Allergies are a common and frustrating problem for many pet dogs. While the details are incredibly complicated and not completely understood, allergies are the result of inappropriate inflammation and other immune system responses to triggers in the environment. These triggers can be anything from flea saliva to food ingredients to pollens or dust. Dogs with allergies likely have a genetic predisposition to such excessive immune reactions, and early environmental exposure may play a role. While there are many therapies available that significantly reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and modulate the abnormal immune response that is the cause of allergies, there is no simple or single cure.
The unpredictability of allergy symptoms, their chronic waxing and waning nature, and the lack of a definitive cure make allergies a popular target for alternative therapies. And just as alternative practitioners ignore much of the science behind vaccines in order to promulgate made-up theories that support their own methods, so many CAVM advocates ignore all that is known about the pathophysiology of allergies and the available diagnostic and treatment interventions and instead make up their own unscientific theories to sell alternative allergy treatments. A reader recently drew my attention to a particularly ridiculous example of this that approaches self-parody: Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Wellness Life Scan Stress Test.
What Is It?
This is actually a relatively difficult question to answer since the company materials about the test are mostly faux-scientific gibberish with a lot of repetition of the meaningless term “energy.” Here’s a sample:
Most allergy-type symptoms are not caused by actual allergies at all…Certain stressors in your pet’s diet are more likely the root source of the allergy symptoms.
Because dogs and cats lack the proper digestive enzymes to digest starchy root vegetables, grains and most fruits, feeding these types of foods can contribute to yeast overgrowth and immune system issues.
Traditional medicine usually prescribes steroids that only mask the allergy symptoms by suppressing the natural function of immune system and can cause damaging, irreversible side effects…Sadly, most pet’s allergy symptoms return stronger than before treatment beginning a vicious cycle that has ZERO lasting benefits.
The Pet Wellness Life Stress Scan, formerly “Healthy Dog and Cat Alternative Sensitivity Assessment”, is the original hair and saliva scan for identifying over 300 stressors in your pet’s diet and environment…The Pet Wellness Life Stress Scan uses biofeedback, which has the ability to read the energetic resonance that emanates from the hair and saliva samples.
Biofeedback energy status analysis measures the body’s bio energetic balance or homeostasis in relation to various food and environmental factors that an animal is exposed to.
The Chinese would call this a balance of yin or yang, with the ultimate goal removing or reducing incompatible energetic disturbances that diminish the body’s Qi or life-force. It is well known in TCM, homeopathy and western holistic medicine, that energetic and spiritual disturbances often precedes physical disturbances…It is a non-invasive energetic analysis seeking to identify and diminish non-harmonic energetic factors.
Using biofeedback analysis, the biofeedback device can identify over 300 food and environmental factors that may disturb an animal’s energy balance.
So, how many woo-woo clichés and warning signs of quackery could you spot? A partial list would include:
- Rejection of established scientific knowledge- While allergies aren’t completely understood, the idea that they aren’t really allergies or that they are due to vague “stressors” is nonsense. There is extensive scientific evidence demonstrating the causes and processes of allergic problems in humans and dogs which this company ignores.
- Dismissal of science-based medicine as “only symptomatic” and causing more harm than good- While much allergy treatment is symptomatic because a true cure would involve either changing the genetic constitution or past exposure of a dog or eliminating all allergens from the environment, which often is not possible, some treatments do address the closest we can get to the root cause by either eliminating the triggers (limited antigen diets, for example) or desensitizing the immune system to prevent the initial inappropriate reaction to antigens (immunotherapy or “allergy shots”).
- Focusing on risks and ignoring benefits from conventional treatment- All treatments that do anything at all have both risks and benefits. Steroids (and the many, many other topical and system allergy medications this website neglects to mention) can have risks, especially when inappropriately used. However, they also can give dogs suffering from allergies relief and a good quality and normal length of life, which they might otherwise not be able to have.
- The nonsense about “grains” that has become quite the alternative nutrition fad, and which I’ve addressed many times (e.g. 1, 2).
