5Strands Allergy Test For Dogs Reviews 2024: Is It Reliable?

5Strands dog allergy test review

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This is the most comprehensive 5strands allergy test for dog reviews.

Are you interested in figuring out which allergies might be affecting your dog? 5Strands is among the leading dog allergy testing companies that offer at-home allergy test kits for dogs, cats, and horses. You can test for hundreds of allergens, including ingredients in traditional pet food, raw pet food, metals and minerals, nutrition, and the environment. But can 5Strands identify your pet’s allergies? Should you invest in one?

Let’s dig deeper into the details and determine if the 5Strands allergy test for dogs can help your pet.

5Strands Test Reviews At A Glance

5 Strands Dog Allergy Test Reviews At A Glance

5Strands Affordable Testing


5Strands offers affordable at-home allergy testing for dogs, cats, horses and people.


Canine Bible

Accuracy
Allergen Quantity Tested
Comprehensive Report
Customer Support
Brand Trustworthiness
Result Turnaround Time
Price

Our Verdict & Summary

5Strands dog allergy test is an efficient and practical tool for identifying your dog’s sensitivities. We love that simple hair sample screens for over 300 food, environmental, or common household allergens and offer extensive insights that can be a game-changer in managing your dog’s health. You can also test for various nutritional imbalances, including mineral, mental, and vitamins, making it a well-rounded resource to ensure your dog’s diet is as safe and nutritious as possible. We have doubts about the scientific validity of 5Strands tests, but it is still worth considering if you share the outcomes with your veterinarian.

Downsides & Improvements: One downside is that it may not be as precise as blood or skin prick tests. It would also be beneficial if 5Strands offered consultations or clearer guidelines on addressing the identified allergens.

What Makes It Unique: 5 Strands sets itself apart with its non-invasive method, requiring only a hair sample.

Best For: This test is ideal for dog owners seeking an in-depth understanding of their pet’s sensitivities to tailor their diet and environment. It’s beneficial for those who have struggled to pinpoint triggers through trial and error.

Bottom Line: It’s a valuable investment for the proactive pet parent. Although not a substitute for veterinary advice, it serves as a strong starting point in creating a customized plan for a happier, healthier dog.

4.6
The Full Review

All About 5Strands Food Allergy Test

Ch 2 | Ch 3

5Strands Affordable Testing Company Overview

The team behind 5Strands launched the company in 2018 with the goal of changing healthcare. Its mission is to create transformation and change within the healthcare system for people and animals. 5Strands offers different types of at-home allergy tests (and other tests).

What Is A 5Strands Dog Allergy Test? 

A 5Strands Dog Allergy Test is a diagnostic tool that helps dog owners identify their pet’s sensitivities and intolerances to various substances, including food, environment, minerals, raw ingredients, and more. 5Strands tests are easy to conduct at-home test kits, and you can get the results in 7 to 10 days. 5Strand tests are non-invasive and provide helpful insights to make impactful changes to your dog’s diet or lifestyle. 

How Do 5Strands Dog Allergy Tests Work? 

5Strands uses Bioresonance Technology to test your dog’s hair sample to determine whether they’ve got imbalances or intolerances to food, environmental agents, common household products, nutritional items, raw food, metals, mineral, and other items. Each test only requires 10-15 hair strands to provide accurate results. Compared to other tests (blood and prick), 5Strand tests are a pain-free procedure.

What Is Bioresonance Technology?

5Strands tests use innovative and holistic bio-resonance technology based on biophysics and quantum mechanics principles.

Here is how 5Strand’s Bioresonance sample analysis work according to their website:

5Strands uses Bioresonance technology to test the hair sample and obtain the results. Bioresonance technology is a safe, non-invasive form of assessment for energetic alignments in the human body. Bioresonance works by scanning a hair sample to create a profile of the energies that radiate from a person or pet. This is called their energetic blueprint or profile. With this created profile, it can now be compared to all of the energetic profiles of all of the other items we test for. If the created profile from the hair sample does not harmonize with the items tested, the energy is distorted and the intolerance or imbalance is detected. The stronger the distortion, the higher the intolerance or imbalance.

