Leaky Gut: Zonulin and Antigliadin-IgA – DOGS AND CATS
How to Help A Pet with a Leaky Gut
Carol Bryant
Could your pet with a leaky gut be one test away from feeling better? A leaky gut causes
diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, vomiting, inflammation, and bloating. You can imagine how
uncomfortable your dog or cat feels if they have a leaky gut.
When the good bacteria in your pet’s GI tract get outnumbered by the bad bacteria, dysbiosis,
or leaky gut, can occur. Your pet may have a leaky gut, but you just don’t know it yet. That’s
pretty scary, considering an uncontrolled leaky gut may lead to allergies or other autoimmune
problems.
Dogs and cats may experience a leaky gut at some point in their lifetime. Some potential causes
are medication, intestinal infections, trauma, toxins, poor diet, and parasites. A leaky gut occurs
when undigested food particles permeate the intestinal wall and bloodstream. The result isn't
pleasant.
Fortunately, you can help a pet with a leaky gut; this article will explain how.
How Do I Know if My Pet Has a Leaky Gut?
Dr. Betsy Redmond has worked in clinical laboratory education and research for almost 20
years. She is the founder of Innovative Pet Lab and has decades of experience in the nutrition
space. She knows all about leaky gut in pets.
She explains that if your pet has a healthy gut, what comes in and out is simply water and
nutrients. But a more permeable gut, or “leaky gut,” allows bacteria and toxins to enter the
bloodstream. This might cause inflammation in the rest of the body, which could trigger an
immune reaction.
Innovative Pet Lab offers a test for Leaky Gut that examines the entire gut, not just a pet’s
microbiome. While many tests are available, Innovative Pet Lab is the only one performed at
home, is veterinarian-approved, and tests for specific markers in your pet’s bloodstream.
By assessing your pet’s gut lining health, pet parents can do something about it. Fortunately,
there are things pet parents can do to restore the barrier function of their pets’ intestines.
Here’s a great explanation of leaky gut from Dr. Redmond:
Dr. Redmond talking about Leaky Gut
Testing Your Pet’s Zonulin and Antigliadin IgA
Could toxins be sneaking into your pet’s bloodstream? Could they be leaking out? Having a
leaky gut allows toxins and allergens to creep out. Symptoms of a leaky gut include diarrhea,
bloating, dry skin, hair loss, chewing or biting the paws, appetite changes, and more.
Innovative Pet Lab’s Leaky Gut test kit measures two markers of your pet’s gut health–zonulin
and antigliadin IgA. Here’s why these levels are important.
Zonulin
Think of zonulin as a glue that holds intestinal cells together. When zonulin is too high, there is a
malfunction in the intestinal lining. A high level means the intestinal cells aren’t tightly bound
together. Because leaky gut happens with time, the level of your pet’s zonulin can help identify
the problem. Unfortunately, if a high zonulin level is not corrected, it can worsen with time.
Test results from the Innovative Pet Lab Leaky Gut kit will indicate if your pet’s zonulin level is
normal or high. If it is high, there are many treatment options available. In addition to the
recommendations provided by the lab, your veterinarian will have a solid piece of data to create
an action plan for your pet.
These may include probiotics, less processed food, checking your pet’s inflammation level,
avoiding unnecessary medications, and more. It’s best to implement changes with your vet’s
direction and retest in three months.
Rudy, a young male Boston Terrier, suffered from leaky gut symptoms. His pet parent tried the
Innovative Pet Lab Leaky Gut test to see if the results would help guide her. His zonulin level
(among others) was high. Rudy’s levels normalized after three months of changes, including a
food change, the addition of slippery elm and probiotics, and more routine scheduled meals.
Antigliadin IgA
Gluten has become synonymous with protein in grains like wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Many
people and pets have gluten sensitivity. The Leaky Gut test measures antigliadin IgA as an immune response to gluten.
This will tell pet parents if their pet has gluten in its diet. Dogs and
cats will only react to this measurement if they are eating gluten in some form.
Removing gluten from your pet’s diet can help reduce antigliadin IgA and zonulin levels.
Remember that the reaction measured on this test is based on the level of gluten your pet has
eaten. It does not diagnose a wheat or gluten allergy or celiac disease.
If the results are high, you may try a gluten-free food and see if your symptoms change over
time. Innovative Pet Lab research suggests you try a new diet for at least ten weeks and retest
your pet in three months.
How Innovative Pet Lab’s Leaky Gut Test Works
You’ll soon receive a test kit after ordering the Leaky Gut test kit from the Innovative Pet Lab
website. After easily scooping up a sample of your pet’s poop, mail it back to the lab in the
postage-paid envelope provided.
Everything you need to get a sample (including rubber gloves) is included. After about ten days,
results and recommendations are sent directly to your email.
Innovative Pet Lab offers scientifically proven tests that evaluate your pet’s total gut health. Pet
parents can conveniently perform each test at home and use it with their veterinarian’s input.
Here’s a video to walk you through the process.
FAQs
We focus on test markers that are early indicators of disease and chronic conditions so pets
can enjoy the same quality and comfort of life as their human counterparts. Here are some
frequently asked questions we receive about the Leaky Gut test for dogs and cats.
Why doesn’t my veterinarian do this test for me?
We work with many veterinarians nationwide who sell our test kits and utilize them in their
practices. We encourage pet parents to share test results with their veterinarian for further
guidance and treatment recommendations.
How often do I need to do this test?
If your pet’s test returns normal, we suggest retesting in a year unless there are symptoms. If
there are elevations in zonulin or antigliadin IgA, we recommend resting for three after changes
have been made to monitor levels.
How long does it take to get my results?
We provide ongoing support while each test is being processed and deliver actionable results
within ten days, empowering pet parents and veterinarians to make informed decisions when
results are finalized.
Is the same test used for both dogs and cats?
Innovative Pet Lab’s Leaky Gut test is designed for dogs and cats.
Where can I read testimonials and see a sample report?
Check out our Understanding Your Results page.
What makes Innovative Pet Lab the best test available for Leaky Gut?
We are the BEST and the ONLY test for Leaky Gut available on the market.
Our team has over 100 combined years of laboratory experience on these specific biomarkers.
What other tests does Innovative Pet Lab offer for pets?
Shop our entire collection of tests for dogs and cats (with more species to come) for:
Basic Gut Check
Digestion and Detox
Inflammation and Immunity
Comprehensive Gut Check for Dogs
Comprehensive Gut Check for Cats
Carol is the Immediate Past President of the Dog Writers Association of America and is well-known in the pet industry. She has appeared on television, radio shows, and podcasts, as well as in articles from CNN and Vetstreet to Dogster and Today.com. She is a copywriter, content marketer, and award-winning blogger who owns FidoseofReality.com and SmartDogCopy.com.