- Vague pseudoscientific language that is actually meaningless as used here: biofeedback, energy, energetic resonance, energetic status analysis, homeostasis, non-harmonic energy factors.
- Reference to non-scientific folk beliefs or fundamentally religious concepts that must be taken on faith and cannot be evaluated scientifically- Qi, energy, life-force, spiritual disturbances.
- Complete absence of any scientific evidence to support the claims made.
- Presence of anecdotes and testimonials in place of reliable evidence
Does It Work?
In terms of the test itself, it is pretty easy to recognize the complete lack of validity to it. The concept of energy employed here is vague and mystical with no relationship to the science of allergy medicine. The terms biofeedback and homeostasis have real meanings, but those are unrelated to their use here, which is just a smokescreen intended to make folk beliefs and completely made-up explanations sound scientific. Hair analysis is an old and long-debunked practice, and I have already addressed the bogus use of saliva testing for allergy diagnosis in my respond to Dr. Jean Dodds’ claims about it.
Of course, as is often the case with quack medicine, the promoters try to have their cake and eat it too. In addition to trying to make the test sound scientific, the site clearly implies that the test identifies the cause of allergy symptoms:
More Than an Allergy Test
Certain stressors in your pet’s diet are more likely the root source of the allergy symptoms…
The Pet Wellness Life Stress Scan…is the original hair and saliva scan for identifying over 300 stressors in your pet’s diet and environment.
We can show you what foods and environmental factors are currently impacting your pet’s well-being
However, the company also wants to sound “alternative” and, perhaps, to dodge around legal restrictions on claiming to test for allergies when there is no scientific support for the test they are selling. This leads to the usual empty disclaimers that contradict the clear overall message of the advertisement:
This is not a traditional medical laboratory allergy test…It is complimentary and is in no way meant nor to be inferred as a substitute for traditional allergy testing methods that use blood samples such as the ELISA and antibody testing. We highly recommend that you consult with your vet if you wish such traditional testing be done for your pet.
The company also can’t legitimately claim to diagnose or recommend treatments for allergies since this requires a licensed veterinarian. Instead, they use a lot of doublespeak to suggest that they can help you solve your dog’s allergy problems without actually saying they offer diagnosis and treatment of allergies:
We have Pet Wellness Coaches standing by to help you understand your results and show you the road map back to balance…Our Wellness Coach will go over the results with you page by page….
Bottom Line
The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Wellness Life Stress Scan (formerly “Healthy Dog and Cat Alternative Sensitivity Assessment”) is a completely implausible test based on vague, mystical nonsense and pseudoscientific theories that contradict the legitimate scientific evidence regarding the cause and management of allergies. The general concept that hair and saliva testing can identify the causes of allergies is false. The marketing of this test is misleading and contains many of the hallmarks of quack advertising. Dog owners struggling with allergies would be far better spending their time and money consulting a veterinary dermatologist for a science-based approach to helping their canine companions.
And don’t forget the “added value” of the bogus supplements they sell that probably make up over half their revenue.
It makes me crazy that people believe this crap. They try all kinds of foods and phony baloney supplements, meanwhile the dog is suffering and scratching itself raw.
They are convinced prescription food has “bad ingredients” and listen to anonymous strangers advising them to feed raw (gag).
If you suggest they go to a veterinary dermatologist, they say they can’t afford it.
Unfortunately, that may be the best treatment option for dogs with allergies (imo)
No, it’s not cheap, but the dog has a serious condition that requires the expertise of a specialist.
Love it! Glad I suggested this topic to you. Knew the blog would be great.
I think some of my personal favorite parts about this “test” is how it was originally marketed as an allergy test and talked nothing about “stressors”, then they removed it from the website for almost a year and now it is back under a new name with a random new claim.
Also this statement is great: “The information provided by this scan is intended for educational and nutritional purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It is not intended as conventional veterinary medical advice or to replace the advice or attention of your existing veterinarian. You may wish to consult with a holistic veterinarian before making changes to your pets’ diet, nutritional supplements, or exercise program. The statements on or about this scan have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area, visit http://www.ahvma.org.”
