Many of our canine companions come into our lives without any history. Now genetic testing options can help you learn more about your favorite four-legged friend.
Process
At home genetic testing is easy. No blood necessary! Just activate the kit, use the swabs to rub the inside of your dog’s cheek according to the included directions, and drop it in the mail. You’ll be able to track the progress of your sample through the lab on the website. The two main companies providing genetic testing for dogs include Embark and Wisdom Panel.
Breed
Ever wonder what breed your dog is? Genetic tests can help figure out what types of dogs make up your best friend’s family tree. Some can even help find close relatives! The technology isn’t perfect, but it can be fun to see what breeds make up your pup’s unique heritage…and can sometimes lend some insight into why your dog looks the way they do or why they do certain things.
Age testing
One of the newest additions to genetic testing is helping determine your dog’s age. Many dogs have unknown backgrounds, meaning we have to estimate how old they are…and, once a dog has all their adult teeth around 6 months of age, it becomes very hard to guess. Age testing takes advantage of changes that happen to the DNA over time to help estimate an approximate age for your pet.
Health testing
Probably one of the most important benefits of genetic testing is health testing. These tests can screen your dog for a wide variety of genetic disorders, including bleeding disorders and sensitivities to certain drugs, which could significantly impact your dog’s health over the years. Having this knowledge can help you and your veterinarian make the best choices for your pet’s long-term wellbeing.