5Strands.com

It’s worth noting that bio-resonance technology is not a scientifically proven method of determining allergies and other health issues. But it is used in holistic medicine (and holistic veterinary medicine), and several anecdotal cases support its results. 5Strands states, “Testing results should not be compared to traditional blood or saliva allergy test results.”

Step-By-Step Guide On How 5Starnds Dog Allergy Test Works

Learn how the 5Strands pet allergy test works.

  • Step 1 – Testing kit. Upon the arrival of your collection kit, register it online. Use the unique identifier number provided.
  • Step 2 App. You will be prompted to download the app
  • Step 3 Collect hair samples. If the hair is longer than 1 inch, provide 10-15 strands. If the hair is shorter than 1 inch, provide 20-25 strands. The hair root is not required.
  • Step 4 – Mail hair samples back. A prepaid return envelope is included.
  • Step 5 – Wait for the results. Wait 7 to 10 days for the testing results to be delivered electronically.
  • Step 6 – Check your dashboard. You will get your results via email or view them on the app.
Our dog is next to his 5Strand dog intolerance test kit. He is ready to get tested.

What Kind of Allergies Does 5Strands Test For: Intolerances or Allergies?

5Strands only tests for food intolerances, not allergies.

A food intolerance (or sensitivity) response occurs in the digestive system. It happens when the body has difficulty digesting or breaking down certain foods. When a dog is allergic to a particular food or substance, its immune system mistakenly identifies that food as harmful, and the immune system produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in response to specific foods or ingredients. This reaction can have symptoms such as itching, swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing. In some cases, a severe allergic reaction can even be life-threatening.

Read our article on dog food allergy testing to learn more details about dog food allergy testing and why testing for intolerances is critical in combating dog food allergies,

Why Use It 5Strands Pet Food Intolerance? Benefits

Here are the main reasons to try the 5Strands pet intolerance allergy test.

  • Confirm allergen symptoms
  • At-home convenience
  • It helps determine which foods to avoid and which ones are safe
  • Painless experience
  • Allows for early intervention and proactive measures
  • Zero in on the key food sensitivities
  • Tests for hundreds of allergens
  • Great for dogs who experience allergy symptoms, including itching, upset stomach, and other concerns
  • It gives details about each substance and associated symptoms to look for
  • Cost-effective

Testing your dog for allergies allows you to develop a specific prevention plan, whether it is dietary or seasonal (change your environment to eliminate harmful allergens), and to seek specific treatment.

5Strands pet intolerance test is not intended to diagnose but is a screening tool to guide you through the food elimination diet process. It can save you time and money you could have wasted trying multiple prescription diets. You should share the results with your veterinarian and get approval before making any dietary manipulations in your pet’s diet.

5Strands Allergy Test Key Features

A look at the most notable features from 5Strands.

  • Associated with highly accredited organizations. 5Strands is associated with APPA – American Pet Products Association, AHHA – American Holistic Health Association, Women in the Pet Industry Network, NASH – North American Society of Homeopaths, and U.S. Equestrian.
  • Team of experts. The company has a strong consultation team, from doctors to pet nutritionists.
  • Elimination guidelines. 5Strands generally provides a 60-90 day elimination guideline.
  • Easy to understand report. The company measures the severity of the response to each imbalance or intolerance using a three-tier grading system: Level 1 (severe), Level 2 (moderate), and Level 3 (mild).
  • Kits tests for hundreds of allergens. Tests for more allergens than other companies.
  • Case studies. Real success case studies from hundreds of pets.
  • Bundle packages. It offers a complete set of kits for testing dog nutrition and intolerances.
  • Pre-paid shipping. You get a prepaid envelope to mail your samples back to the laboratory at no extra cost.
  • Easy sample collection. They provide instructions and a collection bag to collect hair samples easily.
  • Result categories. Intolerances or sensitivities are categorized into four groups: no sensitivity, mild, moderate, or severe.

5Strands Affordable Testing For Dogs Reviews

The company offers six different kinds of testing.

