mix. He licks his paws alot. He is already on grain free diet.
I hope to learn if my friend’s cat has any allergies or food intolerances.
Very interesting. My parsons russell terrier has had issues for too long. The vets haven’t given us a cure. The test seems like a great prize.
Very interesting results for Cow. My Boston Terrier gets soft stools on pork.
Our dog itches. We have tried about every medication. I am unsure what the cause is.
This article was super helpful! I recently did the test on my dog, whom i know had to have some intolerance to something because of his god awful ear infections constantly, red, itchy paws, hives…Turns out, there’s a lot!! I recently started transferring him into homemade rice, turkey, veggies… I read it’s not good to keep them on homemade diets due to lacking vitamins etc… I have yet to find a kibble that could work for him… i’m not sure what to do, some help is greatly appreciated
Hi Aly! It’s been over a year since Cow’s test, and with her pancreatitis there are only two low-fat foods that don’t flare up her allergies, but we’ve finally seen a lot of improvement, no itching, and a lot of her hair grew back… until a few weeks ago. I think it’s because I let my guard down and let her try a few treats that have red-zone ingredients in them. If you still want to try the homemade diet, you can use a base mix to supplement their nutrients, or you can try to find limited ingredient kibbles that have as few “red” ingredients as possible. For us, we’re going to try working on her gut health, as having a ton of allergies can be a sign of leaky gut, over the next few weeks I’m going to update the blog with how that goes.