DNA Testing for Dogs! Genetics

Genetics. Have you ever wondered if your mixed breed dog is more Collie than Labrador?   Are you confused because you can’t see any Beagle in your Beagle mix?   Sleuth, the full bred Reporter Dog, has found a new blood test that just might help! Science is allowing us to take a new and exciting look at our family pets.  The Wisdom Panel® DNA test for dogs is enabling many owners of mixed breed dogs to discover more about their canine friends.  Studies show the test to have an 84% accuracy rate in determining your dogs “roots”.   Using technology that may be familiar to CSI viewers, a small amount of blood is taken from your pet and compared to a DNA database to reveal your pet’s ancestors.

Roughly half of the dogs in North America are mixed breed and more than 86% of mixed breed dog owners are unsure of their dog’s background. The possibilities of mixed breeds are enormous…the American Kennel Club lists more than 150 different pure breeds! A new blood test, called the WisdomPanel® DNA test, can determine your pet’s ancestry from a small blood sample with an 84% accuracy rate.  This test uses technology similar to technology used to track human population migrations or identify potential murder suspects.  Although this test can help to answer questions about your

Dog’s “roots”, it is not a means for pet owners to use the results as a basis for proving certain diseases. It is also important to try to describe your dogs as you see him, not as his genetic type.   Your pet may be a Husky mix genetically, but he or she might look like a Shepherd mix to the animal shelter.

For pet owners concerned about genetic diseases, your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is at risk through blood testing and consultation.