You can also get the Pet Deluxe Package which includes four types of dog allergy testing: food allergies, environmental, nutrition, and metal and mineral. You save more money than if you buy them separately.


5Strands Coupon Code

Our readers get 10% off their total order using “CANINEBIBLE” at checkout. Click here to get started.

Chapter 2: Our Experience

My Dog’s Experience With 5Strands

Ch 1 | Ch 3

The Judges

We picked one Canine Bible dog to give us their paw-honest opinion and verdict.

Bandit

Age: 2 ┊ Gender: Male ┊ Breed: Miniature Schnauzer ┊Weight: 15 lbs ┊ Health Concerns: Sensitive stomach ┊ Personality: Playful, loves fetching

Using the 5Strands dog allergy test was a game-changer for Bandit. I finally know what may be causing his itching and discomfort. Now that we’ve adjusted his diet, he’s like a whole new, happy pup” — his person, Anna

5Strands Dog Allergy Test Unboxing

You will find the following items when you receive your 5Strands test pet kit in the mail.

  • A polybag
  • A leave-behind card entitled “Important Information to Keep”
  • Inside the polybag, there will be an anti-static bag
  • There is a unique identifier label on the anti-static bag and a matching unique identifier label on your leave-behind card
  • A white parchment paper bag
  • Return shipping label
  • Instructions about registering your kit and collecting the hair sample will be indicated directly on the box.
A look at all the items with 5Srands dog allergy test kits.

My 5Strands Dog Allergy Test Video Review

[Coming soon. Our team is working on it]

My Personal 5Strands Testimonial

Bandit’s Experience

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When we first adopted Bandit, I was afraid to give our dog any food as he seemed to react poorly every time he ate something.
He would either vomit or have diarrhea. I tried giving him different foods and brands with mixed results. The vet told me it could be his food or something in his environment. We were at our wit’s end when we came across 5 Strands while researching dog intolerance tests. I decided to give it a go, “why not,” right? We ordered the kit. The process was seamless and easy to understand. I sent the hair samples to 5Strands, and the results returned quickly.

Before we get into the results, I should say that we were adamant about doing this test as some veterinarians don’t recommend them. I also read that no real research can guarantee the accuracy of any dog allergy test. I was shocked when I opened the email and saw the results. The test showed that he was intolerant to various ingredients we had been feeding Bandit, which could cause his intolerances and allergies. We were also surprised to see moderate synthetic vitamins and minerals intolerance.

Now, we can make a more educated guess about what to include or exclude from our pup’s diet. For instance, our results showed intolerance symptoms at level 3 for various grains. Thanks to this information, we carried out an elimination diet to validate the results and ensure Bandit no longer eats these ingredients. 5Strands has been instrumental in helping us figure out what’s wrong with little Bandit. It has helped us determine what pet food Bandit can eat. Although finding an alternative food took time, we have seen great results. We have also researched the environmental factors triggering his symptoms but are still waiting.

5Strands is a great place to start before trying an elimination diet with your pet. I recommend it.
Anna
Bandit’s owner

My Dog’s Experience With 5Strands Dog Allergy Test

Day 1

  • When our testing kit arrived, we liked that the instructions we easy to follow. This made the whole process quick and convenient. It took us about 5 minutes to complete all the steps.

Week 1-2

  • A little after a week, we received our test results. We were notified via email, and we were able to download them.

Ordering & Delivery

Ordering 5Strands for our doggo was fast and straightforward. After placing our order, 5Strands sent us a same-day, follow-up email order confirmation. Once we collected the hair samples and sent them to 5Strands labs for analysis, we received a confirmation ‘Sample Received’ email from [email protected] upon arrival at the processing center. It took about six days to get our dog’s results via email. There is the option to view the status of your order via your portal account.  

For a faster and more convenient option, they offer a ‘downloadable kit’ option that you can be requested via email by registering and sending in your sample.

Results & How To Use Them

The results came as three email attachments.