So in summary, what the company is telling it’s consumers is, this test is worthless…
Yes, disclaimers like this are common on sites selling quackery, and they clearly violate the intent of the law even when,possibly, meeting the letter of it. People should be aware that such a disclaimer is essentially an admission that they have no real evidence for their claims.
Hi skeptvet,
Thanks for writing this article. Historically, Glacier Peak Holistic marketed the “Glacier Peak Holistic’s Allergy Test”. I found some information that indicated the testing method originally was “applied kinesiology”. From what I understand that “method” became cumbersome and the company then introduced their “biofeedback” testing method. The name was at some point changed to “Healthy Dog Alternative Sensitivity Assessment.”
When I contacted the company to inquire about the test I was told “Some scientist somewhere has mapped the energetic frequency of each item using quantum physics and programmed them to be recognized by the biofeedback machine”. The “energy imprints” are attached to the pet’s DNA and the “biofeedback” machine “detects” them. I contacted two PhD quantum physicists who confirmed that there isn’t anything in the field to substantiate what the company is claiming.
The company couldn’t verify what form the energy was in or how it was measured, only saying “It integrates the sciences of mathematics, quantum physics, fractal dynamics, subspace theory, electronics, and computer programming….” This phrasing led me to the EPFX device which has a silver plate incorporated into it for use of “analyzing” hair and fluid samples and is associated with the name William Nelson. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/how-one-mans-invention-is-part-of-a-growing-worldwide-scam-that-snares-the-desperately-ill/
I have no idea if the company is using this or something similar. The company failed to answer any of my further questions stating it is proprietary.
I purchased a test kit and instead of sending my dog’s saliva moistened the cotton swabs in the kit with IV solution I got from the vet’s office. Instead of sending hair I used a sterile instrument to shred the end of one of the cotton swabs sent in the test kit. This was all done in a pet free home and I wore gloves to ensure no contamination of the negative control sample took place.
I received the test results back in a timely manner. The negative control sample was “positive” for 63 food sensitivities, 29 environmental sensitivities and 7 out of 9 probable concerns. The company said my results were “energetically speaking” altered by “bad intent” as my intention was to deceive the company. I replied that my intent was to validate their test and no “bad intent” was present.
It was soon after the company learned of my negative control sample that the test was taken off the market and now I see they have relaunched under a new name with an added requirement that a legal disclaimer be signed before they will run your test.
I’ve posted my findings on multiple review sites but my posts were usually deleted.
You can find one such review here https://smileydog.com/glacier-peak-holistics-or-nutriscan-which-test-is-for-you/
and see the actual results here: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/hypoallergenic-dog-foods/#comment-2431116930
Thanks again for writing this article.
Thanks for this! Excellent work demonstrating the unreliability of this nonsense as well. It is, undoubtedly, technically illegal, but there is no interest in enforcing laws against selling lies like this to pet owners, so the best we can do is warn people about unscrupulous companies like this. Well done!
Aimee,
While the whole of the results are obviously a scam, this one is especially priceless:
Under “Noxious Energy”: Electronics (including everything commonly found in most homes, obviously)
Nice work, perhaps you could send your investigation summary to the FDA-CVM division 🙂
I’m sorry you feel that way about the test but I have personally used it five times for pit bull mixes that I have fostered for a rescue. Three of them came to me with severe hair loss, itchy rashes and the resultant skin infection. The veterinarian’s “treatment” of antibiotics and steroids was a short term fix to a long term issue, that kept coming back once the medicine ran out. Once I got the results back the dogs went on a home cooked diet a couple months on only the foods the test did not find a potential stressor in. Once their hair grew back and they had no allergy symptoms, I was able to test out different brands of dog food one by one until I found one that did not cause any symptoms. All have since been adopted and their owners have never had an issue with allergies thus far. The only “supplements” given were apple cider vinegar and coconut oil. I don’t necessarily believe in the so-called “pseudoscientific” principles of Eastern Medicine (or know if the test has really anything to do with Eastern Medicine). In fact I hadn’t ever read that information prior to seeing your article (the very first test was donated and since it worked I never researched when purchasing later tests). But at such a price to provide quick, long-lasting, pharmaceutical-free relief from a seemingly mystical and costly issue when going the traditional way through a vet, I suggest you reconsider.
