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Guide Dogs UK: Using GutDiscovery® to improve the long-term health of working dogs.

In a ground-breaking new partnership, Guide Dogs UK has teamed up with BIOME9 to explore and optimise the gastrointestinal health of their puppies as they train to be guide dogs.

July 17, 2024 • 2 min read

Bushra Schuitemaker

Lead Microbiologist

In a ground-breaking new partnership, Guide Dogs UK has teamed up with BIOME9 to explore and optimise the gastrointestinal health of their puppies as they train to be guide dogs. Our unique insights will help improve digestion, skin health, immunity, behavioural markers, joint health and more. Guide Dogs UK’s mission is to help people with sight loss live the life they choose, so the long-term health and well-being of the guide dogs they breed and train are integral to their work.

The initial test sample will use BIOME9’s GutDiscovery® test technology to include 100 labrador and golden retriever puppies. Guide Dogs’ puppies are born in volunteer homes and enter the National Centre at approximately seven to eight weeks of age. They remain at the National Centre for one week before travelling nationally to puppy-raising homes. Through BIOME9’s GutDiscovery® test, Guide Dogs UK are able to understand more about their puppies’ gut health to help support them on their journeys.

BIOME9’s GutDiscovery® test uses its InvisibleHealth® AI to analyse millions of bacteria in a dog's gut microbiome, helping owners take control of their pet’s gut health. Each report includes personalised feeding recommendations and a bespoke BiomeBites® supplement programme, scientifically created to give your dog exactly what it needs to thrive.

Rachel Moxon, Senior Canine Science Associate (Guide Dogs UK says): “We are thrilled to be working with BIOME9 to give us an insight into our pups’ gut health for the first time. The knowledge gathered from the test will help us to make informed decisions about each puppy’s journey. It is critical to monitor and understand health and wellbeing in puppyhood so our pups can have the best possible start to becoming life-changing guide dogs.”

Asher Nathan, Co-Founder of BIOME9 said: “BIOME9 GutDiscovery® is a very simple, at-home test that is helping thousands of dog owners make smarter, science-backed feeding decisions to improve long-term health. Following our recommendations in the report, 80% of customers have seen noticeable improvements in their dog’s overall well-being within 8 weeks. Gut health represents a pioneering frontier in science, and our commitment to ongoing research continues our learning. We aim to offer recommendations that ensure these dogs can lead longer, happier lives, supporting the invaluable care they provide to those they will go on to assist.”

About Guide Dogs UK: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

Over the years, Guide Dogs UK has developed a wide range of services with and without dogs to support people with vision impairment. Children and adults. Friends and family. Whoever you are, their expert staff, dedicated volunteers and life-changing dogs are here to help those with visual impairment live actively, independently, and well.

They are a charity, almost entirely funded by donations, and are the world’s largest assistance dog organisation. As world leaders in puppy socialisation and dog training, they are the only organisation that breeds and trains guide dogs in the UK. They are also the largest employer of specialists dedicated to helping children and young people overcome the challenges of sight loss.

Ready to start your BIOME9 journey?

Order GutDiscovery® test kit & personalised health report

Frequently asked questions

The microbiome is the name given to the collection of microbes, mostly bacteria, but also fungi and protozoa, that exist within your dog’s gut. It is a diverse and complex microbial community which can directly affect health and wellbeing. We know that 90% of a human’s body cells are microbes, with only 10% being human cells – it’s just that human cells are markedly larger than the microbes. It’s similar for our four-legged friends. Testing the microbiome gives us an idea of exactly which bacteria are present in your dog’s gut and this can help indicate existing or future health problems.
A healthy diversity within the microbiome has been found to be an accurate indicator of overall health and wellbeing. If your dog appears healthy, but has an imbalance in their microbiome, then this could be an indicator of a potential future health issue. If your dog has any existing health complaints, then improving the health of their microbiome can help to improve immune system health and overall wellbeing, as well as improving disease symptoms.
Testing and treatment have the potential to help with a whole range of different health complaints. The immune system is very closely associated with the gut, so any imbalance in the microbiome can influence immune system health, overall vitality and wellbeing. Our supplement recommendations are also tailored to your individual dog, with specific ranges designed to help with gastrointestinal inflammation, joint problems, allergies and skin complaints, to name a few.
All you need to do is order a kit online and fill in our questionnaire about your dog and their general health. We will then send the kit out to you by post. You then just need to collect a sample and return it to us, again by post. Once the test is performed, we will email the results directly to you.
You do not need to get your vet’s permission to test, or talk to them about performing the test beforehand. We do recommend that you pass on a copy of your test results to your regular vets, as it may help them in understanding your pet’s current health, and any future complaints they may have.