I've inquired about this test before. I did not choose to do the test after learning that the proper way to measure antibodies is not through blood or saliva but through the gut under anesthesia (obviously very invasive and no one would really do that). I've been down the road of serum blood testing for food, wasting money, and therefore would not feel any more optimistic about the saliva test.
I don't think a test needs to tell you what your dog can and can't eat when an elimination diet is free! I honestly feel that the best test of food intolerance and/or sensitivity is to try it on the dog. I have a dog with BOTH allergies and food insensitivity. When the allergy occurs, it goes like this: dog eats lamb, 20 minutes elapse, dog is covered in hives over more than 50% of her body and needs immediate benadryl and observation while I decide if I need a vet (usually we are good on benadryl). A food intolerance has been more vague....there are subtle symptoms ranging from dry heaving, to vomiting bile, to lose stools, to bloody stools (colitis), and occasionally itchiness.
Egg is a very good protein, but if your egg is not pastured then there could be soy in the egg and the dog could be sensitive to soy. If you see "vegetarian feed" on an egg, it usually means the chickens are eating soy or grains. Cage
free is another marketing play -- cage free does not mean pastured.
I think you'd do well with home cooking - you could try one protein source and one carbohydrate source at a time until you determine what the dog is intolerant to. You would have no contamination of other ingredients that you potentially have in dog food that is mass produced and often made in a facility that co-packs and shares equipment. You could select how clean you want this food to be, and whether you want to buy it as fresh as you can from local sources if they are available to you. It is more expensive than a kibble diet, but can be cost effective when weighed against the # of vet visits you are making and the amount of aggravation you have with this problem.
I obviously recommend and have reviewed here many times
PetDiets - VNC putting your pet's health first .. for more than 20 yrs! -- this is a veterinary nutritionist who is highly sought after and a leader in the field of canine nutrition. She has an answer to every question I have ever asked her based on real science and her 20+ years of clinical experience in major top veterinary hospitals in the country. I wonder what she thinks of the nutriscan test. Maybe someone can pop on her "ask the nutritionist" portion of her website and ask her! She will answer, and if it is indeed something worthwhile, I will eat my above skepticism.
Jenny, as always, good luck with the kids