While I understand how convincing such experiences can be, the fact remains that they don’t really help us figure out which methods work and which don’t. Anecdotes are a test nothing ever fails, and you can find someone with a “I tried it and my pet got better” story for absolutely everything. We tried using such stories as evidence for thousands of years and made no real improvements in our health on life expectancy, and since we came to rely more on science, we have dramatically improved both. I’m glad your pets are doing well, but that isn’t a reason to think differently about this test until there is research evidence to back it up. If you’re interested, here are several articles that go into why in much more detail:
Why Anecdotes and Testimonials Aren’t Reliable
Or, there’s always this cute example of the problem 🙂
Ok, so I am one of those people that are desperately seeking relief for my two beagles. I have been to the vet and spent thousands of dollars. Have been to the the dermatologist. Tried Steroids, Apoquel, Neurontin, Amitryptaline, Pentoxifylline, multiple antibiotics, Aterax, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Dinovite, Missing Link Skin and Coat and so many more.
My two beagles have lived with cones on since November 2016 and there is truly no light at the end of the tunnel. The excessive paw licking is out of control. The sores on their paws are painful and never seem to get better. If I soak them they are moist and bleed if I let them dry out they get dry and bleed.
Today in desperation I bought the pet wellness life stress scan, Vita Essentials turkey patties, and fermented raw Kfir.
I am an extremely responsible pet owner who is desperate to improve the quality of my beagles lives. Any suggestions are welcome. I bought this product is pure desperation not because I did not want to pay for the dogs to be allergy tested and treated by a professional vet and or dermatologist.
While I certainly understand your desperation and your motivation, unfortunately I believe your money would be better spent continuing to work with a veterinary dermatologist. While science has no perfect answers, it is consistently a better bet than the kind of nonsense this company is selling. In any case, good luck!
@Janine–
So did you send in the test and if so what are the results?
My dog has what a dermatologist thought was flea allergy–NOT–
We thought it was chicken and took her off all chicken/fowl/eggs–used RX food and Apoquel–and she has been good w/o itching/hot spots for more than 6 months–
But now she is starting to get itchy feet, some yeast spots on her back–
And think that is due to high carb content of the RX food–(potatoes are two of the first 4 ingredients)…
Went to local (sort of holistic) pet food store and bought some Primal freeze dried lamb and had them suggest the Wellness stress test…I passed…but I was tempted…
The dermatology vet we saw over a year ago said that allergy testing on dogs was not that helpful in proving the cause of itching problems…
To me that was one of the most self-defeating claims I ever heard from a specialists–
But I have had human dermatologists tell me it can be impossible to pinpoint specific allergens as well…
Janine, My doxie had excessive paw licking which the vet told me was likely due to allergies. We put her on limited ingredient food (lamb, brown rice) at his suggestion, and she’s been fine ever since. She rarely licks her paws now, although she still gets skin bumps sometimes and wheezes now and then, but the paw licking completely stopped. After some trials, we think it is chicken and beef that bother her, so we stay with lamb or salmon as the protein.
We are going to see the vet dermatologist for the wheezing and bumps. We don’t give her antihistimines because she already sleeps most of the time!
I know this is an anecdote, but I share it because it’s the result of following standard veterinary advice and because the solution was simple, sensible, and low cost.
Edit: We are seeing the ALLERGIST, not dermatologist .
There is some research suggesting that selecting immunotherapy components based on regional allergens is as effective as testing for individual sensitivities in dogs, so the dermatologist is just being honest with you. And in terms of food allergies, there is no reliable test to identify these in dogs. People are often frustrated by the uncertainty in medicine, but that’s life and making stuff up, as the Glacier Peaks people do, isn’t the answer to the limitations on real knowledge.