  • A document on how to interpret your pet’s results (PDF)
  • A list of your pet’s intolerances (PDF)
  • A master list of everything your pet was tested for (PDF)
  • A video regarding their testing process

The results are color-coded. Red represents foods that should be avoided, yellow represents foods that should be avoided or reduced as much as possible, and green foods should be consumed in limited amounts.

You should consult with your veterinarian. They can provide professional insight into the significance of the identified intolerance and help you understand its potential impact on your dog’s health.

It’s recommended to consider implementing an elimination diet based on the identified intolerances. This involves removing the suspected allergens from your dog’s diet for a certain period and monitoring for improvements in their symptoms. Reintroduce the eliminated ingredients one at a time to observe any adverse reactions and narrow down the specific triggers. If you notice symptoms after reintroducing the item into your pet’s diet or environment, it is advisable to remove it from your pet’s diet. However, if your dog shows no adverse reactions, you can continue to include it in moderate amounts.

By following these guidelines, you can lessen or eliminate the unwanted symptoms they are experiencing. The elimination diet will also let you test the accuracy of your results.

Customer Service

The customer service at 5Strands is excellent, and it’s the one thing that ensures you’ll get the answer you need to your questions or concerns about their products. Their web chat and even email responses are the fastest way to communicate. You can also contact them via email or phone. Their support is customer-friendly, and they are active on social media.

We also tested 5Strands’ customer service by having a few of our dog owner friends inquire about their tests through email, phone, and chat to gauge their responsiveness and attentiveness. Most parents got a fast and helpful response in less than a few hours. We like that the 5Strands website is informative, and their FAQs section contains a lot of information that will help us better understand their products and results.

What We Like & What We’d Change

Pros

  • The test kit can be ordered online, and the hair samples can be sent to the company without needing a vet visit or blood samples.
  • Results come back in about 5 to 10 days. This allows pet owners to take prompt action based on the findings.
  • The test results can assist pet owners in implementing an elimination diet to validate the findings and determine which ingredients or substances should be avoided in the dog’s diet.
  • Tests for a range of allergens. Test for hundreds of the most common pet food ingredients, environmental allergens, mental, raw, and minerals.
  • They showcase case studies and lab results from real customers on their website.
  • Easy-to-understand results with recommendations
  • The tests can be used on cats as well

Cons

  • Allergy and intolerance testing can be complex, as individual reactions can vary. The test results may not always align with the dog’s sensitivities, and false positives or negatives are possible.
  • Relying solely on the results of an allergy test may lead pet owners to believe that they have identified all of their dog’s triggers, potentially overlooking other contributing factors or allergies that were not detected by the test.
  • Some veterinarians recommend alternative testing methods, such as blood tests or intradermal skin testing, which are considered more accurate and reliable in diagnosing allergies and intolerances in dogs.
  • 5Strands utilizes bioresonance, which neither tests symptoms nor is it a clinical laboratory test. They test with frequencies and will not detect pathogens or allergens. However, it tests on the finest energetic level for possible disturbances in the organism’s ability to regulate if the laboratory finding comes to the result of an allergy (regardless of what kind), then the bioresonance test will show us which causal relationships on an energetic level contribute to the allergic reaction.
Chapter 3: Tips, FAQs & More

Additional Key Information to Know

Ch 1 | Ch 2

How Accurate Is 5Strands Pet Food Allergy Test?

Based on research and the literature, no dog allergy test is a hundred percent accurate, not even the ones you get at the vet. Even in a human allergy test, 50 to 60% of all skin prick tests yield “false positive” results, meaning that the test shows positive even though you are not allergic to the food being tested.[1]

Regarding pet kits, you can expect test results to be 65% to 75% accurate.[2]

5Strands states that a strict elimination diet is the only way to test for food intolerances accurately. This is true. The elimination diet is the golden standard vet-approved way to rule out pet food allergies. However, the time required to conduct such a controlled diet can be lengthy and costly. This is where 5Strands comes in. These kits remove the guesswork and make an elimination diet easier by providing the exact list of items that should take priority in an elimination diet. “The accuracy of the results is directly related to the amount of interaction and diligence given to implementing the results,” says the company.

