When your pet keeps licking their paws, scratching, experiencing occasional digestive changes, or simply seems uncomfortable, it can be frustrating not knowing where to begin.

You may switch foods. Try a different protein. Change treats. Replace shampoos. Adjust supplements. And sometimes, after all that trial and error, you are still left wondering what your pet might be responding to.

That is where having a more personalized place to start can help.

In this conversation hosted by Kimberly Fisher of Earthly Insights, Glacier Peak Holistics’ Shanel and Bethany take a deeper look at the Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test, including how testing works, what is included, how to collect your pet’s samples, how to understand the different sections of the results, and how those insights can help guide thoughtful food and environmental changes.

Watch the full conversation below:

What Is a Pet Intolerance Test?

The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test is a noninvasive wellness test designed to provide insight into potential food and environmental factors that may be creating stress for your pet.

Rather than requiring a blood draw, the test uses a small hair and saliva sample that can be collected at home. Once Glacier Peak Holistics receives the sample, results are typically emailed within 7 to 10 business days. The test scans your pet against 395+ potential food and environmental intolerances.  

The goal is not to give pet parents a permanent list of things their pet can never encounter again. It is to provide a more personalized starting point for evaluating what may be worth changing, reducing, or watching more closely.

Learn more about the Pet Intolerance Test.

When Might Pet Parents Start Looking for More Answers?

Sometimes the first sign is obvious. Other times, it is a pattern that keeps returning.

The presentation discusses signs such as:

• Paw chewing or licking
• Itchy or uncomfortable skin
• Hot spots
• Recurring ear concerns
• Excessive shedding
• Digestive changes
• Recurrent skin concerns
• Changes in mood or behavior

These signs can have many possible causes, which is why symptoms alone cannot tell you exactly what is happening.

It can also help to understand the difference between allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances, since these terms are often used interchangeably even though they are not the same. Learn more in Allergies vs. Sensitivities in Pets: What’s the Difference? 

This Is Not a Traditional Allergy Test

This distinction is important.

The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test is not a traditional allergy test and is not intended to replace blood-based allergy testing, veterinary diagnostics, or veterinary care.

The test uses biofeedback technology with your pet’s hair and saliva samples to compare their individual energetic response with potential stressors. The information is intended to serve as a supportive wellness tool that can help pet parents make more informed decisions about diet, environment, and everyday care. 

If you would like a closer look at the technology behind the test, read Understanding Biofeedback Technology in Pet Intolerance Testing to learn more about how the process works and how it differs from traditional allergy testing.

What Does the Pet Intolerance Test Look At?

The test evaluates 395+ food and environmental factors, giving pet parents a broad look at areas that may warrant more attention.

Food-related categories include things such as:

• Proteins
• Poultry
• Fish
• Fruits and vegetables
• Grains
• Oils
• Dairy
• Nuts and seeds
• Legumes
• Spices and herbs
• Additives
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Supplemental and miscellaneous food ingredients

Environmental categories include:

• Grasses
• Trees
• Pollens
• Weeds and flowers
• Dust
• Insects
• Petrochemicals
• Environmental chemicals

The purpose is not simply to produce the longest list possible. It is to give pet parents information they can actually use when reviewing their pet’s food, treats, supplements, household environment, and daily routine. 

For more on why the test focuses on a curated panel rather than simply testing the highest possible number of items, read Why Doesn’t the Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test Include 800+ Items?

How Do You Collect the Samples?

One of the biggest benefits of the process is that sample collection can be completed from home.

The kit includes the materials needed to register the test and collect the samples. Pet parents first register the test using the barcode included with the kit. 

Then you collect:

A Saliva Sample

Using the included cotton swabs, gently rub along your pet’s gum line and cheek area. The presentation notes that the three swabs may be used individually or together.

A Hair Sample

Collect approximately a quarter-sized amount of hair. Hairless pets can submit a saliva sample without hair.

Both samples are then placed into the completed sample bag and returned according to the included shipping instructions.

Once the sample is received, results are generally emailed within 7 to 10 business days. 

Your Results Are a Starting Point

This may be one of the most important things to understand about the test.

Seeing a long list of flagged items can feel overwhelming at first, especially if several foods in your pet’s current diet appear on the report.

The presentation encourages pet parents to think of the results as a starting point, not a life sentence.

Rather than changing everything overnight, the approach is centered around three general steps:

Reduce. Temporarily reduce or remove the items creating the greatest concern.

Stabilize. Give your pet time with a simpler, more consistent routine.