You can poo-poo this test if you like but it made all the difference for our Cavalier. He was having nearly constant ear infections and constantly chewed himself raw. Nothing the vet (3 different vets actually) did helped. We switched foods, we gave medications, we gave him medicated baths. Nothing made a difference. This test was recommended to us by a local pet store. After we got our results and switched to food and treats that had no ingredients that our dog is sensitive to, his issues completely went away. He has not had a single ear infection or skin issue since.
I wish it were that simple to know if a medical test or treatment actually works. If it were, we could stop all the time and money and energy devoted to scientific research and just try things and see what happens. Unfortunately, we did this for most of human history and failed to find the truth or improve health most of the time for thousands of years. Science and scientific evidence really do matter and are needed to know the truth and make the best choices.
Why Anecdotes Can’t Be Trusted
Just like to add my story as well. I have never been pressured in any way by this company to purchase supplements, by the way, and I never have. However even the best vets in my area do not really understand cat food allergies. I was lucky enough to find a holistic vet that saved the life of my cat 9 years ago. Since he has retired anytime I have had pets with possible allergies (and mind you this is done after numerous vet visits and different antibiotics) I have used this test as a guideline of what not to feed cats with allergies. It has been spot on every time (at least 10 cats, I was the manager of a cat shelter). Unfortunately in cats the most common allergy is to chicken which is in almost all cat food in one form or another (check the aisle of the pet food store next time you are there). So, you may not like this company, but I love them.
I agree with several people here. Glacier Peak help me out of a critical situation with my dog. Continuing therapy using a local dermatologists would have cost him unneeded surgery. As a matter of fact I think it’s safe to say that we stumped the dermatologist and his primary veterinarian. After spending quite a bit of money trying to troubleshoot his issues ( allergies and contact dermatitis ) through normal channels, using Glacier Peak proved to be the most beneficial. Although still being treated and after science and prescription treatments for the problem failed, I turned to natural and herbal and my dog is now 99% cured. And I expect within the next week or two to be at 100%. I haven’t seen a vet since January it is now almost the end of April. With the power of herbs & nature along with the test information that Glacier Peak provided we made more progress than we did with veterinarians and dermatologist, after going thru hundreds and hundreds of dollars, lots of antibiotics, steroids, and whatever else science could throw at him. Sometimes you have to think outside the box.
Unfortunately there are many reasons why the evidence of our own experiences isn’t very reliable. Here are some previous discussions, and a bit of humor, to illustrate why:
Why Anecdotes Can’t Be Trusted
They believe what they want to believe no matter the evidence to the contrary. Thank-you so much for this article skeptvet (& some comments as well, ie. Aimee). This saved my partner from wasting money & getting hopes up for nothing. Our dog is actually doing fine these days although she’s still on a low doseage of prednisone (85lb (lean) dog, taking only 2.5mg/day) but we also have her on a high-quality,grain-free FISH diet for the past 18mos. (she’s just over 2yrs. now). Just recently we’ve also been able to introduce another protein source with no ill effects (Acana ‘Ranchlands’). From my limited understanding, allergies in dogs is a complicated issue. It upsets me to discover so many trying to profit off of others… creating false hopes from folks who’ll do just about anything to help their pet.
@ Colin
The prednisone should only be short term.
Please consider going to a board certified veterinary dermatologist.
I did, and my dog is still stable (5 years in) After the initial diagnosis/testing/treatment and a couple of follow up visits, we only see him once a year.
She is treated with immunotherapy, natural, no meds.
Probably runs about $1000 a year in my case for a small dog.
There is no cure for allergies, but there is effective treatment.
Don’t be silly, most of the time the food has nothing to do with it.
Best of luck.
