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Beyond the Microbiome: Functional Gut Markers & What They Are Really Telling You with Betsy Redmond, Innovative Pet Lab
Most gut health conversations stop at the bacteria. Betsy Redmond wants to know what the body itself is doing.
Betsy Redmond is a microbiologist and co-founder of Innovative Pet Lab, a functional stool testing company that brings human clinical gut markers to dogs and cats. In this episode, Dr. Lily Chen sits down with Betsy to walk through five functional markers that can identify gut inflammation, immune dysfunction, intestinal permeability, pancreatic insufficiency, and dysbiosis before a pet ever reaches a diagnosis.
KEY INSIGHTS
- Fecal calprotectin is a direct measure of neutrophil-driven gut inflammation. A pet can have chronically elevated calprotectin long before developing full enteropathy, and catching it early gives clinicians a real window to intervene.
- Secretory IgA is the first line of immune defense at the gut lining. When it is too high, the body is actively fending off a threat. When it is too low, the immune system may not be defending itself at all.
- Fecal zonulin reflects intestinal permeability. NSAIDs, certain bacteria, and chronic inflammation can all drive it up. Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to bring it down alongside low secretory IgA.
- Pancreatic elastase measures overall pancreatic enzyme output. A gray area between adequate function and insufficiency exists in pets just as it does in people, and borderline low levels in senior dogs can respond to digestive enzyme support.
- Beta-glucuronidase, when elevated, signals bacterial overgrowth interfering with the liver's phase II detoxification pathway. Bringing the number down with a supplement without fixing the microbiome is mopping the floor without turning off the faucet.
RESOURCES
Innovative Pet Lab: https://www.innovativepetlab.com
Instagram: @innovativepetlab
CONNECT WITH DR. LILY CHEN
Instagram: @dr.lilychen @the.unicorn.vet
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