What Maverick's Gut Test Showed
The full results, what each finding meant, and the protocol we put in place.
If you follow along on Instagram, you'll have seen me send off Maverick's gut health test. This is the part I promised: the full results, what each one actually meant, and what we did next.
A quick reminder of why I do this. Maverick has a sensitive tummy, and for a long time I was reacting to symptoms after something had already gone wrong. Testing gives me real information to work through with my vet, rather than guessing from the outside.
What this test screens for
This one looks at several things from a single sample: intestinal parasites, bacterial infections and viral pathogens. In other words, not just "does he have worms," but a broader picture of what is going on in his gut.
The one I use is Wormcount's Canine Parasite and Bacteria Screen, which is their most comprehensive canine test. What made me choose it is that it combines traditional parasite screening with qPCR, a molecular method that is more sensitive than the standard antigen-based tests. It is aimed at dogs showing signs of digestive upset, or for proactive screening when you simply want to know what is going on inside. You can see everything it screens for here: the full test.
The full results
Here is the actual report, all three pages, so you can see everything that was checked rather than just the headline.
Tap any report to view it full size.
What the results meant
Nearly everything came back clear. The one thing that showed up was Clostridium perfringens type A, which you can see highlighted in red on the parasite and bacteria screen.
This is where I am glad I test rather than guess. It was not Maverick's first screen, so we could compare the two. I asked the lab to help me make sense of the numbers, and here is what their manager explained:
Comparing Maverick's two results:
May 2026: Cq value of 28.541
October 2026: Cq value of 35.372
The Cq value indicates how many amplification cycles were needed to detect the bacterial DNA. A higher Cq value generally indicates a lower amount of the target DNA in the sample. Maverick's Cq value has increased considerably, suggesting that the amount of Clostridium perfringens type A DNA in the latest sample is substantially lower than in May. Although we cannot provide an exact bacterial count or percentage reduction, the change is encouraging.
In short, a higher Cq number means less bacterial DNA was found, so Maverick's levels have dropped a good deal since his May test. It is still there, but heading in the right direction.
It also helps to know that Clostridium perfringens is a normal resident of a healthy dog's gut. Something like 80% of healthy dogs carry it, so the goal is not to wipe it out but to bring an overgrowth back into balance. It is really only a concern when a dog is showing clinical signs, the main one being loose or runny stool. When those signs settle and the amount detected comes down at the same time, as it has for Maverick, that points to things moving in the right direction.
And there were signs. Maverick's stool had the occasional softness to it. His first one or two of the day would be normal, and then the third would be soft, which is what raised my suspicion in the first place. I am genuinely glad I checked rather than brushing it off.
I had been bracing myself for something like Giardia, so I was relieved it wasn't that. Clostridium perfringens type A felt a lot more manageable, and seeing the drop between the two tests told me that what we have been doing is working.
Everything else came back clear. No worms, no lungworm, no Giardia, and the digestion markers all looked good, which was reassuring for his gut health overall.
What we changed, and Maverick's protocol
Knowing what we were dealing with turned a vague worry into a simple, natural plan, worked out with my vet. For Maverick it comes down to a few things, used together.
Saccharomyces boulardii is the one I would not be without, given twice a day. It is a beneficial yeast that works in more than one way. It competes with Clostridium perfringens for space and nutrients along the gut wall, which effectively crowds it out. It also produces enzymes that help break down the toxins harmful bacteria release, easing the strain on the gut lining. And it supports the gut's own defences by helping to raise secretory IgA, an antibody that protects the mucosal lining and helps the body keep bacterial numbers in balance naturally.
A fine psyllium husk goes in alongside it. It is a soluble fibre that forms a gel and can hold many times its own weight in water. In practice that means it soaks up excess moisture to firm up a loose stool, helps keep things moving at a steadier pace, and can help carry out excess bacteria and dormant spores along the way.
Pumpkin powder is the third piece, as a gentle prebiotic. It feeds the good bacteria in his gut, the likes of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, so they can multiply and outcompete less welcome bacteria like Clostridium for the same space and food.
Alongside all of that, I keep a close eye on his stool day to day, since that is usually the first thing to tell me whether we are on the right track. The encouraging drop between his May and October results suggests this approach is doing its job, and I will keep monitoring and retest with my vet if anything changes.
The takeaway
For us, the value wasn't the test itself. It was swapping guesswork for something I could actually act on, with my vet, instead of waiting for the next upset to tell me something was off.
As always, this is general, natural, owner-to-owner information, never a replacement for your vet. If you're considering testing or treatment, talk it through with yours first.
Here's to growing well, together.
Caroline & Maverick