Hi Ariel. I realize your post being a year old that u may never see this but I am desperate. I have a pitbull mix w the exact problems u described and am having a difficult time finding a food for my baby boy thats Gluten free & white & sweet potato FREE & uses other less starchy veggies.. Also can u share the foods named as sensitive to your furbabies? Or anyone else with suggestions on a food potato.chicken & POTATO FREE????i cant find any under $100 a bag.. Im more in the $50-$60 for 30lb bag budget (been using blue buffalo & now am horrified by the amount of starchy ingredients which cause yeast on my miserable Chevy.. Help!!!!!!!
Hi Heather, did you have a test done and know which foods he needs to avoid? I was just at Petsmart and I noticed a few of the more expensive brands offering potato free recipes. Each of the dogs I fostered who had the test done came up with different foods that were causing them issues. There were no potato free foods that I could find when I used this test, I had to make homecooked meals until their symptoms cleared up and then I gave them a dog food with the least amount of allergens.
I don’t need to know why it works, as long as it does and it did, six times. I was able to avoid visiting dermatologists for six dogs with severe allergies. I was able to avoid the $700 allergy test offered at the vet which only tests for 20 different ingredients. This ludicrous test offers help for those who cannot afford thousands of dollars in veterinary treatment. Veterinary science is not exact and does not have all the answers and solutions. I have worked with a rescue for 6 years and have seen many, many veterinarians and done a lot of research. Veterinarians even differ, in the same geographic region (even in the same neighborhood) on recommended vaccines and their schedules. Not even that is certain. I have seen the upselling that goes on in the industry and it is appalling. Sorry, that’s anecdotal again. This test has been a lifesaver to six dogs that I know and should I ever come across another who has allergies, I will pick it up again and recommend it to all who are at their wit’s end with their dogs’ suffering and the ineffectiveness of scientific methods of treatment.
Tests for food allergy are absolutely worthless. I have a review article coming out soon on the subject, but the evidence is clear in humans and in veterinary patients that you cannot determine food allergies through any kind of diagnostic testing.
Why Anecdotes Can’t Be Trusted
Hi guys, I came across this post via a client of mine and after reading some of the comments, I thought I’d kick in my two pennies here. As a practicing veterinarian for the past 25 years, I can say that allergies are a huge issue in our pets and something that I and likely, the author of this site, contend with on a daily basis. I was trained in conventional medicine, but as many of the posters here will note, this conventional approach has failed us time and time again. Personally, I dig deeper into these patients and look at human research data to guide us in a better understanding and also to possible better solutions. One key thing here with allergies, is that this is an unregulated inflammatory and immune response, putting it generically. Seeing this, one then must seek the cause of this dysfunctional reaction in that patient. Looking at human data, one area of interest is the digestive microbiome and likewise the influence on the immune and inflammatory response. Even in some recent studies looking at gluten sensitivity in people, they have found that it is not the elimination of gluten that produces benefit, but the change in the quality of fiber consumed by that person. This translates into better ‘nutrition’ for the digestive microbiome, which then creates the change in the dynamics of the inflammatory and immune response for that patient. My point here is that in many of these chronic allergy patients, one can produce some significant results pretty simply by modifying the digestive health. This can be via change in diet but also through the incorporation of various herbs that aid in this specific area. Most of my past chronic canine allergy sufferers are not managed by medications but more so by home cooked diets and targeted herbs. This allergy response, in my opinion, is a road sign of a bigger health ailment in that patient. I don’t want to stifle that response, but more so better understand it and balance it to benefit that patient. Just my two cents!
Most of my past chronic canine allergy sufferers are not managed by medications but more so by home cooked diets and targeted herbs. >>>>> What target do these herbs hit?
My dog also has allergies. After countless vet trips and paying for vet recommended dog food, it only got worse. By the time I ordered the pet life scan I had already gone through a process of elimination. The pet life scan confirmed he is allergic to beef and chicken along with summer squash. He is also allergic to environmental pollen. I have the food issue under control by cooking raw turkey or duck patties and grading the vegetables. As for the environmental issues I have him on apoquel until the first freeze, then I take him off of it. I totally believe in this pet life scan by experience.