However, the company is confident its tests will yield great results for your pets and has conducted case studies on hundreds of customers. These case studies outline a record of a pet and their experiences based on the implementation of their testing results. You can check out the case studies here.

What Do Customers Think?

Here is what real-verified customers had to say about this 5Strands dog allergy test.

5 Strands Positive Reviews

We have to highlight that Amazon customer reviews are positive. We found that a “top contributor” for Amazon Pets left a review stating how she had tried multiple foods, and nothing seemed to work. She even discovered that peanut butter was causing her dog’s allergies, and ironically enough, all her pup’s treats had peanut butter in them. She also notes that it’s also worth trying and not jump to conclusions even when your vet says so.

Amazon

“This is an expensive and fast way to see what might be causing your dog’s itchy skin and paw licking. I thought I was feeding my dog a clean and neutral diet of beef, only to learn that the organs were a major irritant for him. I’ve switched his protein, and after just a few days, I could tell the difference in how much he licks and scratches.”

Tiffany Fraley 4/29/2021

5 Strands Negative Reviews

As far as negative reviews, we have pet parents who report their test did not work for their pets. Comments like bio-resonance testing for allergies are not reliable, it only tests for intolerances, and that instructions are vague are some of the not-so-positive comments.

Overall, 5Strands Pet Food Intolerance Test has excellent customer reviews, averaging 4.3 out of 5 when looking at their website and Amazon rating reviews.

5Strands Reddit Reviews

There were only a few threads where people were talking about 5Strands. The conversation about the elimination diet surfaced as the best alternative.

Other 5Strands Pet Products

Here are other products offered by this company.

Blue-Green Algae Testing

Did you know dog blue algae is poisonous to dogs, cats, livestock, wildlife, birds, fish, and even humans? They don’t have to drink algae-infested water to get sick, but swimming in it can cause damage. If blue-green algae are ingested, it can cause severe neurologic or liver damage. 5Strands also offers a separate Blue-Green Algae test for your water. This is invaluable if you want a fast way to test water quality and ensure it is safe for your pets.

Best Blue-Green Algae Test Kit

Horse Allergy Testing Kit

This Equine Intolerance Test for Horses tests 300 items, including 158 food items, 98 environmental factors, 29 nutritional imbalances, and 15 metal/mineral imbalances.

Consultation Pet

This one-on-one consultation is highly recommended for pet parents needing assistance using the 5Strands results. This consultation focuses on finding a commercial diet for your cat or dog. 

5Strands Adult & Child At-Home Intolerance Tests

5Strands’ affordable at-home intolerance tests for adults and children allow you to take control of your overall health and wellness. Uncover common food and environmental intolerances and change your diet or lifestyle.

5Strands Dog Allergy Test Review Conclusion & Alternatives

If you want to enhance your dog’s quality of life, an allergy test may be a suitable option. Online and veterinarian-provided dog allergy tests, such as 5Strands (blood and skin tests), are available. These tests can help identify specific substances in your pet’s diet or environment to which they may have developed sensitivities.

It is important to remember that the purpose of these tests is to guide the elimination of offending foods from their meals or the avoidance of external allergens to prevent symptoms. However, it is crucial to understand that this test should never be used as a replacement for professional advice from a qualified veterinarian. If you suspect your dog has allergies or intolerances, visiting a veterinarian for proper evaluation and guidance is recommended.

best at home dog allergy test

While 5Strands is our best pick for food and environmental allergies, other options can test for other specific allergens in dogs. Read our reviews of the best dog allergy test kits for more.


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Canine Bible uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

[1] Allergy.org, [2] Dog Food Allergy Testing Accuracy.

Editorial Team at Canine Bible | + posts

Canine Bible authorship represents the unified voice of our entire editorial team and our in-house veterinarians rather than a single author. Each article, blog post, and review published under the Canine Bible name undergoes a rigorous review process, involving all team members to guarantee accuracy and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. This collaborative effort is an integral part of our editorial process and aligns with our four pillars of content creation. This approach ensures our content is backed by expert knowledge and factual information, offering our readers reliable, actionable, and trustworthy content.

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