Dog DNA Testing for Health

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     These days, increasing numbers of pet owners are employing dog DNA testing to help them avoid unforeseen genetic abnormalities. It’s a pretty simple process: just take a swab from your dog’s cheek and send it to a lab, and you’ll know which ailments your dog is genetically predisposed to acquiring, hopefully even before anything goes wrong. The chance to treat your dog proactively could extend their life by several years. 

     It should come as no surprise that dog DNA testing firms are sprouting up all over the place, with kits costing up to $200 that test for genes linked to more than 160 diseases. However, when it comes to predicting sickness in dogs, specialists in canine health and genetics are quick to warn about the limitations of DNA testing at this stage.

The Benefits of Dog DNA Testing

     Anyone who has acquired a shelter dog and is curious about it’s lineage and potential health issues should consider getting a DNA test Veterinarians may also find the tests useful as diagnostic tools. Many diseases and illnesses are caused by genetics handed down through breed bloodlines, and some sets of DNA affect a dog’s responsiveness to medicines.

Recognizing Genetic Health Risks

     DNA testing for dogs is divided into two categories that may be related: breed identification and finding probable disease-causing mutations. Using a DNA test to determine a dog’s breed make-up may indicate an increased risk of certain problems arising in the future, but it is far from conclusive. Tests for particular genetic mutations, on the other hand, which are increasingly included in over-the-counter dog DNA test kits, are more predictive.

     Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), for example, is an irreversible, usually incurable hereditary condition that produces blindness. It has been reported in over 100 breeds, however it is more frequent in certain. Gordon Setters was the first to be diagnosed with it. Given that visual issues in dogs can have a wide range of causes, prognoses, and therapies, identifying the mutation that causes PRA can be an important step in forecasting what the future holds for a specific dog.

     Shepherds and collies frequently have a deficiency in the multi-drug resistance gene, MDR1 [also known as ABCB1], which increases the probability of severe responses to some medicines that are commonly given to dogs.

How Dog DNA Testing Benefits Shelters

    Animal shelters can benefit from genetic testing as well. According to a recent research published in The Veterinary Journal, half of the “Pit Bulls” at Florida shelters have no DNA linked to Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, or any other breeds grouped under the Pit Bull category of breeds. Perceptions of Pit Bull Terriers are a delicate, difficult issue, but it does assist shelters in unnecessarily stigmatizing pets in the midst of the uphill battle of adoption.

Canine Forensics

     The idea of analyzing canine DNA for the sake of forensics might sound odd, but it has it’s benefits. Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt, the authors and podcasters behind Freakonomics, advocated in a New York Times essay in 2005 that New York City should retain a DNA library of dogs whose walkers do not clean up after them and increase fines for repeat violators. In 2010, members of a Baltimore condo association recommended collecting DNA samples from all of its canine inhabitants in order to match them to droppings that had been carelessly left behind. This approach is currently being implemented in numerous housing complexes and towns around the United States.

In The Market for a Puppy?

     Bringing a dog into the family is a major investment, of money of course, but also an investment of time and emotions. You form bonds with your new furry friend, in fact they become part of the family. Before deciding to bring home a dog, you should absolutely know the potential health issues that lie ahead. Are you willing to deal with health issues your dog will face 1, 5 even 10 years down the line? DNA testing can help you make an informed decision, to find the best dog suited for you and your family.

The future of Dog DNA Testing

     Despite being relatively new, there is a lot to be enthusiastic about in the burgeoning field of dog genetics. Breeders, in particular, are already utilizing peer-reviewed, high-quality genetic research with the goal of decreasing or, eventually, removing specific disorders from the breeding pool. Dog DNA Testing has a lot of potential in the good it can achieve for our canine companions. We test our dogs and clear our lines of harmful genetic conditions in order to provide a 2 year genetic health guarantee.

Check out this article for more info about DNA testing your dog.

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