Monday, April 15, 2019

Announcing NomNomNow:INSIGHTS: A Microbiome Testing Kit (A Window Into Your Cat and Dog's Gut Health)

NomNomNow has sponsored this post with product and monetary compensation, but all opinions are my own, read important disclaimers throughout this blog post.

Photo Courtesy of NomNomNow

When NomNomNow first began their goal was to enable pet parents to improve the health and wellness of their pets by "equipping them with excellent nutrition, acting as partners in the care of their pets, and providing a range of resources and services to make every aspect of being a pet parent as easy, convenient, and positively impactful as possible."


The NomNomNow:INSIGHTS, kit is an easy to use, at-home microbiome testing kit for pets that will give their parents an in-depth look at the health of their cat or dog's  gut bacteria


What is the microbiome?


"The microbiome, in humans and in our pets, is a unique population of microorganisms that live within and on us. The diversity and types of microorganisms help to keep our pets healthy. Similarly though, these microbes can contribute to pet illnesses if there are disruptions to a healthy balance in the microbiome. So clearly the microbiome is an important part of maintaining our pets’ health!"

Why test the gut?
"The microbiome of the gut is the largest and most studied microbiome, and has been demonstrated to impact a wide variety of different health-related systems including things like food digestion, immune system function, weight management and even mood and behavior."



 I am one who will ALWAYS listen to my Veterinarian FIRST, but agreed many moons ago to test this product, (because I misunderstood what it was and thought it was a DNA testing kit which it is not),  and decided to give it a go and see what it reveals. Regardless of what the results reveal, my Veterinarian is my ultimate "go to" and personally I would never take action in reference to anything pertaining to Cody and Dakota based on results from a kit. Everyone has to make their own informed decisions. I am featuring this product simply because I said that I would. For me, and many others, my Veterinarian is my ultimate source that I trust. That being said, this kit could not  have been easier to use!



Everything you need is in this kit when it arrives.


It comes with step-by-step instructions:


You first collect a stool sample. using the enclosed items:




You then put the sample in the vial and shake it up until the stool dissolves in the liquid.

You put it in the mailing enclosed bag:

You then register your sample on their website:


Put it in the enclosed mailing envelope and mail


 Their scientists will analyze the sample collected from Cody to evaluate the types of bacteria that reside in his  gut, then they will send me a report describing Cody's overall structure and how he compares to other pets. (When I receive my report I will let you know how I read it, they provide detailed instructions as to how to read it on their website.) The results will be sent to me within two to five weeks. Once I have the results, if there is anything at all that concerns me, rest assured I would CONSULT MY VETERINARIAN FIRST. Stay tuned!!!











40 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm, gut check takes on a whole new meaning!

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  2. That's strange ...
    Anyway, when I have a doubt about Hisia I call my vet ....
    Douce soirée
    Natacha

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    1. I do the same, but a number of people made some valid and interesting points. A couple of people HAVE mentioned these issues to their Vet and aren't getting the help/advice/answers they need, so this might be super helpful to them and many others.

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  3. Sounds interesting. I only question is it really trustworthy?

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  4. So Cody, you agreed to your mom stealing some of your poop?! MOL

    Anyway, we are really interested to see the results. We are also very likely to go to our vet with test results too, if anything is concerning. But nevertheless, it's nice to see advances in science surrounding cat health.

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    1. Mom stole it from my litter box MOL. You only need a teeny tiny bit on the swab they give you. Then you put it in the liquid, shake it.......put it in the package and mail it off. I agree that is IS nice to see advances in science surrounding cat health. Excellent point!

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  5. This sounds really interesting to my human. Because honestly, when it comes to gut health for us kitties, she has not gotten much help from her vet! Binga certainly could use some help in this area.

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    1. I think you made a good point. If you have already consulted your Vet about certain issues and need additional help, this kit is a great idea. Or...as The Island Cats and I believe, get the kit, send in the poop, and then if an issue is found, consult your Vet. I linked to their website above if you want to check it out.