Reintroduce. Once your pet is doing well, items can be carefully reintroduced one at a time while you observe how your pet responds. 

That gradual approach can make the process much more manageable.

What If the Results Flag a Food Your Pet Has Always Eaten?

This is one of the questions pet parents ask most often.

A familiar ingredient appearing on the results does not automatically mean that ingredient is inherently bad or that your pet must avoid it forever.

The results are better viewed as a snapshot of what may be creating stress at that particular point in time. After an elimination period and time to stabilize, foods may be gradually reintroduced one at a time while you observe how your pet responds.

This can be especially confusing when your pet has eaten the same ingredient for months or even years without an obvious issue. Our article Can a Dog or Cat Develop an Intolerance to a Food They Have Always Eaten? takes a closer look at why responses may change over time.

Working Through Food Sensitivities Without Changing Everything at Once

If your results contain several flagged foods, you do not necessarily have to overhaul the entire bowl in a single day.

The presentation recommends focusing on progress and making deliberate changes. It discusses a general 60-day elimination period for flagged foods, followed by gradual reintroduction once the pet has had time to stabilize. 

It is also easier to understand how your pet responds when you change one thing at a time.

When introducing new foods or supplements, the presentation recommends:

• Starting slowly
• Introducing one new item at a time
• Allowing time between changes
• Avoiding rapid changes to the entire routine

If you have already been switching proteins, brands, or ingredients trying to figure out what works, Why Elimination Diets Can Be Difficult (and How Testing May Provide More Direction) explains why that process can become overwhelming and how additional information may help you take a more focused approach.

What About Environmental Sensitivities?

Food is only one part of the picture.

Some environmental factors can be reduced or removed fairly easily. If something in a household product or material is flagged, for example, you may be able to review labels, switch products, or temporarily remove the item.

Other things are simply part of the environment.

Grass, trees, pollen, weeds, and flowers are not realistic to eliminate from your pet’s life entirely. In those cases, the focus may shift from avoidance toward supporting your pet’s overall wellness and helping maintain a healthy response to everyday environmental exposure

Do Not Forget the Gut

Your pet’s food intolerance results are only one part of their overall wellness picture.

Diet, hydration, digestive function, the gut microbiome, and nutritional support all work together.

The presentation encourages pet parents to look at the bowl as a whole, including food quality, moisture, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes. 

To learn more about building that digestive foundation, continue with Happy Gut, Happy Pet: A Guide to Digestive Health for Dogs & Cats, where we take a deeper look at digestive enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, hydration, and everyday gut support.

When Should You Retest?

Your pet’s results are a snapshot in time.

Their diet, environment, exposures, routines, and overall wellness can change. The presentation recommends considering another test after approximately six months if new concerns appear, allowing time for an elimination period, gradual food reintroduction, and continued observation before reevaluating.

That does not mean every pet needs constant testing. Instead, think of retesting as a way to get an updated picture when circumstances or patterns have meaningfully changed.

When Should You Involve Your Veterinarian?

The Pet Intolerance Test is a supportive wellness tool, not a diagnostic test.

The presentation specifically notes that the energetic imbalance portion of the results reflects areas where the body may be experiencing stress rather than a medical diagnosis. If your pet is actively experiencing symptoms, veterinary evaluation is appropriate. 

Persistent itching, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, painful ears, significant skin changes, changes in appetite or weight, or other concerning symptoms should always be discussed with your veterinarian.

Testing can provide another piece of information, but it should not replace appropriate veterinary care.

Start With More Information, Not More Guesswork

When something feels off with your pet, it is natural to want an answer immediately.

But sometimes the most useful first step is simply narrowing the field.

The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test gives pet parents personalized information they can use to take a closer look at foods, environmental exposures, and wellness patterns instead of continually changing things without direction.

From there, the goal is not perfection.

It is making thoughtful changes, watching your individual pet, and adjusting their routine based on what you learn along the way.

Watch the Full Pet Intolerance Test Conversation

Want to dive deeper?

Watch the full conversation with Glacier Peak Holistics’ Shanel and Bethany, hosted by Kimberly Fisher of Earthly Insights, as they walk through the Pet Intolerance Test, sample collection, results, food and environmental panels, elimination and reintroduction, gut support, and what pet parents can do with the information.

You can also visit Kimberly’s Earthly Insights channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@kimberlyfisherearthlyinsights

Explore the Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test.

This information is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary care. The Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Intolerance Test is not a traditional allergy test and does not diagnose allergies or medical conditions. If your pet is experiencing persistent or concerning symptoms, consult your veterinarian.