Following the purchase of BIOME9 in early 2025, Pooch & Mutt has announced the acquisition of a new microbiome laboratory at AberInnovation to advance its dog gut health research. The new facility will bring all BIOME9 laboratory operations in-house.
Pooch & Mutt, a pet food and health brand within the Vafo Group, has unveiled a major step forward in its scientific capabilities with the acquisition of a new laboratory at AberInnovation, a world-class campus supporting cutting-edge agri-tech and biotech research.
Pooch & Mutt acquired BIOME9 in early 2025, a pioneering microbiome research company for veterinary partners across the UK. This allows the growing pet care brand to offer customers an at-home gut health test that uses science, research and AI to deep-dive into dogs’ unique microbiomes, to identify current or potential future health issues.
The new facility, located alongside the UK’s University of Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Vet School, will bring all BIOME9 laboratory operations in-house. This move reportedly strengthens the scientific foundation behind Pooch & Mutt’s Gut Health Test, ensuring even greater accuracy, faster turnaround times, and expanded research capacity for ongoing product innovation.
Paul Dennison, CEO of Pooch & Mutt, comments, “This expansion strengthens our commitment to bringing even better pet care to owners. By investing in BIOME9’s in-house laboratory capabilities, we can ensure the highest level of quality control and deliver faster, deeper insights from our Gut Health Tests. It’s another major stride towards making good gut health accessible and actionable for every dog.”
“This development also supports where we’re taking Pooch & Mutt in the future. We’re continuously improving our expertise, product portfolio and overall brand to offer the best, science-backed care to all dogs.” Dennison concludes.
The investment also welcomes two new bioscientists to its growing team, expanding technical and analytical expertise ahead of a broader 2026 research pipeline, including plans to extend microbiome testing to new sample types and animal species. According to the company’s announcement, this development strengthens Pooch & Mutt’s long-term commitment to be a leader in pet health by combining premium nutrition, behavioural insight and advanced science to improve the health and happiness of pets everywhere.