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  6. What a great idea. We need to take the very best care of our babies.

    Have a purrfect day, Cody. My best to your wonderful mom. ♥

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  7. I need one of these tests for ME!
    I would test Angel; she's our eldest kitty, and I want her to be as healthy as possible!

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    1. Ha! Wonder if it would work for humans? I should have sent in my poop lol!

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  8. That sounds like a great idea. I am eager to see the results.

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  9. At first we were thinking this could help with finding out something about Rumpy Bump's poop problems but... maybe we will wait and see the results. Our vet cannot figure it out and it has been a bit better the last year. Sigh
    Timmy and Family

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    1. if your Vet can't figure it out, this might be right up your alley!

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  10. This is curious. Will they recommend any sort of treatment based on the results?

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    1. I imagine when I get my results I will be able to better answer that question :) I would think so. But...for whatever treatment that might be suggested, if it were me, I would consult with my Veterinarian first.

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  11. This is very interesting! Our mommy has been working her gut health but she didn't think about ours. We're curious now and will check it out more!

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  12. Interesting. This test may be helpful initially but you’re right, ultimately if a problem is found, a vet visit is in order.

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  13. Every little bit of info we can have about our pet's health helps! Sounds interesting

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  14. Sounds fascinating ~ wonderful post ~ thanks,

    Happy Days to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. Interesting. Veterinary medicine is so weird about stuff like this. All the vets I've met tow the line on traditional terms instead of admitting that it doesn't address everything adequately.

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  16. Thank you for the honest review. I agree that your vet knows Cody better than any kit or lab. You are a human of your word.

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    1. you are most welcome and...."have I told you lately that I LOVE you!?" Thank you!!! xoxo

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  17. Wow, it will be interesting to see what they find!

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  18. That is great. Humans should do that too. An unhealthy gut is the starting point of almost all diseases.

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  19. Hey Cody! We're slow but we just saw your comment about your hyperthyroid test. We are both hyperthyroid and right now Mommy can't remember our numbers but they were in the 3's so on the upper end of normal. Mine was tested back in the fall when I had a dental and then again 3 months later and it was creeping up slowly but the vet first decided to test me because he could feel that my thyroid gland was swollen. Bella was tested because she'd lost over 3 lbs and is hungry all the time. I'm now on the 6 month testing plan like you are and hopefully both of our test results stay stable. This diagnosis is completely new to our Mommy so there's a lot we don't know but we need to know. She'll get up to speed now that she has more time.

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    1. thank you so much dear friends for the info!!!! Cody is hungry all of the time too which is quite concerning.......if you find anything out, please let me know (feel free to email me!), hoping you and Cody stay stable!! xoxo

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  20. I wonder what your poop results are, Cody :D Pawkisses for a wonderful day🐾😽💞

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  21. Hmm, we'll be curious to see what the results show. Years ago dad used to drink aloe juice to keep his gut clean and healthy. Let us know when you get the results.

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  22. Oh my word I had no idea there was a test like this.
    It will be most interesting to read the results.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  23. Very interesting! Looking forward to seeing what the results are!

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  24. You learn something every day!
    I had know idea they had these tests.
    Have a super Thursday...

    Noodle and crew

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  25. This is very interesting! We can't wait to read about your results. Who would have thought there was a test like this out there?

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  26. This sounds very innerestin'. We can't wait to hear how it turns out. Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  27. Their scientists will analyze the sample collected from Cody to evaluate the types of bacteria

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  28. Do you have the results yet? How did it all work out?

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    1. Yes I blogged about them https://www.catchatwithcarenandcody.com/2019/06/as-promised-results-from-nomnomnow_17.html

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  29. I paid the $99 for the microbiome test for my cat. It took 8-1/2 weeks to receive the electronic link to the results, which were not detailed, are not in a format that you can print or save, nor easy to review with your vet. And the only usable data in the test results was to feed my cat more vegetables. Does your cat like vegetables? This microbiome report is a scam, IMHO.

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