Im glad your pet is doing well, but such anecdotes don’t, unfortunately, prove anything. Where area number of articles (and a little humor) looking at why:
Why Anecdotes Can’t Be Trusted
You might be interested in a new study that we conducted and just published on this topic. The study can be found here:
https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12716
Bernstein JA, Tater K, Bicalho RC, Rishniw M. Hair and saliva analysis fails to accurately identify atopic dogs or differentiate real and fake samples. Vet. Dermatol. 2019.
and the associated article by the VIN News service:
https://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=52008
I hope people find these enlightening.
Thanks!
Looks like Glacier Peak responded, and then the author responded to the response. Grab your popcorn its good
https://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=52036
https://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=52043
@ Cate
Thanks for sharing the above. Unfortunately if I post this information on other forums I will get attacked as being mean and difficult.
I guess some folks want to believe in miracle cures no matter what!
Your gif refers to superstition, or accidental reinforcement, not anecdotal evidence.
Plenty of researched-validated medical treatments don’t work for many patients.
How would you design a study that (in)validates this sensitivity test?
The image simply illustrates that uncontrolled personal observations are unreliable because they lead to conclusion about cause and effect that don’t effectively account for multiple alternative explanations. The articles I link to explain the problem in much more detail, but the bottom line is that “I tried it and got better so it must work” is clearly and obviously not a reliable form of evidence.
As for testing the commercial product discussed in the article, the first point is that this isn’t my responsibility, it is the responsibility of the company making claims for the product and selling it. The ideas that a company can say anything it wants about its product without providing evidence but that critics should be responsible for disproving these claims is nonsense. However, in terms of hair and saliva analysis in general, these are already known to be unreliable both based on the general principles behind them (including all the nonsense this company shovels in trying to explain how their test supposedly works) and in terms of specific studies evaluating multiple versions of such tests which show no validity. Here is a discussion of some of this evidence.
@ Heather not sure this is still an issue, but Zignature is potato free. I fed my dog the Kangaroo Zignature.
Does anyone have any experience with Glacier Peaks Super Cleanse? My holistic vet ran this test made no difference. But she has him taking this product. Besides other things she said it was good for his allergies. Would like anyone’s opinion. Thanks..
My dog scratched constantly, had very red irritated skin, severe hair loss and his ears were filthy. We had him on apoquel (sp) with twice yearly shots of steriods. It stopped working. I found out about Glacier Peaks from a woman at the dog park so I bought a kit and sent it in. My dog has been on the diet for less than a week and already his skin isn’t as red and he is scratching less. We were told that salmon or chicken was best for him so we mostly fed him salmon with salmon oil pills daily. Turns out that salmon is a no no, the same with chicken. Say what you will but my dog has improved in a very short period of time. I’m glad I found Glacier Peaks!
Glad your dog is doing well, but as always anecdotes don’t prove anything about medical therapies one way or the other. Here are some explanations for why:
Anecdotes are deeply unreliable. If it were this simple, we would have cured every disease centuries ago. We need controlled scientific evidence to know what works and what doesn’t, and relying on anecdotes like this sustains ineffective therapies. Here is some more information on this issue:
Why Anecdotes Can’t be Trusted
Well said, Ariel. Very well said! ?
The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Wellness Life Scan Stress Test has been a topic of debate among pet owners and professionals in the pet industry. Best dog foods. Some claim that the test is a valuable tool for assessing a pet’s overall health and well-being, while others criticize it for being pseudoscientific and lacking in evidence-based research.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the test, the language used to describe it on the company’s website can be seen as overly promotional and potentially misleading. It’s important for companies to provide accurate and transparent information about their products and services, especially when it comes to the health and well-being of our beloved pets.
Pet owners should always do their own research and consult with a qualified veterinarian before making any decisions about their pet’s health care.
Like many here, I found the test to be very helpful. A life changer. It was accurate about the specific foods that I knew to be a problem. I limited my cat’s diet to the items not identified to be an issue and she has been doing well for a few years. I don’t know how it worked, but it did.