Nestlé has launched the Petivity Microbiome Analysis Kit in the US, which it says helps to deliver tailored nutrition and supplement recommendations for dogs and cats based on their unique gut profile.
The kit uses science-based sequencing technology to analyse a pet's gut microbiome to unlock key health and nutrition information, the company added.
Pascal Steiner, director of Petcare Nutrition Science at Nestlé stated, "With this kit, we are putting the science of the gut microbiome into the hands of pet owners, empowering them to understand their pet's health and nutrition even better.
"The recommendations made by the tool are based on over 10 years of prebiotic, probiotic, and microbiome research."
Dogs and cats host trillions of microbes, with the highest populations residing in their guts.
It plays a vital role in their health and well-being, so understanding a pet's microbiome enables owners to provide proactive health care, Nestlé added.
How It Works
Pet owners submit a small stool sample of their pet to the Purina laboratory and receive a report showing the status of their pet's microbiome profile and information about their pet's gut health.
The report highlights potential pathogens, unusual bacteria, and if numbers are out of the normal range.
The report includes tailored nutrition and supplement recommendations to support gut health and optimise their gut microbiome.
Sheri Smithey, head of Nestlé Product Technology Centre for Petcare said, "At Nestlé R&D for Petcare we take a holistic approach to pet nutrition and health. This includes developing science-based nutritional solutions adapted to different pet life stages.
"With the Petivity Microbiome Analyses Kit, we combine Nestlé's research capabilities with novel digital tools and services to create more personalized solutions for our pets."
