Pet Nutritional Imbalances (Upgrade)

Your pet’s response is measured against 112 nutrients across categories including amino acids, fatty acids, ionic minerals, macrominerals, trace minerals, and vitamins. Pinpointing these imbalances helps you make more informed choices about diet and supplements.

No new hair sample is needed if your pet’s hair sample was received by our lab within the past 60 days. Simply purchase the test, and updated results will be uploaded to your 5Strands account within 3 days.

Your pet’s nutritional imbalance results are divided into 4 levels so you can see how their body is responding to different vitamins and minerals. This test does not measure how much of a nutrient is in the body. Instead, it shows how well your pet’s system is currently managing or regulating that nutrient, which may reflect poor absorption, depletion, overload, or increased demand.

Step-by-Step Balance Plan:

Step 1: Red (High Imbalance) may indicate poor utilization, depletion, or overload. Remove certain foods as needed and focus on rotating in whole-food sources of that nutrient. If supplementation is required, choose whole-food–based supplements to support balance while the body resets.

Step 2: Yellow (Moderate Imbalance) may point to poor absorption or higher demand. Prioritize variety by rotating whole-food sources of the nutrient. If you use supplements, opt for whole-food forms rather than synthetic versions.

Step 3: Green (Mild Imbalance) may suggest the body is working harder to absorb or regulate the nutrient. Monitor closely and add more variety from whole-food sources. Supplement only if needed, and again, whole-food supplements are preferred.

Step 4: Grey (No Significant Response) means your pet is currently handling that nutrient well. No immediate changes are needed, but rotating food sources helps maintain balance and reduces the chance of future imbalance.

Step 5: Retest every 4 months to track progress, since nutritional needs can shift with diet, stress, or any lifestyle changes.